We fight for
- Justice in the coalfields
- Miners’ Health & Safety
- environmental justice
- a better future
The Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center
is a nonprofit law firm that fights
for justice in the coalfields by:
Representing coal miners and their families on issues of black lung and mine safety
Working with grassroots groups and individuals to protect the land and people from misuse and degradation caused by extractive industries
Analyzing and advocating for policy that addresses the legacy costs of the coal industry and invests in the future of the region
Photo copyright Earl Dotter
News & Articles
- Black Lung Associations from Across West Virginia Urge Manchin and Capito to Fix Black Lung Benefits Before End of YearFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2024 Contact:Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 READ LETTER HERE Charleston, W.Va. – Today, the Kanawha, Fayette and Nicholas County chapters of the Black Lung Association in West Virginia sent a letter to Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito urging them to stand up for their constituents in the […]
- Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center Urges Congress to reject the Energy Permitting Reform ActFor Immediate Release 08/02/2024 Contact:Trey Pollard, trey@pollardcommunications.com, 202-904-9187 Whitesburg, KY – On July 22nd, 2024, Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., and John Barasso, R-Wyo., released new energy permitting legislation, entitled the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. If passed, this legislation would cut out vital public engagement opportunities that offer residents the chance to weigh in […]
- Miners and advocates travel to Washington to ask legislators to strengthen black lung benefitsBrendan Muckian-Bates, ACLC, & Quenton King, AppVoices The black lung epidemic continues to ravage mining communities across Appalachia as every year, more and more younger miners contract this preventable occupational disease. With each new diagnosis, households are torn between two equally difficult choices to make: continue working to make ends meet in a toxic environment, […]
We’ve got
your back.
ACLC works with coal miners, their families and residents of the coalfields who are seeking justice. We provide legal services free of charge.
Black lung victims and widows
Landowners trying to prevent mining
And many more.
Pursuing justice by empowering Appalachian communities
We work to prevent the rampant abuse of Appalachian communities from extractive industries by:
Uniting direct legal work with advocacy, policy, and research on issues of environmental justice and miners’ health and safety
Securing millions of dollars in black lung benefits for coal miners and their survivors
Representing hundreds of Appalachian citizens in defense of a safe and clean environment
Partnering with a broad coalition of aligned organizations to craft and support strong policy initiatives that expand protections for Central Appalachian workers and communities
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