IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Press Release: Cecil residents score a huge win: Increased setbacks for new well pads!
After several hearings and years of community members’ working together and publicly raising their concerns, Cecil Township residents scored a huge victory: A revision to their zoning ordinance requiring a 2,500-foot setback for new well pads from homes and businesses, and a 5,000-foot setback from hospitals and schools. Read more here.
Introducing our new video of resident voices!
Resident experiences with fracking and its infrastructure: Listening to our neighbors
This year, the staff and members of CCJ have worked with Washington resident and CCJ member Michael Brownlee to produce a video of people’s experiences of living near fracking and its infrastructure. We are so grateful to Michael and everyone else who participated in these efforts, whether on camera or off. It is so important for others to hear your voices!
BLOGS & NEWS THIS MONTH
Official Ballot Canvass: Experiencing Democracy in Action
By Gavyn Marincheck | Nov. 26, 2024
In the United States it is common to hear elected officials and organizations speak on the importance of democracy; however, it is a unique privilege to actually witness the process and contribute to it. One critical pillar of CCJ’s work is “Democracy”, which has been made increasingly relevant as voter protection and election integrity are top of mind issues throughout the country. This year’s national election was CCJ’s most significant opportunity to be involved with pre-election, election-day, and post-election processes. Read more of Gavyn’s reflections here.
Running Unopposed is Undemocratic
By Nina Victoria | Nov. 23, 2024
Elections are the bedrock of our democracy, and voting is a right that many do not exercise. However, even if every eligible person in the United States voted, voters would still find that their choices, at times, could be better as many elected seats run unopposed. In Southwest Pennsylvania, it happens rather often – especially in primary elections where we are supposed to choose who represents our parties in the general election. Instead, in recent history, our parties tell us who is running in the general election by only running one candidate in the primary. While that’s bad, sometimes those same candidates don’t have opponents in the primary election because the other party doesn’t think it’s “worth it” to spend money running a candidate. Read more here to find out how many times the people who represent us right now ran unopposed.
Coal Refuse Disposal Areas in Southwestern PA: what are they and what could they be?
By Nina Victoria | Nov. 19, 2024
While these legacy pollution sites are daunting, they are problems that can be solved. However, we need to be vigilant and make sure the problem is solved the right way, which does not include further industrial build-out that could harm our homes and our health. CCJ will continue to advocate for remediated lands that will benefit our communities for years to come. Learn more here.
The Full Picture of Carbon Capture in Pennsylvania
By Nina Victoria and Jason Capello | Nov. 12, 2024
The most significant issue with carbon capture concepts is that they are a subsidized tool to reduce emissions in pollutant-heavy industries. Operating current carbon-heavy industries with carbon capture technology is not economically feasible. The price would fall on the consumer, resulting in a huge increase in utility costs. Even though there is widespread fraud and abuse in the program, our government is currently subsidizing privately-owned companies to practice CCS. This practice shifts the financial burdens onto the taxpayer, since the government is now paying the cost of dealing with these companies’ pollution. Read more here.
TAKE ACTION
Clear the Air this Giving Tuesday: Help Fund PurpleAir Monitors for Our Local Communities
Center for Coalfield Justice has helped install over twenty air monitors for residents living near oil and gas infrastructure across Washington and Greene Counties. This year, we’ve teamed up with PurpleAir to provide their Zen Air Quality Monitors to as many impacted residents as possible. Knowledge is power, and these air monitors afford affected residents with just that. With real-time data, families can take the necessary precautions to protect their loved ones from the health impacts associated with coal, oil & gas operations.
Stop the Dirty Deal Yet Again
In 2022, CCJ joined other frontline organizations to stop the Dirty Deal, a proposal by Senator Manchin that would have stripped frontline communities of some of the protections we get from the federal permitting process. Our members traveled to D.C. to show Senate Majority Leader Schumer how many people opposed this back-door deal that would harm our communities. Many others sent letters to Pennsylvania Senators expressing that same sentiment.
Now, two years later, the dirty deal has been resurrected. Two proposals, one in the House and one in the Senate, both have the potential to be made into law by the end of the legislative session in January. We need your help once again to defeat the dirty deal once and for all. Tell your U.S. Senators and Representatives to oppose this deal that threatens our communities.
Unlimited Contributions
Do you think corporations should be able to donate unlimited amounts to campaigns, drowning out our voices? Pennsylvania is one of the only states with no limits on political campaign contributions. Corporations in our region use their donations to influence who represents us at the state and local level – and ultimately, the agencies that hold them responsible for violations. Since 2018, fossil fuel companies and utilities have contributed over $1 million to political candidates in Washington and Greene Counties! Sign our petition to tell your legislator you have concerns about the influence of corporate money in PA politics. Together, we can build a government where everyone’s voice is heard, not just the wealthy few, and where liberty and justice is for all, no exceptions!
Sign to End Unlimited Donations
Tell your PA State Senator to Protect Our Access to Information by Voting NO on SB 525!
The PA Senate is about to vote on SB 525, a bill that allows agencies to label citizens who utilize Right-To-Know requests as “Vexatious Requesters” and deny them access to records for up to a year. Local governments have claimed this is necessary because they have a hard time responding to the volume of Right-to-Know requests they receive. However, if this were the case, our state government could and should provide local governments with resources to increase their capacity to respond to all requests. This bill is simply a way to limit the amount of information that citizens have and punish those who request it. Take action to tell your Senator to vote against SB 525 and protect our right to information!
PUBLIC NOTICES
Read all of the latest relevant public notices from the past month for Washington and Greene Counties as of November 25th here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
We look forward to seeing you at CCJ’s Holiday Party!
Join us on December 16th from 6-8:00 PM for a holiday celebration with our staff and community members. We’ll gather at CCJ’s Office, 31 E Chestnut St in Washington, PA, for an evening of holiday cheer! 🎄☃️🎉
We will be having a potluck-style dinner and encourage folks to bring their favorite holiday dishes and desserts if able. We’ll also be hosting an Ugly Sweater Contest! The ugliest, most memorable sweater gets a prize, so be sure to dress in your craziest holiday attire! 💃
This is a casual and fun chance to gather in community, reflect on our accomplishments, and celebrate the relationships we’ve built together one last time before the year comes to a close.
Ally & Community Events
12/2 — How to Run for Local Office: A Nonpartisan Online Training
6:30 – 8:30 PM on Zoom
Are you someone who wants to see real change made in local government? Have you ever thought of running for office? Do you know someone who would make a great candidate but needs some support and encouragement? If so, please join Protect PT for their How to Run for Office training. This information session will help guide you through the local process and help to address early concerns. This nonpartisan training is open to anyone interested in running for local elected positions.
Register here
12/4 — 10th Annual Community Sentinel Awards
5 – 11 PM at The Westin Pittsburgh (1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA)
The Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship is an annual award that honors activists and advocates championing change on the front lines of the environmental movement to mitigate the adverse effects of fossil fuels on their communities. Tickets include happy hour, dinner, and a reception after the awards ceremony.
Buy Your Ticket
12/8 — Braelyn’s Spaghetti Dinner Benefit
Come out to support Braelyn in her fight against childhood cancer!
Eat in $11 and take out $13, Chinese auction, 50/50 drawing
Lemoyne Community Center, 200 North Forrest Avenue, Washington, PA
4-8 PM
Weekly & Monthly Events
Tuesdays & Saturdays — Greene County Flea Market
7 AM – 2 PM at Greene County Fairgrounds
Second Saturday Monthly — Free Food Pantry
9 AM – 12 PM at Lemoyne Center
You 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.