Happy 100th anniversary to the 19th Amendment! On this day in 1920, Tennessee became the 50th state to ratify the 19th amendment, granting women across the United States the right to vote. Friends of Blackwater is proud to celebrate the women who fought for this right, in addition to some other women, particularly Black women, […]
Previous Campaigns
Friends of Blackwater has been rallying our supporters to help advocate for public lands and endangered species. Over the years, we have been working to protect public rights to take advantage of the opportunities our public lands offer.
To get more details about our advocacy, view the posts below.
Latest News
Keystone NPDES Online Public Hearing September 16th
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Mining and Reclamation, 47 School Street, Suite 301, Philippi, WV 26416, will hold an online Public Hearing from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 as result of the comments and petition signatures submitted by Friends of Blackwater and you! The conference may […]
Great American Outdoors Act Becomes Law!
On August 4th, the President signed the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law. The GAOA is groundbreaking legislation that will improve trails, campgrounds, and other recreation in public lands across the United States. Now that it has become law, the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund will be created and the Land […]
Southern Partners Fund Highlights FOB in “Grantee Spotlight”
As part of their ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, over the past few months Southern Partners Fund – a community foundation based in Atlanta, GA that supports grassroots community organizations in pursuit of racial, economic, and environmental justice – has been graciously promoting the organizations they work with via email and their website. Southern […]
FOB Opposes the Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act
Friends of Blackwater recently signed onto a letter drafted by the Center for Biological Diversity that opposes S. 4057, the Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act. This bill would compromise species protected by the Endangered Species Act by exempting the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management from consulting with scientists when new […]
Disappointing News! Pillar Injection Well Permit Approved
Friends of Blackwater is disappointed to inform you that the Pillar LLC permit for the undergound injection well next to Horseshoe Run has been reissued for an additional 5 years. Thank you for your participation in the fight to stop this permit in its tracks- over 50 people attended the public hearing for this permit, […]
Keystone NPDES Draft Permit
The Keystone Surface Mining online public hearing may be over, but the fight for clean water never ends! The draft NPDES permit for the Keystone permit site has been released and Friends of Blackwater is reviewing it for errors or short comings. This discharge could be the difference between life and death for many aquatic […]
Keystone Public Hearing Issue Outline
The following is a summary of Friends of Blackwater’s official comments to the DEP regarding the Keystone Surface Mining and Reclamation permit. Please let these guide your comments during the online public hearing on June 10th from 1-5 pm (plan on joining at 1 pm). Friends of Blackwater has written an EPA approved Beaver Creek […]
Keystone Strip Mine Permit Will Have First Online Public Hearing
On June 10th, 2020 from 1-5 PM, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection Division of Mining and Reclamation will host an informal conference regarding the proposed Keystone surface mining and reclamation permit on Corridor H North of Davis, WV. Due to concerns about the coronavirus, the public hearing will be hosted by the DEP […]
FOB Supports Wildlife and Public Lands Stimulus Letter
Recently, Friends of Blackwater and 206 other groups across the country signed onto support a letter to the US Congress that calls for and the support of the creation of thousands of environmental jobs to conserve and restore public lands, protect endangered species and other wildlife, and restore critical protections provided by the Clean Water […]
FOB Comments on USFS Greenbrier Southeast Project
The Monongahela National Forest has proposed to conduct large-scale commercial logging on 3,394 acres in Pocahontas County in West Virginia. They also propose to apply herbicides to 2,025 acres, burn 1,904 acres, build 8.7 miles of roads and 49.1 acres of skid roads, install 34 log landings, and turn 125 acres into open fields. Friends […]
USFS Scoping: Upper Elk and Grassy Ridge
Recently, FOB had the opportunity to comment on the scoping plans for two different Forest Service land management and timbering projects, Upper Elk and Grassy Ridge. The Forest Service releases a “scoping” document prior to any environmental assessments or any other plans relating to a management project. This helps determine the size/scale of the project […]