West Virginia is in the Spotlight of transition already
(Click on this image to magnify it)

From the Coalition of Regional Organizations, CCAN, SUN, WV Rivers, CAG, New Jobs & WV-EE

How can the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) help YOU save money? Join our FREE event on Saturday, March 25th in Wheeling, WV.

For nearly two years, we endured the many bumps and roadblocks traversing the long and winding road that led us to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Now this historic climate legislation has the potential to deeply impact our lives and the world around us by investing in clean energy, energy efficiency and community development initiatives. But you might wonder…

How will the IRA actually impact YOUR life? Let us tell you!

Join us Saturday, March 25, at 12:30 PM in Wheeling for an exciting FREE in-person presentation on how the Inflation Reduction Act can benefit YOU and your community!

The IRA is full of unprecedented investments and ambitious climate policies that can cut climate pollution 40 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2035 while creating hundreds of thousands of family sustaining jobs while advancing racial, economic and environmental justice. Are you in?

Join us March 25 in Wheeling to learn how to sort through this enormous bill and find out how you can personally save money, make energy efficient updates to your home, uplift your community and much, much more!

CCAN will be joining forces with Leah Barbor from Solar United Neighbors, Morgan King from West Virginia Rivers, Dani Parent from West Virginia Citizen Action Group, Brandi Reece from WV New Jobs Coalition and Morgan Fowler from West Virginians for Energy Efficiency to show how individuals, municipalities, and organizations can benefit from millions of dollars of investments contained in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Click here to RSVP for March 25 and learn how you and your community can benefit from these investments.

If you want to learn more but can’t make it to Wheeling, rest assured! We have many more IRA Roadshows planned for the upcoming months. Click this link to learn more about our next stops in Morgantown and Huntington.

Invite everyone you know and we’ll see you there!

>>> Prepared by Holly Bradley, Federal Team, Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Punxsutawney Phil has relatives in West Virginia who care!

>>> Received on January 31 at 8:41 AM

Make sure you join us Thursday, February 2nd, for a special #GroundhogsDay webinar on the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Right now, there are two permits from federal agencies pending approval and you have the opportunity to comment!

Learn how you can send your comments. This webinar is set for 12:00 Noon! (See the recording below.)

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RECORDING ~ Mountain Valley Pipeline Lunch and Learn February 2, 2023 – WV Rivers Coalition

ACCESS WINDOW~ https://wvrivers.org/2023/02/mvpfeb2023/

YouTube Recording ~ https://youtu.be/42d-68a1-tc

Two permits from federal agencies are pending approval and you have the opportunity to comment on them. This February 2nd webinar discussed how you can craft and submit your comments.

1. You can comment on the US Forest Service permit approval until February 6, through this webform.

2. You can comment on the Army Corp of Engineers permit until February 10, through this webform.

Thank you for your participation at this important time!

Senator Joe Manchin gets more messages, does he listen?

Press Release from Gary Zuckett, WV Citizen Action & Morgan King, WV Rivers Coalition, July 15, 2022

Charleston, W.Va.– Senator Joe Manchin announced that he wants to delay a plan to use the money that wealthy corporations owe to pay for desperately needed projects to help our climate and workers.

In response, the West Virginia Climate Alliance submitted a letter to Senator Manchin. When the letter was sent, the Alliance requested an in person meeting with Senator Manchin, noting they had not been able to meet with the Senator in over a year to discuss grassroots concerns about climate impacts in the state.

“Every day that we delay taking action on the climate crisis makes our weather more extreme and the implementation of solutions even more challenging. The country, and indeed the planet, need Senator Manchin to negotiate in good faith on a bill addressing the climate crisis with the goal of keeping global warming below an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Passage of this bill should not be contingent on a one month inflation report,” said Perry Bryant, founder of the WV Climate Alliance.

Manchin’s move comes just one day after more than 100 homes, roads and bridges in McDowell County, WV were damaged from climate-related flooding. The Climate Alliance representing dozens of regional groups underscores the urgency of the climate crisis; and, a rally at Manchin office took place on Monday, July 18th.

The Rev. Jeffrey Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Council of Churches, stated, “Climate change is a crisis of today. It’s flooding in West Virginia and Virginia; fires in the West; and drought here and abroad. There is an enormous cost that we already bear due to our lack of action and it’s a cost being borne by our neighbors. Passing climate change legislation is as local as it gets. This legislation is not only for our neighbors, but for all of those people who we care deeply about. For their sake, we cannot afford to delay any longer.”

