Newsmedia

Coal dust has been a problem for residents of Hampton Roads for decades. Reports in the news range from resident testimonials of the negative effects of the dust, to proposed solutions to mitigate its impact. There have been multiple series of air monitoring studies. Corporate representatives from Norfolk Southern and Dominion Terminal Associates have denied the problem. Early reporting in this collection (from 2011) shows politicians describing their desires to change the landscape of coal dust pollution in the area, but taking no action. Several waves of residents have organized demonstrations, city council interventions, public meetings, corporate correspondence and state-level mandates.

Documents

• Voorhees, Josh. "Railroads, Utilities Clash Over Dust From Coal Trains." New York Times, Jan 25, 2010. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/01/25/25greenwire-railroads-utilities-clash-over-dust-from-coal-55265.html?pagewanted=all
• "Coal dust, piles an issue for southeast Newport News." Daily Press, July 16, 2011. https://www.dailypress.com/2011/07/16/coal-dust-piles-an-issue-for-southeast-newport-news/
• Colvin, Leonard E. "Part One – Coal Dust: Lambert Point’s Invisible Menace." The New Journal and Guide, 2015. https://thenewjournalandguide.com/part-one-coal-dust-lambert-points-invisible-menace/
• Colvin, Leonard E. "Part Two – Coal Dust: An Invisible Menace." The New Journal and Guide, 2015. https://thenewjournalandguide.com/part-two-coal-dust-invisible-menace/
• Mayfield, Dave. "Coal dust gets an airing outside Norfolk Southern shareholders meeting." Virginian Pilot, May 11, 2017. https://www.pilotonline.com/2017/05/11/coal-dust-gets-an-airing-outside-norfolk-southern-shareholders-meeting/
• Byrum, Lafeetah. "Why Black Communities are Resisting Coal Pollution in Norfolk." New Virginia Majority Blog, June 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324221747/https://www.newvirginiamajority.org/why_black_communities_are_resisting_coal_pollution_in_norfolk
• Hafner, Katherine. "Coal dust has long plagued Norfolk, Newport News. With new $500K grant, Virginia plans to study what’s in the air." Virginian Pilot, September 30, 2020. https://www.pilotonline.com/2020/09/30/coal-dust-has-long-plagued-norfolk-newport-news-with-new-500k-grant-virginia-plans-to-study-whats-in-the-air/
• Janney, Josh. "Study aims to test effects of coal dust, but residents are skeptical change will come." Virginian Pilot, November 3, 2023. https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/11/03/for-decades-coal-dust-has-been-plaguing-newport-news-and-norfolk-communities-residents-are-skeptical-change-will-come/
• Kirts, Lathaniel. "Opinion: A pastor’s plea to combat coal dust in Newport News and Norfolk." Virginian Pilot, November 11, 2023. https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/11/11/opinion-a-pastors-plea-to-combat-coal-dust-in-newport-news-and-norfolk/
• Hollingsworth, Connor. "Newport News residents voice concerns about coal pollution." WTKR, January 23, 2024. https://www.wtkr.com/news/newport-news-residents-voice-concerns-about-coal-pollution-in-city-council-meeting
• Janney, Josh. "A dome in Newport News? residents ask city to consider barriers for coal dust." Daily Press, January 24, 2024. https://www.dailypress.com/2024/01/24/a-dome-in-newport-news-residents-ask-city-to-consider-barriers-for-coal-dust/
• Hafner, Katherine. "Stricter federal air pollution standards likely won’t help Hampton Roads communities plagued by coal dust." WHRO, March 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240601000000*/https://whro.org/news/local-news/45928-stricter-new-federal-air-pollution-standards-likely-won-t-help-hampton-roads-communities-long-plagued-by-coal-dust
• Saitta, Danielle. "Newport News residents say coal dust is the source of some health problems." WTKR, April 20, 2024. https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/newport-news/newport-news-residents-say-coal-dust-is-the-source-of-some-health-problems