The Alliance member groups come together quarterly at Steering Meetings to build the regional strategy of our non-profit organizations. Between these quarterly meetings, our work is carried out by Committees. These committees execute our strategy via weekly or bi-monthly conference calls and meet ups. Much of our work involves collaborating with other state, regional, and national allies.

Our Committees include:

Enforcement Committee

Mission: To attain strong regulation from any agencies that have oversight of strip mining and all the dangerous phases of the coal cycle on both state and federal levels. To achieve regular and thorough execution of strong regulations by state and federal agencies.

These agencies include, but are not limited to, The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Army Corps of Engineers, The White House Council on Environmental Quality, The Department of the Interior, and the related state agencies.

Focus

  1. Meets with regulatory agencies as opportunities arise and as issues develop
  2. Comments on new or altered rules and permit applications, renewals, and denials during comment periods
  3. Monitors regulatory oversight, or lack thereof, by state and federal agencies

2011 Initiatives

  • Push for stronger oversight by regulatory agencies by defending the agencies’ budgets and scope
  • Collaborate with local organizers to build regional campaigns, monitoring networks, and regional equipment libraries
  • Advocate for rule-making that will abolish steep slope surface and other devastating forms of mining.

Legislative Committee

Mission: It is our main objective to end Mountaintop Removal and work for a just and sustainable transition for Appalachia. The Legislative committee works by seeking legislative initiatives to attain the goals and priorities of The Alliance for Appalachia. We will continue to advocate for current legislation in Congress that, in the short term, will curtail mountaintop removal. We're currently focusing on the Clean Water Protection Act in the House and Appalachian Restoration Act in the Senate.

Focus

  1. Promotes current federal legislation (ARA and CWPA) through lobby visits
  2. Opposes federal legislation that would have negative impacts on our mission

2011 Initiatives

  • Host 6th annual Week in Washington
  • Revamp Lobby Materials
  • Host 9 Washington mini-lobbies
  • Incorporate defense messaging and appeals into conversations on the Hill

Training Committee

Mission: To develop new leaders and strengthen existing leadership by hosting trainings and skill sharing opportunities.

Focus

  1. Host trainings for member groups and allies to develop leaders and increase collaboration across communities through relationship building and skills sharing.
  2. Connect Alliance leaders to trainings held by other organizations that will build skills.

2011 Initiatives

  • Host a series of conversations about protest and action in the context of the Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain
  • Host a regional weekend-long Anti-Oppression Training

Economic Transition Committee

Mission: To develop a regional conversation and campaign around economic transition

Focus

  1. Getting the regional conversation started

2011 Initiatives

  • Host quarterly call in series with professionals and local activists around the region on various transition topics
  • Host a regional summit to begin conversations about a regional campaign and regional initiatives

Ad Hoc Committees

Occasionally, the Alliance will form Ad Hoc Committees to take on short-term work such as building a communications plan.