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
- Advocates Respond to New Rule Cracking Down on Coal Industry’s Abandonment of Black Lung LiabilitiesAmid new coal mergers, new Department of Labor Safeguard Closes “Self-Insurance” Loopholes That Currently Allows Industry to Dump Liabilities on Black Lung Trust Fund For Immediate Release December 11, 2024 COAL COUNTRY – Today, the Biden Administration’s Department of Labor released a new rule to address a long-abused loophole that allows coal companies to walk […]
- Nature-Based Solutions Needed to Combat Appalachia’s Growing Flood RisksBy Brendan Muckian-Bates This blog is part of a series detailing the flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia, released by ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation Boone County was once West Virginia’s premier coal producing county. Coal extraction in Boone increased from 6 million tons in 1950 to more than […]
- Flood Mapping for AppalachiaBy Jessica Arriens, National Wildlife Federation This blog is part of a series detailing the flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia, released by ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation Across many parts of the U.S., flooding is becoming more frequent and more severe due to climate change. Which means flood […]
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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