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
- OHIO VALLEY RESOURCE: Shouldering Coal’s Costs: Uncertain Future for Programs Addressing Coal Industry Health ImpactsACLC’S black lung organizer Courtney Rhoades was interviewed for this article. “‘There’s also a lot of pushback from coal companies, because as coal is declining, they don’t want to pay into this,’ said Courtney Rhoades, who advocates for black lung patients at Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center. ‘Even though we also know that as cool as […]
- ACLC NEWS: Remembering Rep. Brent YontsWe are saddened to learn of the passing of Brent Yonts, a former Kentucky state representative and attorney in Greenville, KY. Whether he was authoring the strongest coal mine safety legislation in the nation or fighting for a miner’s black lung benefits, Rep. Yonts was a true friend and advocate for mining families in the […]
- CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL: Advocates urge Congress, MSHA to do more for miners with black lung and guard against the disease“A webinar presented Wednesday evening by a panel of miners and advocates from West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia urged Congress to extend and raise a tax on coal production that provides health care benefits to miners and federal mine regulators to strengthen regulations to protect miners from getting black lung disease in the first place. […]
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
