Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE IN THE COALFIELDS
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE IN THE COALFIELDS
The Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center is a nonprofit law firm that fights for justice in the coalfields by representing coal miners and their families on issues of black lung and mine safety and by working with grassroots groups and individuals to protect the land and people from misuse and degradation caused by extractive industries.
RFI Le Vois Du Monde: “Coal: A Devastating Global Addiction”
Recently, our Director Wes Addington was interviewed by French and Swiss public radio stations. If you are fluent in French or just curious, you can find the link to the radio story below. "Coal is still the second largest source of energy after oil: it produces 27%...
Press Release: Announcing ACLC’s New Executive Director
Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center appoints Wes Addington, long-time ACLC employee and Black Lung attorney, as Executive Director. Read more about this exciting transition in a letter from Wes below. For Immediate Release Dear Friends, After 14 years working at...
Herald-Leader: ‘Life and Death.’ Tax on coal companies for black lung victims slated to be slashed.
The Lexington Herald-Leader recently interviewed ACLC's Deputy Director, Wes Addington, about the Black Lung Excise Tax that will expire at the end of the year unless Congress takes action. “It’s the beginning of a scenario where you could see very sick miners having...
NPR Morning Edition: Tax That Funds Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is Set to Expire
NPR Reports: Thousands of coal miners who are suffering from an advanced stage of black lung disease fear that, if Congress doesn't act, a government fund set up to help them won't have enough money. Discussing the disappearance of the coal tax extension from an...
WKYT: With Funding Set to be Cut, Kentucky Miners, Advocates Rally for Black Lung Benefits
WKYT reports on the Black Lung Rally held in London, KY, on Wednesday in front of Senator Mitch McConnell's office. Miners, widows, and community members showed up to the rally to demand an extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax before the end of the year. The...
89.3 WFPL: Residents Press McConnell as Deadline Looms for Black Lung Fund
Miners and their families are fighting for an extension of the black lung excise tax, which is set to expire at the end of 2018. Although Senator Mitch McConnell made a verbal commitment to work on extending the tax, he has showed no formal signs of following through...
The Guardian: Dr. Dust: The man who discovered a hidden black lung epidemic
Dr. Brandon Crum, a certified B-Reader and Radiologist, notices an alarming increase in the number of complicated black lung cases in recent years. The Guardian: Between the miners visiting his clinic and the cases coming to him as a federally certified B-reader, or...
Lexington Herald-Leader: Mitch McConnell owes coal miners an answer as clock runs out on tax for black lung victims
In a powerful new editorial, the Lexington Herald-Leader demands answers for sick coal miners and their families about whether funding for the Black Lung Disability Fund will be slashed at the end of the year. As the editorial explains, this proposed cut to the Trust...
E&E News: Advocates frustrated by inaction on black lung, cleanup bill
An E&E News story published today highlights Congress's inaction on the RECLAIM Act and the issues facing the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. The story features quotes from retired miner and ACLC client Kenny Fleming (pictured above, left) and ACLC staff Eric Dixon....