Karan May, Sr. Campaign Representative, Sierra Club: “Folks in Appalachia are among the hardest hit by the effects of climate change. West Virginians are paying the price for poor health outcomes from pollution; here and in Kentucky and Southwest Virginia, year after year, we are paying the enormous price for catastrophic flooding. Senator Manchin has the opportunity to facilitate meaningful change for his constituents and, yet, is choosing to walk away from legislation that could help alleviate this suffering. We will continue to fight for policy that will address the climate crisis, while also putting money back into our communities with investments in clean energy and sustainable economic development.”

Linda Frame, President of the WV Environmental Council, said “After a year of good-faith discussions with Senator Manchin and his team it’s hard not to be deflated by this latest delay. We continue to urge Senator Manchin to seize this opportunity to do the right thing for our state, our country, and our planet because the alternative is unthinkable.”

Eve Marcum-Atkinson, Comms. Coord. For WV Citizen Action Group said that “The overall cost of building climate change resilient infrastructure, as well as the transition to a clean energy economy, can be paid for now. Tax minimums for millionaires and the elimination of zero-tax-paying loopholes for corporations are how we do this. They have financially benefited from our people’s labor, our nation’s infrastructure, and our economy. We need them to pay their fair share to help us all, as we continue to struggle with the effects of rising prices, increases in dangerous storms, record temperatures, drought, flooding, and more. We need Senator Manchin to fully embrace this now, as climate change is a now issue, a global issue. It’s not going away.”

Dana Kuhnline, Campaign Manager for ReImagine Appalachia said that “No matter our race or income, we want to live and raise our families in healthy and safe communities. Done right, the reconciliation bill is an opportunity to create bridges across our differences rather than making them deeper. Appalachia has been hit hard both by climate change impacts and global energy shifts – with Black and brown communities seeing disproportionate impacts. At the same time, we have an incredible opportunity to mitigate the climate crisis by investing in the communities hardest hit. Appalachian communities need action from Congress, this delay on key climate provisions not only hurts communities struggling with flooding and job loss due to the downturn of the coal industry, it pushes back other urgent actions we need to see from Congress.”

Morgan King, climate campaign coordinator of WV Rivers Coalition said that “Promoting good energy legislation is part of Senator Manchin’s role as chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. We call on him to not further delay action on the issues he proclaims to champion. It’s past time to listen to the science that shows a transformational clean energy transition will mitigate climate change while saving lives and creating new jobs.”

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FOUNDED in 2020, the WEST VIRGINIA CLIMATE ALLIANCE is a broad-based coalition of almost 20 environmental organizations, faith-based, civil rights and civic organizations, and other groups with a focus on climate change. Members of the Alliance work together to provide science-based education on climate change to West Virginia citizens and policymakers.

FOR MORE ON THE CLIMATE ALLIANCE, VISIT: WVClimateAlliance.org

On January 4, 2014, Storage Tank leaks into the Elk River contaminated the Kanawha River and the regional water supply

To: Frank Jernejcic, HB 2598 died in committee.

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From: Frank Jernejcic
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 12:28 PM
To: Mike Caputo
Subject: HB 2598 – Say No to Weakening Water Protections in the Aboveground Storage Tank Act

Dear Senator Caputo,

I am the Vice-President of the Upper Mon River Association (UMRA) and contacting you on behalf of our organization.

I am asking you to please protect our public drinking water and reject HB 2598, which weakens inspection requirements for certain oil & gas tanks closest to our public drinking water intakes.

All tanks within a Zone of Critical Concern (ZCC) should have the standards and oversight mechanisms of the Aboveground Storage Tank Act.

Please, say no to weaken protections for drinking water in the Aboveground Storage Tank Act and reject HB 2598.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Frank Jernejcic, Morgantown, WV 26508

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See also: West Virginia Environmental Council, P.O. Box 1007, Charleston WV 25324 ~ Office: (304) 414-0143, Email: info@wvecouncil.org

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See also: West Virginia Rivers Coalition, 3501 MacCorkle Ave SE #129, Charleston, WV 25304. Office: 304-637-7201, Email: wvrivers@wvrivers.org

xxx

Conserve & Restore West Virginia Rivers & Streams & Wetlands

Description ~ Join WV Rivers for a Live Legislative Update. We’ll have an in depth discussion on our water policy priorities and what we can expect for the remainder of the 2022 session. A Q&A will follow the presentation.

