Impact Appalachia

07/15/2026

Arcwood Environmental has released a statement regarding Tuesday evening’s wastewater release in East Liverpool, stating that the material was primarily water with trace amounts of metal constituents and that there is no risk to human health or the environment.

If that is the case, the community deserves to see the information that supports those conclusions.

At Impact Appalachia, we are calling for the public release of:

The estimated volume of the release.
The specific metals that were present.
Laboratory sampling and testing results.
The cleanup procedures that were followed.
The agencies overseeing the investigation and their findings.

Communities across Appalachia have learned that trust is earned through transparency not simply through assurances.

Residents have every right to ask questions, especially in a region that has experienced significant environmental incidents in recent years. Asking for facts is not fearmongering; it is responsible civic engagement.

We encourage Arcwood Environmental and the appropriate regulatory agencies to continue communicating openly with the public and to make all relevant environmental data available as soon as possible.

Our goal is simple: Protect public health, protect our environment, and ensure our communities have access to the information they need to make informed decisions.

Impact Appalachia is aware of reports that a chemical release occurred at the Arcwood Environmental facility (formerly WTI/Heritage Thermal) in East Liverpool.

While the company has stated that the release was contained and that appropriate notifications were made, many critical questions remain unanswered. At this time, the public has not been told:

• What chemical or chemicals were released?
• How much was released?
• Whether there was any impact to air, water, or soil.
• Whether nearby residents or workers were exposed to any risk.
• What independent testing, if any, has been conducted.

Communities that have lived with industrial pollution know that transparency is essential to building trust. Residents deserve timely, factual information—not speculation and not unnecessary delays.

Impact Appalachia is calling on Arcwood Environmental, the Ohio EPA, local emergency management officials, and other appropriate agencies to provide:

* A full public accounting of the incident.
* The identity and quantity of the material released.
* Any environmental monitoring data collected.
* A clear explanation of any actual or potential risks to the surrounding community.

Our organization will continue monitoring this situation and advocating for transparency, accountability, and the health and safety of the people of East Liverpool and the Ohio River Valley.

The people of our region deserve answers, and they deserve them without delay.

07/15/2026

Impact Appalachia is aware of reports that a chemical release occurred at the Arcwood Environmental facility (formerly WTI/Heritage Thermal) in East Liverpool.

While the company has stated that the release was contained and that appropriate notifications were made, many critical questions remain unanswered. At this time, the public has not been told:

• What chemical or chemicals were released?
• How much was released?
• Whether there was any impact to air, water, or soil.
• Whether nearby residents or workers were exposed to any risk.
• What independent testing, if any, has been conducted.

Communities that have lived with industrial pollution know that transparency is essential to building trust. Residents deserve timely, factual information—not speculation and not unnecessary delays.

Impact Appalachia is calling on Arcwood Environmental, the Ohio EPA, local emergency management officials, and other appropriate agencies to provide:

* A full public accounting of the incident.
* The identity and quantity of the material released.
* Any environmental monitoring data collected.
* A clear explanation of any actual or potential risks to the surrounding community.

Our organization will continue monitoring this situation and advocating for transparency, accountability, and the health and safety of the people of East Liverpool and the Ohio River Valley.

The people of our region deserve answers, and they deserve them without delay.

07/03/2026

Every patient deserves safe, high-quality care. Every nurse deserves the staffing and support needed to provide that care safely. Prime Healthcare has allowed nursing vacancies to grow while bedside nurses continue to raise serious concerns about unsafe staffing conditions. Nurses have reported more...

07/02/2026

Today, we honor the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a landmark law that outlawed segregation and prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, s*x, or national origin.

Progress has never been automatic. Every right secured was won through courage, sacrifice, and collective action. That same commitment is needed today.

At Impact Appalachia, we believe civil rights are not just part of our history they are a promise that must be protected and extended to everyone. We remain committed to building communities where every person is treated with dignity, every voice matters, and every family has the opportunity to thrive.

Today, we remember those who paved the way, and we recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of justice, equity, and belonging.

