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Friday, April 4, 2025

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Republicans weigh using the power of Congress to rein in Trump on tariffs; Stocks tumble again after China fires back in trade war; Mississippi urged to invest in jobs, not jails, to cut prison costs; Studies highlight gut health benefits of plant-forward diets in MI.

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The administration stands behind its tariffs, despite declines in markets. Advocates nationwide push back against federal rollbacks affecting military families, and the environment and big budget plans advance in Congress.

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The proposed dismantling of the Depart. of Education has rural schools scared, postal carriers say USPS changes will hurt rural communities most, fiber networks to improve internet may be supplanted by Musk's satellites, and it's time to PLAY BALL!

Zombie mines continue to pose environmental, health threats to Appalachia

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Monday, June 17, 2024   

West Virginia and other Appalachian states are littered with hundreds of "zombie mines," abandoned mines neither producing coal nor undergoing reclamation.

Research shows idle mines can trigger landslides, pollute groundwater and cause economic harm to communities.

Erin Savage, coal impacts program director for the group Appalachian Voices, said there is an urgent need to update regulations on zombie mines, especially since the Biden administration's recently announced federal actions to clean up abandoned mines do not apply to zombie mines. She noted part of the problem is a lack of data around what mines are producing coal, are set to be reclaimed, or have been sitting vacant for decades.

She has been working on a project that aims to better identify zombie mines in the region.

"One way we're trying to go about doing that is using remote sensing," Savage explained. "What we're doing is using algorithms to analyze images of the surfaces of these mines and look for barren earth."

Research shows coal companies' habit of transferring permits and declaring bankruptcy often delays reclamation and evades responsibility for cleanup. More than 50 coal companies declared bankruptcy between 2010 and 2019, and 22 additional coal companies declared bankruptcy in 2020 alone.

Congressional lawmakers have introduced three bills to ensure coal companies pay for the cost of mine cleanup. Savage explains the first bill would eliminate "self-bonding," essentially a corporate promise companies make to do mine cleanup.

"The second would make sure that bond amounts are set at an adequate level, so that there's actually enough money available for the cost -- true cost -- of reclamation," Savage outlined. "And the third would set better, enforceable standards about how quickly reclamation needs to happen."

Reclaiming zombie mines could also bring economic opportunities to a region plagued by unemployment. A 2021 analysis by Appalachian Voices found reclamation of modern mines in West Virginia and six other states could create up to 45,000 jobs.


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In addition to gut health benefits, many researchers say reducing meat consumption and increasing plant-based foods can help lower greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water and reduce the environmental footprint of food production. (NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

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By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…


Social Issues

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As Mississippi grapples with one of the nation's highest incarceration rates, a new national campaign highlights the economic and social toll of …

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