Time ~ Feb 24, 2022 07:00 PM in Eastern Time

Join WV Rivers for a Live Legislative Update on Thursday, February 24 at 7:00pm on Zoom. We’ll have an in depth discussion on our water policy priorities and what we can expect for the remainder of the 2022 session. A Q&A will follow the presentation.

Register for the Legislative Update Here ASAP

Make a Donation in Support of Conserving & Restoring WV’s Exceptional Rivers & Streams

>>> WEST VIRGINIA RIVERS COALITION
3501 MacCorkle Ave SE #129, Charleston, WV 25304
304-637-7201 | wvrivers@wvrivers.org

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SEE ALSO: Week 6 of the WV Legislative Session: Fair Courts, Justice, Water, and more!

Capital Eye V.15 N.6 ~ West Virginia Citizen’s Action Group

In this February 21st edition of the Capital Eye weekly newsletter update:

– Mushroom Session; – Judicial Power Grab Would Weaken West Virginians’ Say-So on the Courts; – Smart Justice Advocacy Day is Almost Here; – Meet Carey Jo; – WVNOW Legislative Action Alert 2.21.22; – Jo’s Fight for Coverage During COVID; – Keeping your Activist Heart Happy: A Series – part 3.

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SEE ALSO: Legislative Updates WVEC February 18, 2022

GREEN, Volume 32 Issue 6 ~ West Virginia Environmental Council

We just completed week six of the Legislature! Tuesday was the last day to introduce bills in the House and this Monday, February 21, will be the last day to do so in the Senate. We have compiled a list of bills we are watching, both good and bad, and will continue to update this list as we go. We also hosted our virtual E-Day event on Wednesday, and you can find the link to our livestream in the article below. Check out the other articles to see what’s happening!

Protecting mountains, rivers and streams in WV & VA

Announcement from Wild Virginia, WV Rivers Coalition, et al., March 10, 2021

Learn about the specific actions you can take this month to help stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline and protect our water.

Presenters will explain why this pipeline is so catastrophic for ecosystems, endangered species, public lands, directly-impacted communities, and the climate at large. You will have a chance to hear from directly-impacted landowners, grassroots leaders, and lawyers fighting the project.

We will share where MVP stands today, what could happen if it is put into service, and how your action is essential before March 22nd to stop that from ever occurring. Learn how to submit a public comment or motion to intervene on MVP’s request to change the crossing method for 180 streams and wetlands.

We will provide background information, talking points, and opportunities to ask questions. Your voice is a valuable and needed addition to the public record. In addition to technical comments and filings, public testimony is a crucial part of the campaign against the pipeline — especially if you have direct, personal connections to the land and water being harmed.

Whether this is your first time tuning into the MVP fight or you have resisted this project since the beginning, your voice is needed now.

Please consider joining Wild Virginia, POWHR Coalition (Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights), Appalachian Voices and West Virginia Rivers Coalition as they explain why this pipeline is so dangerous, and what you can do about it.

This online event will take place Tuesday, March 16, from 6:30 – 7:30 PM EDT.

Clean streams need protection — perpetual vigilance is essential

Biological specimen from WV stream

Notice of virtual public hearing on 3/9 at 6PM; comments due on 3/11

The WVDEP is once again accepting public comments on a revised rule that analyzes the aquatic life in the stream to assess whether the stream is meeting the state’s water quality standards.

The latest iteration of the procedural rule is being developed by WVDEP in response to SB 687 passed in 2017. Its purpose is to define the aquatic life component in the narrative water quality standards and the threshold at which the standard is being met or not.

The narrative water quality standards state that a stream must be able to support aquatic life. This narrative standard has been used to hold industry accountable for polluting a stream to the point where it no longer supports a healthy population of aquatic organisms. The aquatic organisms used to measure stream health are the benthic macroinvertebrates.

WVDEP’s proposed procedural rule describes an approach based on the current method that WVDEP has used for the past 18 years. The agency has yet to adopt EPA’s recommended method. The currently used method, WV Stream Condition Index (WVSCI), scores aquatic life communities on a scale of 0-100. The proposed rule would establish an impairment threshold of 50, an attainment threshold of 72, and values between 50 and 72 must undergo additional analysis. View a flowchart of how the assessment process works.

This revised method raises several concerns:

>> The impairment value of 50 and 61 are not based on any statistical information or scientific data.

>> The streams receiving values between 50 and 72 must undergo additional analysis, during which time they are neither listed as impaired nor considered healthy.

>> The proposed rule does not fulfill WVDEP’s duties under the Clean Water Act and allows DEP to delay listing streams that fall within 50 and 72 until additional analysis is performed.

