Policy Issues
News
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UVA Wise students help create first eco-tourism guide
April, 2022
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Lawmakers (TN) prod wildlife agency for better communication
Feb, 2022
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Transitioning From Coal To Green Energy Economy
Feb, 2022
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Solar power projects see the light on former Appalachian coal land
Jan 2022
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Current Events
Region
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Government illegally “cut corners” to ram through NEPA changes (July, 2020)
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Broadband Access
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ASTC'S Twitter High Speed Internet List
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Access Appalachia: Internet Access for Rural America
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Indicators of Broadband Need Map (Public Map & Tools)
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Slow Speeds, High Hopes: Exploring the Rural Broadband Divide (Jan. 2020)
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Under Social Distancing, Rural Regions Push For More Broadband (May 2020)
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ReImagine-Appalachia_Broadband_White_Paper_(Fall 2020) (KY/WV)
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FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (Nov. 2020)
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Wise County is first to receive Starlink internet in Va (Dec. 2020)
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$17.5 million+ awarded to expand high-speed internet access in Southwest Va (Jan.2021)
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Internet access to expand across Appalachia during the next 10 years (Jan. 2021)
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Appalachian Power proposes running fiber broadband into deep southern W.Va. (Jan. 2021)
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Experts, leaders discuss access to telehealth in Appalachia (Mar. 2021)
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Governor presents $15.6 million for broadband in SWVA (June. 2021)
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KY's 'Silicon Holler' high-speed internet is creating jobs, and changing lives (Jun. 2021)
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AEP ready to move to next step of broadband installation in southern W.Va. July 2021
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$500,000 VCEDA Grant Approved for Space-Based Broadband Initiative (SWVA). July 2021
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Applications open for $50M in Kentucky broadband funds (closes Oct.25th)
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ARC gets double the dedicated to broadband from $10 million to $20 million per year (Aug2021)
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With broadband grants pending, WV tries to accurately map internet availability (Sept 2021)
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Governor (Justice) unveils $1B WV broadband expansion plan (Oct. 2021)
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CAPITO, MANCHIN ANNOUNCE $8.5 MILLION TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA (Nov, 2021)
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6 Ways to Help Your Eastern Kentucky Community Win Broadband Funding (Dec, 2021)
Potesta & Associates continues to help expand broadband in West Virginia. We are working with Upshur County Development Authority to design and build a series of towers high in the hills of WV. We have completed 3 towers which measure just under 300 feet. Three more towers are designed and should be completed this year. In addition to the surveying, geotech and civil site design, we provide Contract and Construction Administration. Another successful project improving lives in our region. Potesta & Associates home page.
How Kentucky went from a ‘broadband backwater’ to a leader in connectivity (Feb, 2022)
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Minning
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Reclaiming Abandoned Mines: Turning Coal Country’s Toxic Legacy Into Assets (March, 2021)
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Confronting acid mine drainage: A conversation with Rual Action's Marissa Lautzenheiser Oct. 2021
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Tracking mines in the Blackjewel Bankruptcy
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New reports make case that natural gas production boom was a bust for Appalachia, urge economic transition. (July, 2021)
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Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative
is a coalition of groups, including citizens, the coal industry, and government dedicated to restoring forests on coal mined lands in the Eastern United States.
Are you interested in attending an ARRI tree planting event this spring? Events will be taking place across western Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia.
View the 2021 Legacy Site Tree Planting Schedule here.
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Solor Panel
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TNC Announces Innovative Collaboration for Solar Development in Central Appalachia
Solar power projects see the light on former Appalachian coal land
Jan 2022
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Wind Energy
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How much untapped wind energy does your state have
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Eastern KY
Red River Gorge
KY Conservation Committee Notes from Red River Destination meeting. Oct 2019
Master Plan for Red River Destination Resort (American Planning Association)
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Eastern KY is poised for an ecotourism boom—but a new resort sparks debate (May 2021)
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Stakeholders:
Red River Gorge Climber's Coalition
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​KENTUCKY’S FIRST FRONTIER APPALACHIAN TRAILS
"Much like Virginia’s relatively young Spearhead Trails (officially the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority), and the well-established Hatfield-McCoy Trails system in West Virginia, Kentucky will be formally recognizing its decades-old and very enthusiastic OHV community."
