FREE AppalachianThe April / May 2019VOICE APPAPPAALLAACHICHIAA UNDERGROUNDERGROUUNDND Protecting bats, regional spelunking adventures, and cool cave critters Solar Projects Shine in Southwest Virginia ALSO INSIDE: Exploring Old Growth Forest in Harlan • Community Broadband • Pipelines Plagued by Delays PROOF EXPORT The AppalachianVOICE A note from our executive director that we are part of, released Across Appalachia a Solar Roadmap for South- A publication of This spring marks a poignant representative bodies in Vir- west Virginia, highlighting Voices milestone for solar power in South- ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee Appalachian 14 ideal “solar ambassador” Proposal for Ohio River Water Pollution Standards Undergoes Third Revision west Virginia’s historic coal region. A and West Virginia passed NC: 589 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 • 828-262-1500 sites across the region. So it’s 3.5-megawatt solar array, slated to be resolutions of support In February, the Ohio River Valley than 5,000 online comments, the com- in the United States, which impacts the from the river. VA: 812 E. High St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 • 434-293-6373 especially encouraging to see built on a former Wise County coal for the Power Plus Plan, Water Sanitation Commission proposed mission revised its original plan twice approximately 5 million people who The Ohio River Valley Water Sani- Other Regional Offices: Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA a Virginia-based solar devel- mine, is moving closer to fruition. which called on the fed- a third revision to their water pollution more. The February revised proposal is use the river for drinking water. Ac- tation Commission is accepting com- oper team up with a locally AppVoices.org/thevoice | [email protected] The state’s Department of Mines, eral government to invest standards that would allow states more a compromise that retains the commis- cording to the Ohio River commission, ments on the most recent proposal until rooted Southwest Virginia industries and businesses dumped 23 April 15 and scheduled two webinars EDITOR ...............................................MOLLY MOORE Minerals and Energy chose the project in economic opportunities flexibility regarding their specific pollu- sion’s ability to set pollution standards company to supply clean ASSOCIATE EDITOR ................................KEVIN RIDDER to receive a half million dollars through in communities impacted tion limits as long as they still protect but allows member states to find differ- million pounds of chemicals into the and three public hearings. energy to a rapidly growing sector and CONSULTING EDITOR & DESIGNER........JAMIE GOODMAN a federal pilot program aimed at sup- by the decline of coal. This push led to the river’s designated uses. The com- ent ways to meet the standards’ goals. river in 2013, the majority of which Mailed comments should be ad- DISTRIBUTION MANAGER .................MEREDITH SHELTON to see those partners make a commitment porting economic opportunities in com- the bipartisan RECLAIM Act, a bill to mission was formed in 1948 to protect The commission would still oversee were nitrate compounds commonly dressed to Attn: PCS Comments, OR- EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ...............................SAM KEPPLE to local hiring and workforce training. found in pesticides. Two-thirds of the SANCO, 5735 Kellogg Avenue, Cincin- EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ..................................JEN KIRBY munities affected by the downturn of the accelerate the reclamation of abandoned the Ohio River Basin and oversees eight individual permits and discharges that But more work lies ahead. We need EDITORIAL ASSISTANT .............................. JAMIE TEWS coal industry. Once approved by federal mines while supporting economic de- states that border the Ohio River or could affect the river’s water quality, 981-mile river are unsafe for swimming nati, OH 45230. Emailed comments to take investment of this kind to the GRAPHIC DESIGNER .........................MARCIE HANCOCK regulators, the funding will support a velopment, championed by Southwest whose waterways flow into the river. and states would still need to comply due to pollution, and there are strict should be sent to: [email protected] next level with a strong RECLAIM Act Printed on 100% recycled newsprint, cover 40% solar installation for Mineral Gap Data Virginia Congressman Morgan Griffith In January 2018, the commission with the federal Clean Water Act. warnings regarding fish consumption — By Jen Kirby recycled paper, all soy-based inks that emphasizes community involve- Center and remediate old coal mine and others. And while Congress has yet proposed relinquishing its ability to The U.S. Environmental Protection