AppalachianThe FREE October/November 2017 VOICE History & Treasures of the Blue Ridge Parkway Harnessing Solar Power in Appalachia Residents Seek Opportunities in Clean Energy ALSO INSIDE: Snail Tales | Rapids of the Russell Fork | Energy News The AppalachianVOICE A note from our team A note from our executive director ross App Appalachian Voices has been working to stop When it comes to implementing our most vital clean air and c alachia A publication of A Environmental News From Around the Region mountaintop removal coal mining for almost two de- water protections, state and federal agencies can be powerful AppalachianVoices cades. Regulatory agencies are essential for enforcing allies. But, if these agencies are asleep at the wheel — or worse, abetting harmful practices in the industries they oversee — they Bringing Rural Areas Up to (Internet) Speed environmental laws meant to protect our communities. Chimney Tops 2 Fire Review Discussed NC: 589 W. King St., Boone, NC 28607 • 828-262-1500 can rob citizens of their right to a healthy and safe environment. VA: 812 E. High St., Charlottesville, VA 22902 • 434-293-6373 Throughout our work, we have counted on them to listen Other Regional Offices: Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA In our region, federal mining regulators are charged with By Otto Solberg base package should provide 50 mbps By Rachel Pressley Park and how climate change has led to our concerns, consider all scientific evidence and carry download and upload speeds. ensuring that coal companies and states follow the law. Here, A Tennessee electric cooperative In August, the U.S. Deptartment of to a “new normal” of record-breaking AppalachianVoices.org | [email protected] out their work to the best of their abilities. A 2016 survey showed that 34 our Central Appalachian Program Manager Erin Savage dis- and a Kentucky municipal utility are the Interior released a report review- drought conditions and increased pres- At press time, the Trump administration had not yet percent of rural Tennessee residents EDITOR.................................................. MOLLY MOORE cusses some of the issues facing the U.S. Office of Surface working to bring high-speed broad- ing decisions made during Tennessee’s ence of dry, flammable brush. National ASSOCIATE EDITOR................................... KEVIN RIDDER nominated a director for the Office of Surface Mining Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement. lacked broadband access, a service that Park Service officials also said they CONSULTING EDITOR............................. JAMIE GOODMAN band internet to rural customers who deadly Chimney Tops 2 Fire last fall and Reclamation and Enforcement. Still, we have already is crucial to economic development did not expect the added danger of CONTRIBUTING EDITOR..................... ELIZABETH E. PAYNE For the future, otherwise may not have the options issuing future recommendations for the DISTRIBUTION MANAGER.................... MEREDITH SHELTON seen many rollbacks within OSMRE this year. and education. The Tennessee Broad- hurricane-force winds. FALL EDITORIAL ASSISTANT...................... OTTO SOLBERG that urban areas have. National Park Service and interagency In January, the White House rescinded the Stream Tom Cormons, Executive Director band Accessibility Act also started At a press conference, Chief Joe FALL EDITORIAL ASSISTANT..............KALEIGH UNDERWOOD The Tri-County Electric Coopera- fire community. SUMMER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT..... MEREDITH ABERCROMBIE Protection Rule, which would have better protected tive has been planning to bring broad- the Broadband Accessibility Grant The Chimney Tops 2 Fire started in Stutler, a wildfire expert who leads the SUMMER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT............. RACHEL PRESSLEY public waters from surface coal mining, before the rule OSMRE will continue to play a critical role in shap- Program to help rural areas that need fire management for the National Park GRAPHIC DESIGNER.............................. JIMMY DAVIDSON band internet access to rural Trousdale the Great Smoky Mountains National GRAPHIC DESIGNER................................. CARRIE HAYES could even be implemented. ing Central Appalachia’s future — through implementing Service, said that there was no way for County, Tenn., since 2014. Tennessee financial assistance for broadband Park on Nov. 23, 2016, and led to an GRAPHIC DESIGNER................................... CARA ADEIMY And in August, the Department of the Interior an- innovative mine reclamation, ensuring coal companies projects. The deadline for applications firefighting crews at the time to predict MARKETING ASSISTANT............................. JACK POWNALL law previously prevented electric estimated $2 billion in damage. Due