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Legislative commitee hears update on Eastern Kentucky ATV trails system (Nov, 2021)
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Work underway on eastern Kentucky's off-road vehicle trail (Dec, 2021)
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Stakeholders:
(more stakeholders to come, help us find more)
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Western NC
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Northeastern TN
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Virginia
Clinch Ranger District
Jefferson National Forest: 2004 Revised Jefferson NF Forest Plan,
Final Environmental Impact Statement, ​
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“Growing Smart On High Knob: A Sustainable Recreation Blueprint For Virginia’s High Knob Region.”
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Environmental Groups Reach Agreement with Forest Service for Timber Sale (Apr, 2019)
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From an Extraction Economy to an Attraction Economy (Aug. 2019)
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A devilish problem: Illegal parking at Devil's Bathtub a big issue (July. 2020)
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Scott County officials look to improve Devil's Bathtub trail (June. 2021)
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A Sustainable Recreation Blueprintfor Virginia’s High Knob Region. March, 2022
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Stakeholders:
The Clinch Coalition. The Clinch Coalition Celebrates 20 years.
Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
Spearhead Trails. Spearhead Trail Blazers
Wise County Public Services Authority
Southern Appalachia Mountain Stewards
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Passenger Rail to SWVA
Montgomery supervisors approve rail station authority ordinance
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Infrastructure bill includes Amtrak expansion; leaders hope plans include Bristol (Nov, 2021)
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Stakeholders:
New River Valley Passenger Rail
Virginians for High Speed Rail
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Spearhead Trails
Survey to update Strategic Plan
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Southwest Virginia ATV Shut Down to Protect Water Quality (Nov 2019)
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High Knob Regional Initiative Releases Sustainable Recreation Fact Sheet (Dec. 2020)
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State Authority Removes Southwest Virginia Streambeds Turned Into ATV Routes from Official Maps. Dec. 2020
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Remote Detection of Disturbance from Motorized Vehicle Use in Appalachian Wetlands
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‘Make it more environmentally sound’: Citizen group takes on popular Southwest Va. trail network
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Stakeholders
Clinch Coalition. Leave a Tip Form
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POWHR Protect Our Water, Heritage Rights
Stakeholders:
Giles, Montgomery, Craig, Floyd, Salem, Roanoke, and Franklin
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Southern WV
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
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Booming National Park Tourism: The Economic Impact in West Virginia’s New River Gorge Area (Aug. 2018)
Crowd mostly favors bill to redesignate New River Gorge (Oct, 2019)
US Senator Shelley Moore Capito
hears comments (Feb, 2020) File (Dec, 2020)
Support for New River Gorge National Park and Preserve split at hearing (Feb. 2020)
Hunting in the New River Gorge thing of the past (Jan, 2021)
Why people are happy but worried over the country's newest national park (Jan, 2021)
Old and New National Parks Share Lessons For West Virginia's New River Gorge (Apr, 20221)
HUNTERS, BUSINESS OWNERS CONCERNED OVER IMPACT OF NEW RIVER GORGE’S NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION (Apr, 2021)
America has a new national park but not all the locals are happy about it (May, 2021)
New River Gorge Regional Development Authority Leads Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Strategy Session (May 28, 2021)
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Stakeholders:
Friends of the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
New River Gorge Regional Development Authority
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POWHR Protect Our Water, Heritage Rights
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Stakeholders:
Lewis, Upshur, Greenbrier, Fayette, Summers, and Monroe
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Stakeholders:
RAILWV, Trout Fishing West Virginia, WV DNR
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Less money, fewer jobs: After two decades,
WV's ATV trails have fallen far short of initial projections
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Hatfield-McCoy Trails scrubs plan for East Lynn Lake
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Outdoor Recreation Act could benefit West Virginia tourism
Fall 2021
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Thank you for visiting Appalachia Sustainable Tourism Collaboration!​
We hope the site helps you with your vision for your community.
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