Across Appalachia, the toxic legacy of mountaintop removal is hindering communities works towards economic transition. Cleaning up the land and making it safe for future generations is a key environmental and economic goal. Appalachian groups are making plans right now to explore ways to leverage federal funding to clean up the mess.

The Alliance for Appalachia has been working with an AppFellow, in coordination with the Highlander Center and the Appalachian Citizens Law Center (ACLC) to conduct primary research on the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Fund–a body of federal funds set aside to clean up pre-1977 abandoned mines sites. The fellows are working on a white paper with policy recommendations which will be presented at an AML regional gathering on October 27th at the Breaks Interstate Park.

This meeting is a first step to influence the way in which AML funds are managed in the region, to put unemployed miners back to work through reclamation and reforestation efforts, and to begin to foster creative, community-led reclamation solutions that will benefit communities that have seen up to 25% of our land destroyed by mountaintop removal.

Go here to learn more about the gathering and to register if you’d like to attend!