Blogs & News This Month
Washington County Did Not Allow Ballot Curing in the Primary Election, ACLU and PILC Poised to Sue
We have been very concerned about the decision by the Washington County Elections Board and Commissioners to disallow ballot curing by a vote of 2-1. This deviates from past practice and could disenfranchise hundreds of voters across the county. Ballot curing allows voters to fix problems with their absentee or mail-in ballots to ensure that their vote is counted. In Washington County, mail-in voters will know if their ballot was received, but not if it was accepted, rejected, counted, or not counted. Read More Here.
Opioid Settlement Funds Update
With many lawsuits already settled and others held up due to bankruptcy cases, money from the nationwide opioid settlements has been flowing to states and localities, including Washington and Greene Counties. Here are some of the latest updates about the pharmaceutical companies in play and how the counties have spent funds so far. Read More Here.
Get a FREE MAD-FACTS Yard Sign and Spread the Word About Fracking Health Harms in Your Community!
Fracking Puts Our Health at Risk! Protect Our Kids – Expand Fracking Setbacks! Our new MAD-FACTS (Moms and Dads – Family Awareness of Cancer Threat Spike) yard signs are free and in-stock for anyone who wants one. Displaying a sign can help spread information to residents about protecting their friends and families as well as direct folks to our brand new MAD-FACTS website! We’re so excited with how much support this public health awareness campaign has attracted in just over a year and hope you’ll help it continue to grow. Sign Up to Get Yours Here!
Take Action
Tell Your State Senators to Support Solar for Schools!
Solar for Schools is a proposal moving through the General Assembly that would grant public schools and universities money to install the technology to generate electricity. This grant would greatly benefit public schools in PA, which need more adequate and equitable funding sources. The program would benefit our local schools, create jobs, and benefit our local economy – all while cutting emissions, benefits the environment and helps us meet our climate goals. It has bipartisan support and should be a slam dunk for all, but we still need your help to get the bill across the finish line. Take action below to tell your State Senator to support Solar for Schools!
Tell your State Legislators to Support Guaranteed Funding for Whole Home Repairs
Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed $50 million in state funding for the “Whole-Home Repairs” program in his 2024 budget proposal. Last year he did the same, only for funding to be blocked because of partisan politics. The Whole Home Repairs program allows homeowners and small landlords to make necessary home repairs, including weatherization, water or energy efficiency updates, and accommodations for individuals with disabilities.Now, it’s on the legislature to negotiate Governor Shapiro’s proposal and pass an appropriations bill through the General Assembly that includes at least $50 million in Whole Home Repairs Funding.
Tell your State Senators to Vote NO on SB 831, Senator Yaw’s CO2 Injection and Storage Bill
The proposed hydrogen hubs and other carbon capture projects in Pennsylvania will require thousands of miles of new CO2 pipelines, injection wells, underground storage fields and more. It’s absolutely vital that gaps in the state’s regulations around these and other issues are addressed BEFORE yet another industrial ‘boom’ cycle begins without proper oversight or protections.
Senator Gene Yaw’s bill would not only make it more difficult for landowners impacted by carbon capture activities to receive compensation, it also allows those that don’t want activity on or under their land to be overruled by their neighbors. It is obvious that SB 831 is only intended to benefit industry and does little to protect landowners from overreach by industry. Write your state lawmakers and ask them to vote no on this bill now!
Public Notices
fRead all of the latest relevant public notices from the past month for Washington and Greene Counties as of April 27th here.
Upcoming Events
CCJ EVENTS:
Cecil Township Meeting to Amend Oil and Gas Ordinance
The Cecil Township Supervisors have heard complaints from a number of residents living near a pair of Range Resources well pads in Cecil. They vary from nuisances like truck traffic, low-frequency vibrations, and noise to serious concerns about public health based on high levels of volatile organic compounds reported by the company’s air monitoring data. The township held a meeting on April 3rd to hear comments on revisions to the township oil and gas ordinance and will hold another on May 8th. This is a rare opportunity to make your voice heard on a decision that could substantially impact the health and safety of township residents. If you are interested in this issue and are looking for more information, or if you would like to work toward improving your own township’s ordinances, reach out to Heaven Sensky at heaven@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org.
