Complaints and Reporting Guide
This guide empowers community members to report coal-related violations and environmental or health concerns to the proper state and federal agencies. It provides step-by-step instructions for filing complaints, tips for documenting impacts effectively, and templates for letters and forms. By following this guide, citizens can ensure their voices are heard, hold companies accountable, and help regulators take action to protect communities and the environment.
Coal Impacts Field Documentation Guide and Log
This guide helps community members systematically document environmental and health impacts related to coal operations. It provides practical instructions for recording observations, collecting photos and data, and maintaining a clear, organized log. By using this guide, citizens can build credible records that support advocacy, complaints, and public participation efforts, ensuring that regulators, officials, and the media have accurate information to respond effectively.
Your Rights Under SMCRA Fact Sheet
This fact sheet explains the rights of citizens under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). It outlines how individuals can access information about mining operations, participate in public hearings and comment periods, and hold companies and regulators accountable for compliance. By understanding these rights, community members can actively engage in protecting their environment, health, and local communities from the impacts of coal mining.
Your Rights Under the Clean Water Act Fact Sheet
This fact sheet explains how the Clean Water Act (CWA) protects communities from water pollution and gives residents meaningful tools to defend their local waterways. It outlines your right to access information about permitted discharges, participate in public comment periods, and request enforcement when violations occur. It also highlights how citizens can document pollution, report concerns to state and federal agencies, and other steps. Overall, it empowers community members to understand how the CWA works, what protections it offers, and how to use those protections to hold polluters and regulators accountable.
Guide to Reading and Interpreting Mining & Reclamation Public Notices
This guide helps community members understand and navigate public notices related to coal mining, permitting, and reclamation projects. It explains the key information included in these notices, what to look for, and how to interpret technical language and regulatory references. By using this guide, citizens can stay informed, participate effectively in comment periods and hearings, and ensure their communities’ voices are heard in decisions that impact their environment and health.
Guide to Interpreting Mining Permits
Mining permits define the legal scope, environmental protections, and operational requirements for coal mining activities. This guide helps community members understand the key components of permits, including permit boundaries, company information, mining methods, environmental safeguards, and monitoring obligations. It also explains how to identify public participation opportunities, compare permits to regulations, and track permit modifications. By using this guide, residents can more effectively review permits, monitor compliance, and engage in oversight to protect their communities and local ecosystems.
Guide to Environmental Assessments
Environmental assessments (EAs) evaluate the potential environmental and community impacts of proposed projects, including coal mining and related activities. This guide helps residents understand key components of an EA- such as project descriptions, affected environments, environmental impacts, mitigation measures, and public participation opportunities. By learning how to read and interpret EAs, community members can identify potential risks, submit informed comments, advocate for stronger protections, and monitor compliance to ensure that projects are conducted responsibly and in line with environmental regulations.
Mining Plan Review Checklist
The Mining Plan Review Checklist is a practical tool for community members to understand and evaluate proposed mining operations. It breaks down complex mining plans into key areas, including project overview, mining methods, environmental protections, reclamation, safety, maps, and monitoring. The checklist helps residents identify potential risks to water, air, land, and public health, ask informed questions of regulators or the company, and participate effectively in public hearings or comment periods. Designed for clarity and usability, it empowers communities to hold mining operations accountable and advocate for responsible practices.
Longwall Mining Public Comment Letter Templates
The longwall mining public comment letter templates help individuals and communities address the unique impacts of longwall mining operations, including subsidence, groundwater depletion, surface and structural damage, and air quality concerns. The templates provide suggested language for raising these issues with regulatory agencies, citing relevant laws and policies, and requesting monitoring, mitigation, or plan revisions. They are structured to be adaptable to new permits, permit renewals, or environmental reviews, enabling community members to participate effectively in decision-making processes and advocate for protections against the significant environmental and social impacts associated with longwall mining.
Permit Revision Public Comment Letter Template
The permit revision public comment letter template is designed to guide community members and stakeholders in responding to proposed changes to existing mining permits. It offers clear examples of how to articulate concerns regarding modifications that could affect environmental quality, public health, or community welfare, including alterations to land use, water management, or reclamation plans. The templates reference key regulatory frameworks and provide language for requesting additional review, monitoring, or mitigation measures. This tool empowers individuals to engage constructively in the permitting process and ensure that regulatory agencies consider community input before approving changes.
Baseline Documentation Checklist for Communities Facing Existing or Proposed Mining Activities
The Baseline Documentation Checklist provides a structured framework for communities to systematically record environmental, health, and social conditions before, during, and after mining activities. It includes guidance on documenting water quality, air quality, land use, structural conditions, public health indicators, and community concerns. The checklist helps ensure that data is collected consistently and thoroughly, which can be critical for identifying impacts, supporting public comments, complaints, or legal actions, and informing advocacy efforts. Designed for both existing operations and proposed projects, the tool empowers communities to establish a clear record of conditions on the ground, providing a foundation for informed engagement with regulators, mining companies, and other stakeholders.