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Blackwater Falls in Blackwater Falls State Park attracts visitors who spend more than $25 million in the region yearly, according to West Virginia State Parks. (Adobe Stock).<br />

Monday, April 29, 2024

Report: WV’s Blackwater River among America’s most endangered

The Blackwater River, which flows more than 30 miles through West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains, ranks among the top 10 most endangered rivers in …

The 17,371 acre Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, according to the U.S. Forest Service. (Adobe Stock)<br />

After Alaskan mining decision, other states may step up conservation efforts

The Biden administration has denied approval for a project to build more than 200 miles of road in the Alaskan wilderness. On this Earth Day…

According to the West Virginia Historical Society, the state had among the highest concentrations of chemical plants in the United States for nearly a century. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: EPA chemical plant emissions rule a win for WV communities

Chemical plants in West Virginia and other states will be required to curb emissions of toxic, cancer causing pollutants - such as ethylene oxide…

In 2021, approximately 368 stream miles throughout West Virginia and Virginia were designated as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act for the endangered candy darter. (Adobe Stock)

WV groups sue Forest Service over Cherry River watershed protections

West Virginia environmental groups have sued the Forest Service for failing to protect streams in the Cherry River watershed from the impacts of coal …

Streams play a critical role in carrying sediments, nutrients and other materials into rivers and lakes and on to the ocean, according to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. (Adobe Stock) <br />

EPA cites hundreds of WV streams as impaired

The federal Environmental Protection Agency says West Virginia isn't accurately keeping track of how many of the state's streams are polluted…

Virginia and West Virginia residents say they're worried about the safety of a natural-gas pipeline that, once built, will run for more than 300 miles through their communities. (Facebook/Appalachians Against Pipelines)

Communities concerned about MVP pipeline water pollution, explosion risk

After a federal appeals court this week denied a request from a group of Virginia landowners to stop construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline on t…

Water Quality standards mandated by the federal Clean Water Act are designed to cap the amount of pollution entering West Virginia waters from industrial facilities, wastewater treatment plants, storm sewers, and other sources. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Volunteer water monitors: citizen scientists

Volunteer water monitoring is gaining popularity in West Virginia, and could help assess the impact on regional water quality of projects like the …

Hundreds of environmental groups have voiced strong opposition to construction of the multi-billion-dollar natural gas Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would stretch more than 300 miles through Virginia and West Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

WV Enviro Groups Call MVP Greenlight a 'Terrible Precedent'

A 300-mile-long fracking pipeline project slated to cross numerous streams and rivers in West Virginia and Virginia got a major boost over the weekend…

Wetlands are valuable for flood protection, water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control, and provide habitat for thousands of species, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.(Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Conservation Groups 'Troubled' by SCOTUS Wetlands Decision

Since the U.S. Supreme Court has sided with private property owners in a battle of over wetland protections and the Clean Water Act, West Virginia …

The Ohio River is the source of drinking water for more than 5 million people, according to the Ohio River Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report Ranks Ohio River 'Second Most Endangered' in Nation

The Ohio River, a drinking water source for many West Virginians and millions in neighboring states, is the second "most endangered" river in the …

Medical conditions due to exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water and by other means have cost the United States an estimated $62.6 billion, according to a July 2022 study published in the journal Exposure and Health. (Adobe Stock)

West Virgina Lawmakers Push to Regulate 'Forever' PFAS Chemicals

West Virginia lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation in 2023 aimed at regulating PFAS chemicals in the state's drinking-water systems…

Hundred-year-old trees, such as those found in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, continue to soak up carbon over time, according to research published in the journal Nature. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia Groups Rally to Protect Old-Growth Trees

The U.S. Forest Service plans to chop down what conservation groups say are large swaths of old-growth trees in the Monongahela National Forest…

Recent drinking water data from six states shows nearly 20% of states' drinking water systems had PFAS above the Environmental Protection Agency's 2022 interim revised health advisory levels. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New Report Highlights PFAS Contamination in West Virginia

A new report finds concerning levels of PFAS contamination in waterways near Martinsburg and Parkersburg. Environmental groups say the findings are …

The Albright Dam is the last dam in West Virginia on the Cheat River, and environmental groups say it has long been an impediment to fish migration. (Joey Kimmet/Friends of the Cheat)

Albright Dam Removal Part of National River Cleanup Effort

Environmental groups say removing the Albright Dam on the Cheat River will help restore fish populations, improve water quality and expand outdoor …

A court has ruled the Mountain Valley Pipeline can change its crossing method for around 180 bodies of water and wetlands, and dig tunnels under, rather than through, them. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Routing MV Pipeline Under Streams, Wetlands Called Habitat Risk

Mountain Valley Pipeline developers are now allowed to dig tunnels below streams and wetlands, and environmental groups say they are concerned about …

