Getting Ready for the Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature begins in earnest on February 8. Last month and this month The Highlands Voice has had stories on issues that may arise. Last month we had [...]
From the Archives All issues of our newsletter, The Highlands Voice, beginning with Volume 1, in 1969, are archived on our website. Enjoy the following highlights taken from 1969 The Highlands [...]
We Need New Siting Rules for Exempt Wholesale
The West Virginia Environmental Council (WVEC) government affairs committee re-aligned the WVEC lobbying priorities to be pursued in the 2017 legislature, which begins February 8. The re-aligned priorities make upcoming [...]
Preview of Coming (Un)Attractions
Just as surely as we can expect Robins in the spring or a Presidential tweet at midnight, the West Virginia Legislature will consider a change to the water quality standards. [...]
Trout Unlimited is working with the West Virginia Rivers Coalition to train volunteers to monitor streams that have the potential to be impacted by shale gas-related development and other non-point [...]
Stream “Protection” Rule Imperiled
By John McFerrin The January, 2017, issue of The Highlands Voice reported that the Stream Protection Rule would become final in January, bringing to an end over fifteen years of [...]
New secretary fires WVDEP environmental advocate
By Ken Ward Jr. West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Austin Caperton on Friday fired Wendy Radcliff, the leader of the DEP’s Office of Environmental Advocate. The move immediately [...]
Bombus affinis – Rusty patched bumble bee
On 22 September 2016, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a rule to list the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee as federally endangered. There have been no observations in [...]
Most times we do not save mountains all on our own. We have help. But in many past instances, we did take the lead and offered a major portion of [...]
FERC, Dominion Seek to Rush Pipeline Review
By John McFerrin The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Dominion Resources have proposed an accelerated schedule for approval of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The Forest Service has pushed [...]
By Matt Kearns and David Lillard People who care about public lands know the last few years have been challenging. Advocates have fought off several Congressional attempts to change or [...]
Trail Truthing for the Hiking Guide
By Hugh Rogers Beginning in 1988, Allen de Hart co-authored four editions of the Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide for the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. His death last fall, at [...]
Court of Appeals Enforces Conductivity Rules
By John McFerrin The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit decided that a West Virginia coal mine violated the state and federal Clean Water Acts by discharging [...]
Most times we do not save mountains all on our own. We have help. But in many past instances, we did take the lead and offered a major portion of [...]
On Climate Change and the Arc of History
By John McFerrin February is the month of predictions, the month that opens with Groundhog Day when we all at least pretend to listen to the weather forecast of a [...]
The January 22, 2017, meeting was the usual mix of business and hearing about issues. In the President’s report, President Ellis mentioned a few items of interest. We agreed to Board [...]
By John McFerrin A threat to the Core Arboretum in Morgantown has been avoided. The Morgantown Monongahela Metropolitan Planning Organization had been considering a proposal that would include building a [...]
