![appalachian mountains](https://aclc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/appalachian-mountains.jpg)
We fight for
- Justice in the coalfields
- Miners’ Health & Safety
- environmental justice
- a better future
![coal miner with coal dust on face](https://aclc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Rectangle-3.jpg)
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
- 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, […]
- New Report: The Problem of Unabated Violations on Kentucky’s Coal Mine SitesWhitesburg – ACLC’s Deputy Director Mary Cromer and Director of Policy Rebecca Shelton, along with Amethyst Muncy, released a report analyzing numerous unabated violations on Kentucky’s permitted coal mines. VIEW THE REPORT HERE
- Advocates Release New Federal Flood Policy PlatformVIEW THE FULL PLATFORM View the Platform Summary Link to the Recording of the Press Conference: Facebook | Zoom APPALACHIA — ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation were joined by local elected officials and advocates today to detail a four-pillar flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia. Nearly forty groups have […]
![Group of ACLC staff members](https://aclc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_5580-e1600259249569-1024x739.jpg)
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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