to nounced that it was halting a National Academy of Sci- follow laws meant to protect communities and reauthoriz- to the program is Nov. 17. what the best decision would be, as the DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Courtney Alley, Alison cooperatives from providing internet extreme wind and drought conditions, ences review of the impact of Central Appalachian surface ing the Abandoned Mine Land Fund. To do this, it needs a Other rural areas in Appalachia are park had never seen fire conditions like Auciello, Karen Austin-Clayton, Debbie Bahr, Another season services. But the Tennessee Broadband the fire joined with other fires outside of coal mining on human health. The review was funded by forward-thinking director who will consider the needs of this before. Honey Farm, Becky Barlow, Shawn Becker, Bob Belton, Charlie Accessibility Act, passed earlier this also struggling to keep up with aging the park in Sevier County and resulted Bowles, Bethann Bowman, Lynn Brammer, Ben Bristoll, Steve OSMRE (read more on page 20). local communities over the profits of the coal industry. You The park plans to upgrade the year, along with a $20 million loan from telecommunication infrastructure and in 134 injuries and 14 lives lost. Brooks, Paul Corbit Brown, Teri Brown, Christa Brusen, Bill Last year, outgoing OSMRE Director Joseph Pizarchik can urge your senators to consider Appalachia’s communi- are finding ways to bring high speed department’s radio system communica- Bunch, Sarah Caskey, Charlie Chakales, Shay Clanton, Megan the U.S. Department of Agriculture and The report discusses poor staff announced the agency would undertake a rulemaking to ties and future when confirming OSMRE’s new director. internet to their residents and business- tions and to issue portable radios and Ong, Ridge Cook, Dave Cooper, George Cortesi, Darlene explicit permission from the county availability due to the Thanksgiving hol- address problems with the bonding system. Coal compa- For our communities, Cunningham, Nancy Dagley, John David, Sister Beth Davies, government has allowed Tri-County es. Thanks to their municipally owned iday and restrictions that hindered radio personal protective equipment to the Deborah Deatherage, Clint Dye, Bill Elliott, Mike Freely, Frank nies are required to post bonds that would cover the cost of Electric to move forward with their utility, Barbourville, Ky., residents have communications with other agencies. seven neighboring fire departments. Frey, Dave Gilliam, Scott Goebel, Bruce and Kate Gould McClory, reclamation should the company go bankrupt or otherwise been offered cable television since the The report also includes recommenda- Gary Greer, Janet Hagy, Christine Harris, Bill Harris, Susan Fiber-to-the-Home project. The report revealed many prepared- abandon a mine — but in many cases bonds are woefully ‘50s and cable internet since the ‘90s, tions for park leaders to reconsider fire Hazlewood, Sharon Helt, Dr. Laura Henry-Stone, Tim Huntley, The electric cooperative plans to ness and planning weaknesses within insufficient. Under the new administration, it is unclear Erin Savage Nicholas Johnson, Mary K., Allison Keith, Denny Keeney, bring affordable, fast and reliable inter- but that internet technology is now the Great Smoky Mountains National suppression practices. Donita Kennedy, Katie Kienbaum, Frances Lamberts, Carissa whether this badly needed rulemaking will happen. Central Appalachian Program Manager net access to a majority of the county outdated. Lenfert, Susan Lewis, Loy Lilley, Diane Lucas, Lara Mack, Gail This September, the Barbourville Marney, Brian McAllister, Kim McClure, Rich McDonough, Mike within three years. Construction could Utility Commission started construc- McKinney, Sherri McMurray, Tim Milling, Joy Miracle, Steve begin in November, and residents that Moeller, Nick Mullins, Don Odell, Rob Osborne, Lee Payne, pay for the service could have it by the tion to bring 4,000 Kentucky residents Adam Pendlebury, Tessa Perkins, Rick Phelps, Cleve Phillips, GET INVOLVED environmental & cultural events end of the year. Currently, residents and businesses access to a gigabit fiber Stephanie Pistello, Jim Plitt, Chase Pugh, Sister Ann Marie Dance for the River Exhibit Debut Appalachian Elk Viewing Tour See more at appvoices.org/calendar network that will provide 1,000 mbps Quinn, Bronwyn Reece, Carol Rollman, Kristin Rouse, Jenny can generally only receive six megabits Oct. 21, 5:30-8 p.m.: Check out photogra- Nov. 4, 5:30-10 a.m. and 4-8 p.m.: Ride along download speeds. This is up to 1,000 Rytel, Debbie Samuels, Mar Sartari, Steve Scarborough, Gerry pher Christine Rucker’s debut of a year-long with a Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Tour to 4th Annual Race to the Rock per second download speeds and one Scardo, Frank Schaller,