As more and more decorations are being hung throughout our communities, you can feel the spirit of the holidays in the air. Soon enough, people will be together with their families to celebrate the wonderful holiday season, stuffing our faces with delicious food, playing games, and having some great laughs. That one Holly Jolly guy isn’t the only one with a list that needs to be checked twice, though: the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has been getting into the season of giving.
Southwestern Pennsylvania will be receiving a few gifts from the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA)’s Multimodal Transportation Fund Program and Greenways, Trails, and Recreation Program totaling $986,797. The grants will go towards the following:
- $226,453 to replace a culvert along Laird Drive in Hopewell Township, Beaver County. The improvements will reduce roadway flooding and provide alternate routes for residents traveling to and from three Hopewell schools
- $200,000 to increase pedestrian access and safety within the Waynesburg Commons Park system in Waynesburg Borough, Greene County
- $160,344 to improve the playground at Crawford Park in Franklin Township, Greene County, by purchasing playground equipment. Benches and trash receptacles will also be added
- $400,000 to construct a truck-to-barge wastewater transfer facility in Speers Borough, Washington County
We are excited to welcome this investment into these communities for the public good: roadway improvements, pedestrian safety, and playground development fall on the Nice List, for sure. However, we’d say that a $400,000 investment into turning the Mon Valley into a funnel for fracking wastewater qualifies for the Naughty List.
This funding would directly support expanding the existing terminal, which was owned and operated by Guttman Energy but was sold to Zenith Energy in January, to support the movement of toxic wastewater produced by fracking from Speers to an Ohio facility. Why are we spending nearly half a million dollars to benefit private industry, rather than continuing investment in public goods that support our communities? These funds could be used in so many different ways that economically benefit the community instead of going towards private profit.
There will be permits and certificates involved in order to construct any type of facility. There are no permits granted at this time that would indicate that the expansion of this facility is underway. CCJ will be watching this closely and will be providing updates in the near future. If you have any questions or want to get involved in this work, please reach out to Heaven Sensky at heaven@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org or by calling 724-229-3550, extension 2.
We hope you all get better gifts than this one! Team CCJ wishes you and your families a fantastic (and healthy!) holiday season.
