IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
What’s New in New Freeport?
This summer, there have been three major updates from New Freeport, the rural community in Greene County, PA where residents have been without safe, reliable water since an EQT fracking incident in June 2022. You can read more background about the situation in New Freeport here and here.
1. Freeport Township and neighboring Springhill Township both filed disaster emergency declarations after 3 years of inaction on water contamination. The township supervisors submitted the declarations in an effort to help qualify for state and federal aid for a new water line. A new water line could cost up to $25 million, far more than these small municipalities can afford on their own. While the number one priority is securing safe water for residents, funding it this way would place the burden on Pennsylvania taxpayers instead of holding EQT — which made over $7.5 billion in revenue in 2022 — accountable for its actions.
2. A U.S. District Court judge denied New Freeport residents’ request to require EQT to continue supplying water to residents. As part of their class action civil suit against EQT, impacted residents filed a preliminary injunction because the company had previously threatened to end water refills unless residents absolved them of wrongdoing and signed nondisclosure agreements. The judge said residents failed to show they are “experiencing immediate, irreparable harm” that can’t be resolved by money damages in the class action suit. The denial means EQT can shut off refills at any time without repercussions. However, residents are appealing the decision and the broader class action suit against EQT will continue. Read CCJ’s full response to the injunction decision here.
3. A peer-reviewed article titled Contamination of private water supplies after a well communication event (frac-out) in southwest Pennsylvania was published in Scientific Reports research journal. Over two years, researchers collected and analyzed 75 residential well and surface water samples from New Freeport and the surrounding area. Results revealed evidence of oil and gas brine contamination and high levels of methane. The study also found that the extent of contamination is much wider than initially reported.
CCJ has been on the ground collecting samples, distributing water donations, and organizing residents to advocate for themselves since day one. We’ll continue fighting for New Freeport until there is clean water and justice for all.
PA Supreme Court Rules in Favor of CCJ, PA Voters in Mail-In Ballot Case
Last week, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the lower court’s decision in Center for Coalfield Justice et al. v. Washington County Board of Elections that the Board must inform voters if they have made a disqualifying error on their mail ballot packets and allow them an opportunity to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day to preserve their right to vote. This comes after CCJ joined ACLU PA, Public Interest Law Center, NAACP Washington Branch, and seven Washington County voters challenging the Board’s decision not to inform voters of their disqualified ballots during the 2024 primary election. That policy disenfranchised 259 voters in the county who had no way of knowing their votes would be thrown out or that they needed to cast a provisional ballot in order to make their vote count. “CCJ applauds this decision by the PA Supreme Court to reaffirm that voters have a right to due process,” said Executive Director Sarah Martik. “Because of this decision, voters across Pennsylvania will not be denied the ability to make their vote count when they rely on mail-in voting — and CCJ is proud to have been part of defending voting rights and democracy.” Read more reactions and information about the case here.
We’ll See You at the Fall Fundraiser on Saturday!
We’re just two days away from our 2025 Fall Fundraiser in Washington Park! Join us October 4th from 5-9:00pm at the Stone Pavilion for a lovely evening of live music by Aristotle Jones: The Appalachian Soul Man, tasty food courtesy of our friends at Soup’d Up, delicious beer from Rusty Gold Brewing, and dozens of raffle items from local shops and small businesses in our Washington & Greene communities! We already have 100 guests registered to attend, so make sure to buy your tickets today so we can be sure to have enough for everyone!
This year we are also excited to announce the launch of our Hybrid Silent Auction! Supporting our fundraiser and winning awesome prizes from local artists, shops and sports teams is more accessible than ever. You can now bid on our silent auction items right from the comfort of your own home before and during the event. Simply visit our Givebutter auction page, register to become a bidder, and start bidding on prizes today. It is as simple as that!
HARM REDUCTION PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Recovery Advocacy Day
On September 29th, our Organizer Gavyn went to Harrisburg with Washington Opioid Overdose Coalition, Washington County Drug and Alcohol Commission, and harm reduction advocates from across Pennsylvania for 2025 Recovery Advocacy Day. Attendees met with lawmakers to raise awareness of substance use conditions, celebrated individuals in recovery, and acknowledged the work of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services while advocating for policies to save lives and preserve dignity for those struggling with substance use disorder.
BLOGS THIS MONTH
Third-party Permitting is Here. What Does that Mean for Energy Projects and Impacted Communities?
Posted September 9, 2025
A little over a year ago, the Pennsylvania state budget passed with a provision quietly added by lawmakers that created an industry wish-list item many sessions in the making: Third-Party Permitting. This fall, that policy is set to begin, expediting important parts of the environmental permitting process and passing responsibility for protecting communities from state agencies to third-party reviewers with less oversight. Read through an updated version of our blog from last year to learn more.
CCJ is Hiring!
We are excited to announce the opening of a few more new positions with the CCJ team! We are hiring a Greene County Community Organizer and an Events Coordinator. Don’t worry, our current staff members in these positions, Tonya and Sarah, are both staying on with CCJ, they’re just shifting their roles a bit to focus on other areas of our work! CCJ offers competitive pay, generous paid time off, full medical, dental and vision coverage, and 401k retirement benefits. If you’re interested in either position, please visit the links to apply and be sure to share them if you know someone who you think would be a good fit. We can’t wait to continue expanding Team CCJ as we head into 2026!