ment and restoration of damaged lands DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Ellen Adams, Lauren Albrecht, features nearby (read more on page 10). to vote on the bill, RECLAIM inspired set water pollution limits. Due to sig- Agency for years has ranked the Ohio and waters (read more on page 23). Global Recycling Changes Affect Tri-Cities Area Sarah Alderson, Courtney Alley, Anne Anderson, Ahdya From one perspective, this project the pilot program that is now poised to nificant public protest, including more River one of the most polluted rivers The region’s challenges are signifi- Elias Attea, Jill Averitt, Cathy Bachara, Debbie Bahr, Nelson was the result of a single collaboration fund the state’s first solar installation In March, several recycling pro- recycling market in multiple ways. and Lanie Bailey, Gretchen Barelski, Another Season Honey cant, but so too are the winds of change. between businesses, local government, atop a former coal mine. grams in the Tri-Cities region of Virginia Industry publication Waste Dive Farm, Becky Barlow, Peter Barstow, Laura Bayer, Sara Bell, As we surge ahead, the prospect of solar Southeast Endangered Species Get Less and nonprofit organizations. In a 2016 report outlining possible and Tennessee were limited or canceled. tracks the ways recycling is changing Bob Belton, Kate Blake, Teresa Boardwine, Roberta Bondu- panels soon being erected on a former But this fortuitous collaboration innovative solutions for abandoned Recycling facilities are shutting down around America. In Kingsport, Tenn., rant, Charlie Bowles, Bethann Bowman, Dale Brady, Lynn coal mine is a marker of the progress Funding Compared to Other Regions Brammer, Ben Bristoll, Steve Brooks, Paul Corbit Brown, Teri was no accident. For the past several mines, Appalachian Voices and our part- across the region due to global market Tri-City Waste Paper Co. Inc., announced we can achieve when we strive together. Although the Southeast is one of Wildlife Foundation. The region also Crawford Brown, Anne Brown, Christa Brusen, Bill Bunch, years, Central Appalachian residents, ners highlighted the potential for a solar changes. The facility shutdowns have it was closing in February after 48 years. For our future, the most aquatically biodiverse areas has high rates of endangered species George Burazer, Roger Byrd, John Calhoun, Pat Calvert, Debra local leaders and organizations includ- array at this particular site, so we are stunted the ability of these recycling As a result, Sullivan County, Tenn., in the United States, the region receives and species at risk of endangerment. Cantwell, Shay and Kim Clanton, Ridge Cook, Dave Cooper, ing Appalachian Voices have been lay- proud to see this project advance. And programs to continue depot and curbside stopped accepting plastic at their facil- Dave Copper, George Cortesi, Sara Crouch, Darlene Cun- a disproportionately low percentage of The number of fish species considered ing the groundwork. in 2017, the Solar Workgroup of South- collections. ity. The closure of Tri-City Waste Paper ningham, Nancy Dagley, John David, Sister Beth Davies, Jeff federal funding for endangered and imperiled increased by 125 percent from In 2015, 32 local governments and west Virginia — a collaborative effort Tom Cormons, Executive Director In March 2018, China — the larg- has also led to recycling suspensions Deal, Heather Dean, Deborah Deatherage, Martha DeHart, Tina at-risk species. 1996 to 2016, according to the report. est international importer of recyclable in Abingdon and Bristol, Va., as well Del Prete, Rose DeProspero, Cynthia Dunn, Roberta Durham, The southeastern United States is Aquatic conservation biologist Heather Earp, Bill Elliott, Patricia English, Mike Feely, Daniel materials — banned the import of 24 as a moratorium on drop-off recycling environmental & cultural events the aquatic support system for more Bernie Kuhajda with the Tennessee Ferreira, Sandy Forrest, Frank Fry, Lashonna Geter, Dave Gil- GET INVOLVED materials, including some types of plas- in Washington County, Va. For more than 66 percent of the country’s fish Aquarium documented the dispar- liam, Scott Goebel, Lorelei Goff, Bruce Gould, Tracy Greene, tic, mixed paper and textiles. China’s information, visit tinyurl.com/recycling- See more at appvoices.org/calendar or visit mountainmushroomfestival.org uva-economic-forum species, more than 90 percent of the ity between the Southeast and other Bryna Grigg, Tauna Gulley, Kelly Haber, Meredith Haines, Bill recycling ban has disrupted the U.S. changes-by-state. — By Jamie Tews Harris, Penina Harte, Paul Hayes, Michael Hayslett, Susan Cheat River Fest Nature Nuggets: Salamander Spring country’s mussel species and nearly regions, according to an article in the Abingdon Earth Day Hazlewood, Eberhard Heide, Sharon Helt, Regina Hendrix, May 3-4: Support