Across Appalachia, we see people deeply committed to the mountains and their communities. That commitment endures despite a long history of under-investment and marginalization.
At the same time, the systems meant to support health and well-being are becoming harder to access and increasingly unresponsive to people’s needs.
Federal Silica Dust Rule Delayed Again
A long-awaited rule that limits miners’ exposure to silica dust has missed another deadline for implementation, and is now delayed indefinitely.
Finalized in 2024 after many years of advocacy, the life-saving rule was designed to limit miners’ exposure to the primary cause of a deadly, rapid form of black lung disease. But the current Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) continues to negotiate with industry to weaken it.
ACLC is pushing for full implementation so the rule is enacted as promised for miners.
What flood recovery looks like in rural communities
Our recent report, Preparing for the Next Storm: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene, highlights ways to improve disaster response and recovery systems in rural areas. Based on 44 interviews with emergency responders, local officials, and community members in North Carolina and Tennessee, the report examines on-the-ground experiences. Findings include:
Evacuation: In many mountain communities, there’s no clear place to evacuate to, and no fast way out.
Warning systems: Well-thought out systems are useful, but when overused or deployed without public education campaigns, warnings can be ineffective.
Infrastructure: Communities lack resilient facilities for storing supplies and holding meetings to coordinate response.
Local capacity: Local governments have too few resources to respond to disasters of this magnitude.
Emerging risks: As wildfire risk in Central and Southern Appalachia grows, especially following major storms, more fire preparedness is crucial.
As extreme weather becomes more frequent, disaster planning and funding must reflect the realities facing communities in the most vulnerable regions.
Energy Equity Workshops
For many households, access to affordable, reliable energy is becoming increasingly out of reach. People on low or fixed incomes are forced to make difficult choices when monthly bills arrive, and they face disconnections when electricity is critical to health and safety.
Beginning May 5, we’re hosting monthly workshops where residents can lower costs, understand hard-to-decipher bills, and have a voice in how rates are set.
We’re also bringing community-defined concerns into state regulatory proceedings and advocating for laws that hold decision-makers accountable to residents.
The workshops will be in person and livestreamed on the first Tuesday of each month through October. For updates, follow us on Facebook.
Advocates press for stronger protections
Members of Women of Black Lung and the Black Lung Association of Southeastern Kentucky met with a Hal Rogers staffer to advocate for stronger protections and benefits for miners.
Staff news in brief
- Wes Addington spoke at a national Black Lung Forum hosted by Senator Tim Kaine
- Mary Cromer joined panels on energy and water affordability at the Beyond the Rent Conference
- Rebecca Shelton co-authored federal appropriations requests focused on flood resilience, mine reclamation, and black lung prevention.
Support this work on Kentucky Gives Day
Join us on May 12 to help sustain legal advocacy and community-led work across Central Appalachia.
P.S. We’re looking for a few supporters to host their own fundraising pages for Kentucky Gives Day on May 12. By sharing our work with your network, you can help expand our reach. Interested? Contact Carrie at carrie@aclc.org.
Interested in supporting ACLC’s work? Learn more here.
