• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
appalachian citizens law center logo

Appalachian Citizens' Law Center

We Fight for Justice in the Coalfields

  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Staff & Board
    • Internships & Fellowships
    • Job Openings
    • Contact
    • Financials
  • What We Do
    • Environmental Justice
    • Miners’ Health & Safety
    • Policy & Research
    • Advocacy
  • Get Help
    • Federal Black Lung Benefits
    • Black Lung Associations
    • Environmental Problems
    • Mine Safety Discrimination
  • Take Action
  • News
  • Donate

Policy & Research

Policy & Research

what we do

Our policy research and analysis serves as a foundation for our advocacy.

We seek to understand and improve the policy that currently impacts those living and working in the coalfields and engage in research to support the development of policy proposals that will move the region towards a just economic transition. The combination of our research capacity with legal expertise allows us to look at legal pressure points that might allow for greater justice and opportunity for families and communities.

FEATURE

Reports & Analysis

Proposed MSHA Office Closures

learn more

Delayed Coal Mine Reclamation in Kentucky

learn more
The Problem of Unabated Violations on Kentucky’s Coal Mine Sites
learn more
Benefits for Coal Miners with Black Lung Falling Behind (2024)
learn more

Functionally Abandoned “Active” Surface Mine Permits in Kentucky

learn more

Drinking Water Affordability in Kentucky

learn more
Benefits for Coal Miners with Black Lung Falling Behind (2023)
learn more
Housing Damage from 2022 Kentucky Flood / 2023
learn more
POWER for Transition Report / 2022
learn more
Martin County Drinking Water Affordability Report / 2019
learn more
A New Horizon: Innovative Reclamation
for a Just Transition / 2019
learn more
Many Voices, Many Solutions: Innovative Mine
Reclamation in Central Appalachia / 2018
learn more
Abandoned Mine Land Program: A Policy Analysis for Central Appalachia and the Nation / 2015
learn more

Proposed MSHA Office Closures Threaten Health of Miners and Safety of Mines Across the Country

2025

An analysis of the critical inspections conducted by 33 MSHA offices that have been slated for closure by the Trump Administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency

Read the report

Delayed Coal Mine Reclamation in Kentucky

2025

Erin Savage, an experienced coal mine policy analyst, coauthored a report with ACLC’s Deputy Director Mary Cromer and Director of Policy Rebecca Shelton that analyzes how long it takes to reclaim Kentucky coal mines.

Read the report

The Problem of Unabated Violations on Kentucky’s Coal Mine Sites cover photo Page 01

The Problem of Unabated Violations on Kentucky’s Coal Mine Sites

2024

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.

Read the report

Benefits for Coal Miners with Black Lung Falling Behind

2024

ACLC’s Director of Policy Rebecca Shelton co-released a report that examines the growing gap between black lung benefit rates and the cost of living. This is an update to the 2023 report on black lung benefit levels.

Read the report

Functionally Abandoned “Active” Surface Mine Permits in Kentucky

2024

ACLC’s Director of Policy Rebecca Shelton and Deputy Director Mary Cromer released a report that examines the coal production status of surface mine permits in Kentucky.

Read the report

Drinking Water Affordability in Kentucky

2023

ACLC’s Director of Policy Rebecca Shelton and Deputy Director Mary Cromer released a report that examines drinking water affordability in Kentucky.

Read the report

Black Lung Benefits Report 3102023 Page 1

Benefits for Coal Miners with Black Lung Falling Behind

2023

ACLC’s Director of Policy Rebecca Shelton co-released a report that examines the growing gap between black lung benefit rates and the cost of living. This report was released by Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and Appalachian Voices.

Read the report

Housing Damage Image Page 01

Housing Damage from the 2022 Kentucky Flood

2023

ACLC’s Director of Policy Rebecca Shelton co-released a report on the cost to rebuild housing damaged in the July 2022 flooding that impacted Eastern Kentucky. This report was released by Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and Ohio River Valley Institute. 