07/02/2026

A win for cleaner air and healthier communities.

A federal appeals court has rejected the EPA’s attempt to weaken federal soot pollution standards, meaning stronger protections for the air we breathe will remain in place.

For communities across Appalachia and eastern Ohio, this matters. Fine particle pollution from coal-fired power plants and industrial facilities has been linked to asthma, heart disease, strokes, and premature death. Rural and working-class communities have too often carried the burden of pollution while receiving few of the benefits.

Clean air isn’t a luxury……it’s a basic right.

As new industries and energy projects continue to come to our region, we must ensure that economic development never comes at the expense of our health. Our families deserve good-paying jobs and clean air.

Impact Appalachia will continue advocating for policies that protect our communities, promote environmental justice, and hold polluters accountable.

A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday ​rejected the Environmental Protection Agency's bid to withdraw Biden-era limits on soot ‌pollution from coal-fired power plants and factories, in a setback for the Trump administration's deregulatory efforts.

06/29/2026

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision affirming that states may continue counting mail ballots that are **postmarked by Election Day** even if they arrive after Election Day, when state law allows it.

This ruling helps protect the voices of voters who do everything right but face delays outside of their control, such as mail delivery issues. No eligible voter should lose their voice because of circumstances they cannot control.

At Impact Appalachia, we believe democracy is strongest when every eligible voter has a fair opportunity to participate. Whether you live in a rural community, a small town, or a city, every vote deserves to be counted.

As we prepare for the 2026 elections, we'll continue working to educate voters, expand access to the ballot box, and ensure our communities have the information they need to make their voices heard.

Democracy works best when every eligible vote counts.

06/24/2026

This week I’m honored to be attending the Climate Equity Fund National Grantee Summit alongside leaders, organizers, advocates, and changemakers from across the country.

These gatherings are a reminder that the fight for climate justice is deeply connected to economic justice, racial justice, and the future of our communities. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn, share Impact Appalachia’s work, and build relationships with organizations that are working every day to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

As someone organizing in rural Appalachia, it’s important that our communities have a seat at the table in conversations about climate, energy, economic development, and environmental health. I’m excited to bring back new ideas, strategies, and partnerships that can help strengthen our work at home.

The future belongs to communities that organize, and I’m proud to represent Appalachia in these spaces.

- Executive Director Daniel Winston

06/24/2026

🚨 HAPPENING TODAY

Yet another voter suppression bill targeting Ohio voters is on Gov. DeWine’s desk.

We are rallying today to urge Gov. DeWine to veto this bill. Can we count on you to join our rally at the Statehouse?

📆 Today, June 24th
🕒 3:00 PM
📍 Ohio Statehouse

06/20/2026

According to national housing data, there is now no state in America where a person working full-time at minimum wage can afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

Let that sink in.

Across Appalachia and rural communities like ours, working families are facing impossible choices between rent, groceries, healthcare, transportation, and childcare. People are working harder than ever, yet the cost of living continues to outpace wages.

At Impact Appalachia, we believe that everyone deserves access to safe, affordable housing and the opportunity to build a stable future. Economic justice is community justice. When workers cannot afford a place to live, the entire community feels the impact.

It’s time for policies that support working families, expand affordable housing, strengthen wages, and invest in the people who keep our communities running every day.

A full-time job should provide more than survival it should provide dignity.

06/19/2026

Today, Impact Appalachia proudly celebrates Juneteenth—the day freedom finally reached those who had been enslaved, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Juneteenth is a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. It is a day to honor the resilience, strength, and contributions of Black Americans while reflecting on the work that still lies ahead to achieve true equity and opportunity for all.

As a Black-led organization serving Appalachian communities, we recognize that the fight for freedom, dignity, and self-determination continues. We remain committed to building power, amplifying voices, and creating a future where every person regardless of race, zip code, income, gender identity, or background can thrive.

Today we celebrate freedom. Tomorrow we continue the work.

Happy Juneteenth from Impact Appalachia.