Maria Gunnoe (born 1968) is a native West Virginian who opposes mountaintop removal mining, and is a winner of the Goldman Prize and Wallenberg Medal.
[4] She expanded her efforts in the 2000s, when a Chris Cline owned|coal company, Jupiter Coal started a mountaintop removal mine near her home.
She has continued to be active in advocating against mountaintop mining despite receiving both threats and acts of violence, including having her dog shot and killed.
[3][2] In 2007, she testified against the Army Corps of Engineers in a suit brought against them by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition to stop mountaintop removal.
[9] She now serves on the board of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and advocates to protect the Monongahela National Forest from natural gas extraction.