>> The current method, WVSCI, used to calculate whether a stream supports aquatic life is outdated and should be updated to the more accurate, EPA recommended method, Genus Level Assessment of Most Probable Stream Status (GLIMPSS).

Let WVDEP know you want them to use a more precise method to assess stream health! Submit your comments by March 11 and join WVDEP’s virtual public hearing on the rule March 9 at 6:00pm by following these instructions.

Submit Comments to WVDEP here.

West Virginia Rivers Coalition
3501 MacCorkle Ave SE #129
Charleston, West Virginia 25304

wvrivers@wvrivers.org

Dear Friends & Concerned Citizens, November 5, 2020

Election day is over (whew!), but now begins election week…(or weeks? A month? Months?!). There will be time to discuss the results and how they impact the waters of West Virginia, but most importantly in this moment, we want to check on you. Are you doing OK?

The anxiety we’re all feeling takes a toll on our bodies and minds. It takes a toll on who we are, and how we feel about each other. With all the emotions we’re feeling, mundane tasks like grocery shopping or checking email become insurmountable. In more ways than one, 2020 has made it hard to breathe.

Yesterday, during a virtual staff meeting, we found ourselves reflecting on a recent breathing and mindfulness exercise we participated in during a socially-distanced staff retreat at Babcock State Park. Lately, we’ve all found ourselves turning to the strategies we learned to find a little calm and catch our collective breath.

We want to share a couple tips to help you regain control (of your breath at least!) if you are feeling anxious.

>> Go outside. You don’t have to go far. From state parks and forests to local hiking trails to your own backyard, anywhere you can feel the breeze, hear the birds, and see the sun.

>> Get grounded. This step is literal. Take off your shoes and socks and let your feet touch the ground. Think about it – how often do you ever truly feel the soft grass or crinkle a fallen leaf or dig through loose soil? Let those toes fly!

>> Breathe in, breathe out… Once you’re in a comfortable position – sitting, standing, wherever you feel relaxed – inhale slowly through your nose, fill your belly (you read that right) up with air, and then slowly exhale through your nose or mouth. Continue breathing this way until you feel calm, peaceful, and ready to go on with your day.

Try it right now: take one deep breath in while you count to four, then slowly release it as you count to four. Practice this breathing exercise for about a minute and see how you feel. Hopefully, you’ll feel a little more relaxed.

Finding a breath of fresh air

To clean water and deep breaths,

— The WV Rivers Team

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Donate to our activities if you can do:

West Virginia Rivers Coalition
3501 MacCorkle Ave SE #129 | Charleston, West Virginia 25304
304-637-7201 | wvrivers@wvrivers.org

The WV rivers are under greater threat than in the past 20 years

From Angie Blosser, WV Rivers, December 30, 2019

Happy New Year! Click here for a special video message from WV Rivers.

From along the banks of the West Fork River, the WV Rivers teams wishes you clean steams and wild rivers in 2020!

See also: Site Profile – West Fork River Assessment – EPA OSC Response

Please consider giving our wild and wonderful waters a headstart in the new year by making a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!

Donate here or mail to: WV Rivers Coalition, Suite # 129, 3501 MacCordle Ave SE, Charleston, WV 25304

Angie Rosser on the river

Special Report for 2019 & Look Ahead to 2020

Dear Friend of WV Rivers,

I am Angie Rosser, the executive director of West Virginia Rivers Coalition and today I want to share with you a special year-end report on WV Rivers’ programming and achievements towards cleaner water and healthier streams in West Virginia.

For 30 years, WV Rivers has been the voice of West Virginia’s rivers and streams; and this year, WV Rivers experienced more public engagement in our programming than ever before. So far, we facilitated 46,582 citizen actions on policies that affect our water.

Were you one of the citizen advocates that stood up for clean water through WV Rivers’ action alerts?

Next year, West Virginia’s water will be facing some big challenges, and we’ll need everyone to step-up and do their part to make our water safe and our streams wild and healthy.

WV Rivers depends on donations from supporters like you to move our mission forward. You can join the movement for clean, safe West Virginia water by making a year-end, tax-deductible donation.

Learn how WV Rivers will put your donation work to expand our clean water programming in 2020 here.

Thank you very much for your help at this time.

Angie Rosser, Executive Director
West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Unit # 129
3501 MacCorkle Avenue, SE
Charleston, WV 25304

Contact Info: 304-637-7201

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SPECIAL REPORT from WV Rivers