Ensuring Coalfield Communities Get the Truth- and the Protection- They Deserve
For decades, coalfield residents have lived with the consequences of decisions made behind closed doors. Permits issued without proper review. Regulations weakened under industry pressure. Community health concerns dismissed as “anecdotal.” Environmental violations overlooked. Cleanup funds mismanaged.
Too often, the people most affected by coal mining have been left in the dark.
Citizens Coal Council works to change that.
Transparency and accountability are not side projects, they are the backbone of our mission. Every aspect of coal’s lifecycle, from permitting to cleanup, must be governed by laws that are enforced, decisions that are public, and communities that are heard. When agencies or corporations fail to meet those standards, CCC steps in.
Our Approach: Watching the Watchdogs
Monitoring Permits & Regulatory Decisions
Coal mining permits shape everything from blasting near homes to water pollution in local streams. CCC takes action to ensure regulators follow the law rather than rubber-stamping industry requests.
We make complex processes understandable so communities can fully participate.
People deserve to know what is being proposed in their backyard BEFORE it harms them.
Holding Agencies & Companies Accountable
When coal operators violate the law or agencies fail to enforce it, the consequences fall on the community: contaminated wells, damaged property, dangerous mine conditions, abandoned sites.
CCC tracks violations, files complaints, pushes for enforcement actions, and publicly reports patterns of regulatory failure.
Over 1,000+ coal mines remain unreclaimed nationwide
Billions of dollars in cleanup liabilities at risk due to corporate bankruptcies
Hundreds of citizen complaints filed in coalfield states each year
Strengthening Public Participation
We work to ensure coalfield residents have a meaningful role in decisions affecting their health, land, and future.
CCC helps communities:
- Submit effective public comments
- Understand legal rights under SMCRA and other regulations
- Prepare testimony for public hearings
- Track permit updates and enforcement reports
- Navigate appeals or citizen complaint processes
Exposing Regulatory Gaps and Industry Influence
Transparency requires shining light on systems that allow harm to continue.
CCC investigates and reports on:
- Weak or unenforced environmental regulations
- Attempts to roll back laws that protect communities
- Self-bonding and financial loopholes that let companies walk away
- Industry-driven policy proposals with hidden consequences
- Misuse or misallocation of cleanup and mitigation funds
Our findings inform lawmakers, educate the public, and empower affected communities to demand better.
Advancing a Culture of Openness
Beyond enforcement, CCC pushes for structural reforms that build long-term transparency, including:
- Public access to inspection and enforcement data
- Stronger bonding rules to prevent abandoned mine sites
- Community notification requirements
- Consistent tracking of mine methane emissions
- Clear criteria for mine closure and post-closure monitoring
Our goal is a coalfield regulatory system that works for the people- not the industry.
Why This Matters
Transparency and accountability are essential to every other issue our communities face:
- Environmental justice
- Climate solutions
- Economic transition
- Public health and safety
- Long-term land and water protection
Without transparency, communities can’t defend themselves. Without accountability, laws don’t mean anything.
This is why CCC exists.
Get Involved
Whether you’re a coalfield resident, an advocate, or someone who cares about fair governance, your voice strengthens this work.
- Report local concerns
- Join community meetings
- Support public comment campaigns
- Donate to CCC
- Share our reports and alerts
Transparency grows when the public demands it- and when we stand together.