A new report found 73% of the state's assessed waterways, including in the New River Gorge, are impaired for drinking, swimming or aquatic life. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV Among States With Most Impaired Sources of Drinking Water

West Virginia ranks among the top three states in the nation for the amount of rivers and streams used for drinking water classified as impaired…

Environmentalists say increased sediment from a proposed natural-gas pipeline project would cause significant harm to West Virginia's streams and aquatic life. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Court Rejects Mountain Valley Pipeline Permit

A federal court in Virginia has struck down a proposed permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, siding with environmental groups who said the project …

The Long Run watershed, located in the Greenbrier Southeast Project area, supports native brook trout and drains into waters that are home to the endangered candy darter fish. (Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance)<br /><br />

Conservation Groups Scrutinize Monongahela Timber-Harvest Proposal

A U.S. Forest Service timber-harvest proposal in Pocahontas County has conservation groups worried about potential harmful impacts to endangered …

The Williams River in the Monongahela National Forest in one of the places conservation groups in West Virginia are working to protect against the effects of development. (Adobe Stock)

Mapping Project Uses Data to Guide WV Conservation Efforts

Conservation experts in the state are expanding a forest mapping tool to assess the impact of development on thousands of acres of public lands…

A 2020 report by the Environmental Working Group identified the presence of PFAS chemicals in the tap water of dozens of U.S. cities where contamination was not previously suspected. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA’s PFAS Roadmap Could Soon Improve WV Communities' Water Quality

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The federal government said it soon will begin taking steps to study and restrict the use of so-called "forever" chemicals …

West Virginia mom Lucia Valentine wants lawmakers in Congress to support investments in clean energy infrastructure. (Photo courtesy of Valentine)

WV Moms Call on Manchin to Support Biden’s Climate Plan

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Some West Virginia families are calling on Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to support President Joe Biden's climate action plan…

Topography makes the Mountain State one of the most flood-prone regions in the country. (Wikimedia Commons/June 2016 U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Penni Harris)

Is WV Prepared 5 Years after Devastating Floods?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Deadly flooding five years ago continues to haunt many West Virginia communities, and advocates called on the state to update …

West Virginia's Cheat River flows from five major tributaries, known as the

Ongoing Restoration Key to Improving Cheat River Water Quality

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- June has been National Rivers Month, and in West Virginia, conservation groups are celebrating the results of decades-long …

Chemicals held in oil and gas storage tanks include radioactive substances, which experts say are harmful to human health. (Adobe Stock)

WV Bills to Relax Water Protections Seen as “Dangerous”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With memories of the 2014 Elk River chemical spill still fresh, West Virginia environmental groups are pushing state lawmakers …

Legal and regulatory challenges have increased the cost of the Mountain Valley Pipeline project by more than 50%. (Alexandr Anastasin/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Urge Higher Fines for Mountain Valley Pipeline Project

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- The multibillion-dollar Mountain Valley Pipeline Project is being fined more than $300,000 for excessive erosion and sediment …

West Virginia National Guard members remove debris after a 2019 flood in Harman. Damaging floods have increased in the state along with the climate crisis. (U.S. National Guard)

Senate Report Calls for Natural Solutions to Battle Climate Change

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With wildfires out West and a hurricane fueled by high water temperatures in the South, Senate Democrats have released a new …

A federal judge ruled that Bluestone Coal Corp. will have to pay penalties and cleanup costs for leaking selenium from mines into McDowell County streams. (Wikimedia Commons)

Judge Finds WV Governor’s Coal Company Liable for Pollution Violations

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - After a group of environmental activists filed a lawsuit last year, a federal judge ruled this week that a coal company owned by …

An investigation by Rolling Stone magazine found the waste brine from Marcellus wells is radioactive enough to be seen as a threat to workers and the public. (Vivian Stockman/Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition)

Investigation: Marcellus Waste 'Too Hot' for Release by Nuke Plant

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- A federal loophole means millions of tons and billions of gallons of radioactive natural gas waste are being disposed of as if …

PFAS chemicals can pollute areas when runoff from factories enters rivers and streams. (Adobe Stock)

Proposal to Curb Dangerous PFAS Chemicals in WV Water

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Come next month's 2020 legislative session, West Virginia lawmakers will propose a rare piece of legislation to improve drinking-…

A West Virginia community is solving a clean tap-water crisis with hydropanels that make water out of air. (Zero Mass Water)

WV County Tackles Clean Water Crisis with New Hydropanels

KIMBALL, W.Va. – In McDowell County, West Virginia, access to clean tap water is a challenge for many. That's why one community is trying …

Some West Virginia residents are facing a polluted water crisis partly from industrial runoff. (Adobe stock)

Report: Clean-Running Water Crisis Hits Underserved Americans

KIMBALL, W.Va. — More than 2 million Americans live without running water and basic indoor plumbing, according to a new report by water access …

