Raking the Coals: a Coal Ash-Focused Stakeholder Analysis of the Black Warrior Watershed

I conduct a stakeholder analysis of the Black Warrior Watershed in Alabama, with a focus on coal ash pollution in light of the EPA's proposed denial of Alabama's current coal ash policy. In-depth stakeholder interviews and the EPA's public hearing transcripts are analyzed to understand the current environmental communication and stakeholder relations challenges the watershed faces. Findings show a lack of awareness among highly affected stakeholder groups, improper issues management practices by the state's environmental agency, a lack of two-way communication in environmental hearings and policymaking, and the potential for controversy in the case of offsite coal ash storage. These findings can help researchers and practitioners understand stakeholders' perceptions of the current architecture in environmental deliberation so that future deliberation and communication can be improved. Due to the variety of stakeholders included in this analysis, this study has implications in governmental, corporate, and nonprofit public relations.