U.S. Supreme Court Allows Atlantic Coast Pipeline to Cross Appalachian Trail
By John McFerrin The United States Supreme Court has reversed the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and held that the United States Forest Service was within its authority [...]
Summer has arrived and Mother Nature continues to show off her amazing splendor throughout the highlands. As one travels throughout the mountains the trees have leafed out and wildlife is [...]
Atlantic Coast Pipeline problems persist despite Supreme Court decision
From the Southern Environmental Law Center “While today’s decision was not what we hoped for, it addresses only one of the many problems faced by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This [...]
Environmental Protection Agency Limits States’ Rights
By John McFerrin For activities which cross or result in a discharge into streams and wetlands, builders must have a permit pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Even if the permit [...]
More Threats (and a little hope) for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
By John McFerrin The April, 2020, issue of The Highlands Voice included a story about threats to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Those threats continue to grind ahead, putting the effectiveness of the [...]
Changes Coming to the National Forests
By John McFerrin Many, many years ago a coal operator in eastern Kentucky was quoted as saying, “Green? You want green, we’ll just take all the money we’re going to make [...]
Delay for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
Dominion Energy and Duke Energy, co-owners of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, have asked federal regulators for a two year extension. They now say the 600 mile pipeline will not be completed [...]
West Virginia Rivers Coalition and Trout Unlimited Report on Pipelines
By John McFerrin West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina are thick with rivers and streams. More and more, they are (or are proposed to be) thick with pipelines. If the pipelines and [...]
Thinking about the Economics of Petrochemicals
By John McFerrin One of the clichés of our public policy has long been that we have to “balance” the environmental and social costs of coal, oil, and gas extraction [...]
There is a white skein of fungus fast enveloping in its many tendriled way the bone dry gnarled shattered shard of decaying log I always mark along the berm of [...]
For some while I've considered jotting down stories from those early days of organizing West Virginia Highlands Conservancy -- often around the table in Pittsburgh Climbers' rented shack in Onego. [...]
The April, 2020, issue of The Highlands Voice celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 583. It would further the development of renewable energy resources by allowing the state’s utility companies to “plan, design, [...]