Two-thirds of West Virginia counties rank in the bottom third for their number of tap-water safety violations; even more are in the bottom third for the time it takes to fix these issues. (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Report Fits WV Tap-Water Safety Issues into National Pattern

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The latest report on unsafe tap water confirms some of West Virginia's drinking water problems - and puts them in a …

Supporters argue a storage hub for ethane from natural gas would be key to developing a petrochemical industry that could produce consumer plastics in the northern Ohio Valley. (DOE)

Should Huge Petrochemical Project Get Federal Clean-Energy Funds?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia conservation groups are fighting a plan to use U.S. Department of Energy clean power funds for a huge …

In 2012, U.S. power plants produced approximately 110 million tons of coal ash. (Emilian Vicola/Pixabay)

Changes Would Further Weaken Coal-Ash Regs

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Environmental Protection Agency wants to roll back coal-ash regulations put in place four years ago to protect public …

Thousands of stream miles and wetlands could lose Clean Water Act protections under an EPA proposal to change the Waters of the United States rule. (Samuel Taylor for Birth Place of Rivers)

Comment Period Closing on Clean Water Act Rollback

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today is the deadline for public comment on a plan to reduce the reach of the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protect …

Some health researchers have tied mountaintop-removal coal mining to much higher rates of cancer in people living nearby. (Stockman/Southwings)

MTR Health Study, Moratorium Make Headway in Congress

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – A health study of mountaintop-removal mining – and a moratorium until it's finished – are getting a hearing in …

The Ohio River watershed contains most of five states and parts of eight others. (USGS/Karl Musser/Wikipedia)

Ohio River Pollution Rules Watered Down

Charleston, WV - A multi-state group has loosened pollution-control limits on the Ohio River, although not as much as initially proposed. The Ohio …

Routine updates to water-pollution standards are proving controversial in the West Virginia Legislature, with objections coming from some manufacturers. (Homestage/Pixabay)

One Charleston Manufacturer Pressing for Delay of Water Rules

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Under pressure from a specific Charleston manufacturer, a state Senate committee has moved to delay updating human health …

The Trump administration has lost 16 of the 17 lawsuits brought by Earthjustice that have resulted in major environmental court decisions so far. (Pixabay)

Trump Admin Losing Enviro Fights in Court

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Trump administration's efforts to weaken public health and environmental regulations are being roundly defeated in the …

The chemicals C8 (used to make Teflon) and MCHM (used to clean coal) have caused problems when they have shown up in West Virginia tap water. (suju/Pixabay)

Public Water Fight: DEP Rules Now Before WV Legislature

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A normally boring rule-making process is turning into a water fight for lawmakers. At the request of the West Virginia …

Five years after the Elk River chemical spill prompted public protests, a West Virginia legislative committee has stalled a major update of health and safety related water-pollution rules. (Dan Heyman)

WV Lawmakers Stall Toxic Water-Pollution Update at Industry Request

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — At industry request, a legislative rule-making committee has stalled new limits to nearly 100 toxic water pollutants…

Natural gas pipeline projects through the rugged Appalachian Mountains inevitably run into serious slope erosion problems. (Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition)

Pipelines Stop and Go as Court Rules Permits Issued In Haste

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Construction on two huge gas pipelines through West Virginia and Virginia has repeatedly stopped and restarted, as the 4th …

The Ohio runs through some of the most heavily industrialized parts of the country, and is one of the nation's most polluted rivers. (ORSANCO)

Vote Could Create Loopholes in Ohio River Protections

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A vote this week will determine if West Virginia and seven other states will lose some pollution-control standards for the …

The steep hillsides of Appalachia present serious challenges for building big gas pipelines. (Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition)

WV Groups Sue Pipeline Companies for "Abuse" of Permitting Process

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Clean water groups say getting a single, general permit to cover work at hundreds of separate sites by gas pipeline …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

In 2008 more than a billion gallons of wet coal ash spilled near Kingston, Tenn. (Brian Stansberry/WikimediaCommons)

EPA Coal-Ash Changes Condemned

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Environmental groups say changes proposed by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt would gut federal …

According to Duke University researchers, even after it's been treated, oil and gas wastewater will leave radioactive deposits when released into the surface water. (Avner Vengosh)

Study: Treated Oil, Gas Wastewater Leaves Radioactive Contamination

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over time, treated oil and gas wastewater is leaving radioactive deposits in the stream beds where it is released, …

Opponents worried about water quality are pressing state officials to block two huge natural gas pipelines. (Twitter/Virginia Interfaith Power & Light)

"The Art of the Self-Deal' Study Looks at Pipelines' Costs For Ratepayers

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A recent report finds huge planned gas pipelines could cost some ratepayers many times what they would otherwise pay. "The Art …

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WV: Water