Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-2026

College/Unit

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program/Center

Geology and Geography

Abstract

The environmental justice (EJ) movement recognizes that environmental harms and goods are not equitably distributed, especially in regions that have faced historical marginalization, structural inequalities, and extractive exploitation, such as Appalachia. In West Virginia, the only state fully contained within the Appalachian region, a changing climate and the legacy of extractive industry have scarred the landscape and its people. All 55 counties have experienced floods, totaling more than 2,000 flash flood events, and each county has been declared a federal flood disaster site at least nine times. As of 2020, 21% of bridges maintained by the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) were classified as “structurally deficient,” compared to the national average of 7%. Additionally, residents have faced 3,735 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, alongside chemical spills linked to PFAS and acid mine drainage. Amidst this crisis, West Virginian’s continue to strategize solutions for environmental preparedness. This project seeks to bridge the divide between policy and practice by exploring how community knowledge and lived experience is reflected in current preparedness and resilience efforts at the state level. Emerging research seeks to understand how to make space for youth to learn about and participate in environmental justice efforts in their communities and forge more resilient futures.

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jM5oKxDdXOTduZXmWzlmPQUbslpvrN57L4SL2QOPtCE/edit?usp=sharing

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