Read the report

Screen Shot 2022 09 21 at 2.15.59 PM

POWER for Transition

2022

ACLC’s Director of Policy and Organizing Rebecca Shelton co-released a report on the impact of the POWER initiative on coal communities. This report was released by Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, Resources for the Future, and Environmental Defense Fund.

View the report

Image 55

Martin County Drinking Water Affordability Report

2019

Deputy director Mary Cromer released a joint report with the Martin County Concerned Citizens (MCCC) looking at the affordability of drinking water in Martin County, Kentucky. This report was put together to aid in MCCC’s fight to hold public officials accountable and to ensure their community has access to safe, affordable drinking water. ACLC represents the citizens’ group free of charge.

View the report

Image 56

A New Horizon: Innovative Reclamation for a Just Transition

2019

This report highlights the successes of the AML Pilot Program in 2019 from previously submitted projects and showcases a brand new round of innovative project proposals. It was compiled by the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition, including Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, Appalachian Voices, Coalfield Development Corporation, Downstream Strategies, and Rural Action. Foundational to our coalition’s work is the understanding that specific, targeted intervention is necessary to ensure that an equitable vision becomes reality.

View the full report

Image 1 1

Many Voices, Many Solutions: Innovative Mine Reclamation in Central Appalachia

2018

This report seeks to spur innovative economic development throughout Appalachia in communities where the landscape has been irreparably changed by coal mining. Specifically, the report provides case studies of projects that advance community development amidst abandoned mine lands, or in some cases by reclaiming abandoned mine features as part of the project. It was compiled by the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition, including Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, Appalachian Voices, Coalfield Development Corporation, Rural Action, and Downstream Strategies.

View the full report

Image 2 1

Abandoned Mine Land Program: A Policy Analysis for Central Appalachia and the Nation

2015

This report is the culmination of a year-long participatory research process in collaboration with The Alliance for Appalachia and the AML Policy Priorities Group. The research process was guided by a range of stakeholders, including affected citizens, community members, policy experts, organizers, and government officials. The report found that while great strides have been made in reclaiming America’s abandoned coal mines, it will take at least $9.6 billion to remediate the remaining 6.2 million acres of lands and waters ravaged by AML problems. Many abandoned mines will remain after the current 2021 sunset of the AML program.

View the report

Footer

Appalachian Citizens' Law Center

317 Main St, Whitesburg, KY 41858

(877) 637-3929 Toll Free

(606) 633-3929

© Addison Williams Hero Image

Recent Posts

  • Eastern Kentucky Leaders Urge Commonwealth’s Federal Delegation to Safeguard Key Health Policies and Investments in Region  
  • Black Lung Bulletin Vol. 3 Issue 2
  • Amid Chaos Caused by Funding Cuts, Layoffs, and Policy Rollbacks, Appalachian Leaders Release Appropriations Priorities for Congress
  • Assault on Coal Miners Continues as MSHA Halts Enforcement of Life-Saving Silica Dust Safeguard
  • ANNOUNCEMENT: ACLC Welcomes Caroline Rubens As New Fundraising Officer

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • December 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • June 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • January 2018
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • February 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • February 2012
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • May 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • January 1970

    Categories

    • Abandoned Mine Lands
    • ACLC News
    • Advocacy
    • Bankruptcy
    • Black Lung
    • Bulletin
    • Case Study
    • COVID-19
    • Environmental
    • Flooding
    • Just Transition
    • Justice
    • Mine Safety
    • Press Release
    • Water

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    • Who We Are
      • About Us
      • Staff & Board
      • Internships & Fellowships
      • Job Openings
      • Contact
      • Financials
    • What We Do
      • Environmental Justice
      • Miners’ Health & Safety
      • Policy & Research
      • Advocacy
    • Get Help
      • Federal Black Lung Benefits
      • Black Lung Associations
      • Environmental Problems
      • Mine Safety Discrimination
    • Take Action
    • News
    • Donate

    Sitemap

    Copyright © 2025 Appalachian Citizens' Law Center