Environmental concern in a Wyoming coal town: contentious environmental problems in rural communities

ABSTRACT

Understanding environmental concern in rural resource extraction communities is essential for identifying opportunities for locally relevant pro-environmental action and coalition-building. Interviews with miners and community members in a Wyoming coal community reveal strong stewardship values among other environmental concerns. Mine company discourse, miners’ labor activities, and local perspectives about environmentalists reinforce stewardship values and constrain the types of environmental concern that are deemed legitimate in the community. Attending to such processes of environmental concern formation can help the environmental movement expand its base and can assist resource extraction communities in maintaining environmental and economic stability.

KEYWORDS:

• Environmental concern
• rural
• labor
• ideology
• just transition
• Wyoming
• coal
• perspectives

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the kind individuals who participated in this study and shared their stories, opinions, homes and time with me. Thank you to Dr. Ryan Light and Dr. Richard York for your insight, guidance and support. Much appreciation goes also to the editorial team and the anonymous reviewers who offered invaluable comments and insights. I am indebted also to my writing group colleagues, peers, and Dr. Eileen Otis for their input on earlier drafts. My gratitude to my partner, Travess, who helped conceptualize this project and who has engaged in countless hours of supportive discussion and collaboration. Last but not least I give my thanks to my parents, sister and S. H., all of whom supported me throughout every step of this project.

Disclosure statement

The author has no conflicts of interest.

Ethics declaration

Research for this study was conducted in accordance with guidelines put forth by the University of Oregon’s Institutional Review Board, protocol #05262017.037.

Notes

1. A testament to the frequent corporate mergers, bankruptcies and name changes common in the coal industry, some of the companies examined in this analysis no longer operate. Specifically, Cloud Peak Energy filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and its Powder River Basin mines were acquired by Navajo Transitional Energy Company that same year. Arch Coal changed its name to Arch Resources in 2020. Alpha Natural Resources merged with Contura Energy in 2018, and Contura subsequently changed its name to Alpha Metallurgical Resources in 2021.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dawn Harfmann

Dawn Harfmann is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oregon whose primary areas of research interest are environmental, political and rural sociology, and sociology of work.