The Cradle to Grave Info: Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

KFTC is a grassroots community group with offices all over Kentucky. They work on a wide array of issues to improve the quality of life for residents of Kentucky.

* For years, coal miners would take canaries into the mines to warn of dangerous gases. When the canaries died, the miners knew it was time to get out of the mine. Now, we are the canaries, warning everyone about the dangers of coal before it is too late. We no longer believe the big lie that coal is a cheap source of energy, and we are no longer willing to have our homes and lives sacrificed for coal company profits. * http://www.kftc.org/our-work/canary-project

Coal River Mountain Watch - Remembering the Past, Working for the Future
Coal River Mountain Watch (CRMW) is a grassroots organization begun in 1998 in response to the fear and frustration of people living near or downstream from huge mountaintop removal sites. We began as a small group of volunteers working to organize the residents of southern West Virginia to fight for social, economic, and environmental justice. From our humble beginnings, we have become a major force in opposition to mountaintop removal. Our outreach coordinator, Julia Bonds, was the 2003 Goldman Prize winner for North America. CRMW's efforts figure prominently in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s book /Crimes against Nature/. We have been active in federal court to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits for valley fills and made regional news with demonstrations against a sludge dam and preparation plant near Marsh Fork Elementary School. http://www.crmw.net/index.php

Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition <http://www.ohvec.org OVEC is an organization based out of Huntington, WV. OVEC works to organize residents of coal producing areas of West Virginia, specifically in Logan and Mingo County. The also work towards Clean Elections.

Coal River Mountain Watch MySpace
<http://www.myspace.com/coalrivermountainwatch CRMW's MySpace account.

Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment
<http://www.appalachian-center.org The Appalachian Center is a non-profit public interest law and policy organization dedicated to protecting the communities and natural resources of central Appalachia and advocating for a just and sustainable economy for the region.

West Virginia Highlands Conservancy <http://wvhighlands.org The Conservancy promotes, encourages, and works for the conservation and appreciation of the natural resources of West Virginia and the Nation, especially the Highlands of West Virginia,

WV Citizens Action Group <http://www.wvcag.org>
(www.wvcag.org)West Virginia Citizen Action Group (WV-CAG) has, since 1974, advocated for better public policy, rights of individuals, a clean environment and a stronger democratic process.

WV Environmental Council <http://www.wvecouncil.org WV Environmental Council helps to facilitate communication between citizens, Grassroots Organizations, and Government agencies to promote a healthy environment.

EarthJustice <http://www.earthjustice.org Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.

Head On Radio with Bob Kincaid <http://www.headonradio.com/ Head On Radio is an internet radio show about West Virginia Politics.

Appalachian Voices <http://www.appvoices.org Appalachian Voices is an environmental organization based out of Boone, NC with a very active anti-MTR Program.

Aurora Lights <http://www.auroralights.org Aurora Lights is currently working with CRMW to create a Participatory GIS map of the area. In the past, Aurora Lights produced the Moving Mountains <http://www.fallingmountain.com/mtr.html> cd.

Mountain Justice Summer <http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org MJS is a multi-state movement that aims to work with existing local organizations in the fight against surface coal mining.

Informational

Coal Impoundment Project <http://www.coalimpoundment.org The Coal Impoundment Project was created after the Martin County, KY spill. This website maps all the known impoundments in the nation.

Regulatory Agencies

DEP http://www.wvdep.org The WVDEP is in charge of issuing mining permits and overseeing the operation.

MSHA http://www.msha.gov The Mine Safety and Health Administration is the federal agency responsible for overseeing worker safety in the mining industry.