Are You a Cecil Township Resident?
If so, you can also write to the township supervisors in support of increased fracking setbacks, better health monitoring, and transparency for residents as part of the new ordinance. Sign on to our easy 1-click letter below!
Write Your Cecil Township Supervisor!
Kids Fishing Day at Dutch Fork Lake 🎣☀️🏞️
We hope you can come out to Dutch Fork Lake in Claysville and join us and Buffalo Creek Watershed Association for our annual Free Kids Fishing Day on Sunday, May 26th. Anglers of all ages can fish without a license in state waters across Pennsylvania. We’ll provide young beginners with free bait, tackle, and a fishing pole to keep as long as supplies last! We’ll be helping attendees cast their lines, chatting with community members, and grilling hotdogs and veggie dogs lakeside from 1:00-3:00 PM. Please register all adults and children to ensure that we have enough supplies for everyone.
If you are an experienced fisher who is interested in volunteering to teach kids or help handle bait and rods, reply to this email or give us a call at (724) 229-3550!
SAVE THE DATE: DRYERSON 2024 — JUNE 22
We’re hosting our 18th Annual DRYerson Festival at Ryerson Station State Park on June 22nd! This event commemorates the loss of Duke Lake in the park due to damage from coal mining and celebrates the ongoing restoration of Greene County’s only state park. As always, we welcome residents, members, and supporters to join us at the park for free food, music, and fun. Make sure to hold the afternoon of the June 22nd free on your calendar and we’ll have more information available on our website, social media, and emails very soon!
ALLY & COMMUNITY EVENTS:
5/11 — 2nd Annual Tenmile Creek Regatta
10 AM: Launch from 638 Tenmile Rd.; Exit to Shore at 1456 Tenmile Rd.; Vendors & Music at West Bethlehem Township Park
Enjoy the day with neighbors floating down Tenmile Creek! This is a relaxing 4.6 mile float, NOT a race: take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Tenmile Creek has to offer along your journey. At the exit point, you can load your vessels and head to the West Bethlehem Township Park (75 Broad St.) where the good times will continue with food and craft vendors, music, kids activities and more.
Register for $20 by May 10th at Midnight
5/23 — Bowlby Lecture Series: Helping Greene County Stay Green w/ CCJ
6 PM at Eva K. Bowlby Public Library (Waynesburg)
Our Greene County Organizer Tonya Yoders will be a guest presenter at the Eva K. Bowlby Public Library’s lecture series to discuss “Helping Greene County Stay Green.” She will provide an update on proposed new mining operations in Greene County, the impact of fracking on air and water quality, pending legislation affecting local environmental conditions, and opportunities for residents to get involved with local issues. Attendance is free for all ages, refreshments will be provided.
6/1 — The Benefits of Pollinators
6 PM at Ryerson Station State Park (Wind Ridge)
Join DCNR and Ryerson Station State Park staff at the park office on Saturday, June 1st to learn about the importance of pollinators. Bats, butterflies, and hummingbirds all make up an important part on sustaining our state and planet. Check out the newly built bat box while you are there!
WEEKLY EVENTS
Tuesdays & Saturdays — Greene County Flea Market
– 7 AM – 2 PM, Greene County Fairgrounds — Waynesburg, PA
Wednesdays (starting 5/15) — Waynesburg Farmers Market
– 10 AM – 2 PM at 145 W High Street, Waynesburg, PA
Thursdays (starting 5/16) — Main Street Farmers Market (Washington)
– 3 – 6 PM at Main Street Pavilion, Washington PA
Second Saturday Monthly — Free Food Pantry
– 9 AM – 12 PM at Lemoyne Center — Washington, PAYou can find more community events in Washington County here and Greene County here.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
We could not do this work without the continued support of our members and supporters. Please help us to continue our work to fight for environmental justice in Southwestern Pennsylvania by becoming a member of CCJ. Recurring monthly donations help to best support our work. Any gift made to the Center for Coalfield Justice is 100% tax-deductible.