TAKE ACTION
NEW: Tell Your PA Elected Officials: Fund the Home Preservation Program!
Pennsylvania lawmakers still haven’t passed a budget, which means there still isn’t funding for the PA Home Preservation Program! Earlier this year, Senate and House reps from both sides of the aisle introduced bipartisan legislation to fund home repair assistance. The pilot program for this legislation funded costly repairs and weatherization upgrades for over 2,600 homes. It was so popular that more than 18,000 homeowners were waitlisted when lawmakers failed to include it in the previous budgets.
This new legislation would use state funds to build on this success and popularity to help tens of thousands Pennsylvanians repair their homes each year. Doing so would combat the housing crisis, avoid the broader costs associated with disrepair, and reduce community displacement. The bill passed the PA House with bipartisan support and is being considered in the Senate before a final vote. However, as negotiations around the PA budget have been in a standstill for over three months, elected officials need to hear how important this program is for Pennsylvanians to make sure it doesn’t end up on the chopping block once again. Tell your PA State Senator to support the PA Home Preservation Program in the budget and make affordable home repairs a reality for us all!
Tell PA Legislators: Raise Revenue and Create a Pathway to Prosperity — No Budget Cuts!
Pennsylvania must take action now to win a fair state budget! According to a report released by Governor Shapiro’s office, the federal reconciliation bill (Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill) will have disastrous impacts on our communities. 310,000 Pennsylvanians are expected to lose health insurance, 144,000 Pennsylvanians will be cut from receiving SNAP benefits to feed their families and 25 rural Pennsylvania hospitals are at risk of closure. And the current government shutdown will only make matters worse, backing lawmakers into a corner and pressuring them to further cut benefits. Elected officials must show us that they will stand up for us and make sure that people’s basic needs are met.
Many vital services rely on federal funding support such as healthcare, transportation, and public education. We need to tell our legislators that they must raise PA’s state revenue, not cut our budget for vital services our communities rely on! Instead of making large cuts to essential services like healthcare, education, and transportation, Pennsylvania legislators should be advancing efforts to raise the state’s revenue. CCJ and our allies with the All Eyes on Yass campaign have created the “Pathway to Prosperity” platform, outlining realistic and impactful solutions Pennsylvania could adopt to raise $14 billion in state funding. There are available, immediate steps PA could take to ensure everything we need is fully funded – but legislators need to act.
SB 102 Punishes Communities That Protect Residents from Fracking – Tell Your State Representative to Vote NO Today!
Last year, Cecil Township won major protections for residents’ health by passing an ordinance prohibiting development of new unconventional gas wells within 2,500 feet of homes and businesses and 5,000 feet of schools and hospitals. This win came after a years-long fight and multiple hearings where residents voiced their concerns about the health impacts of fracking. Shortly after, Senator Camera Bartolotta, who represents Cecil Township in the Pennsylvania State Senate, introduced SB 102, a bill that would punish communities that implement ordinances like the one in Cecil. It would direct the PA Utilities Commission to withhold drilling impact fees from municipalities that “unreasonably limit” fracking without defining what makes a policy unreasonable. These impact fees are intended to compensate communities that are already burdened by oil and gas development, with funds usually going towards infrastructure projects, emergency preparedness, environmental protection, and reclamation services. The funds have nothing to do with future development, so cutting them off over policies that protect communities from further harm makes no sense and only serves to punish communities for advocating against corporate interests.
SB 102 forces municipalities to choose between protecting their residents’ health and continuing to receive funding that many of these communities depend on and are entitled to. This bill is a message: polluters are more important to our legislators than the communities that elected them. Learn more and tell your representative to reject this bill that would punish communities trying to protect themselves from the dangers of fracking.
PUBLIC NOTICES
Read all of the latest relevant public notices from the past month for Washington and Greene Counties as of September 29th here.
UPCOMING CCJ EVENTS
CCJ’s 11th Annual Fall Fundraiser
October 4th | Washington, PA | 5-9:00 PM
Join CCJ staff, board members, supporters and allies from around the area for our 11th annual Fall Fundraiser at the Stone Pavilion in Washington Park on Saturday, October 4th from 5-9 PM! This year, CCJ staff, members, and supporters throughout our local communities are invited to come together to help carve out hope in these challenging times. Admission includes one full meal, dessert, non-alcoholic beverages, and a drink ticket for attendees over 21 years old (with the option to purchase a special CCJ cup and complimentary All-You-Can-Safely-Drink add-on). The fundraiser will include a silent auction and raffle full of local goods – bid on your favorites in person on via our brand new Hybrid Silent Auction webpage and take home a little piece of our community!
Faith, Fracking, and Plastics: A Conversation with Sharon Lavigne
October 22 | Washington & Jefferson College, Yost Auditorium | 6:30 PM
We warmly invite you to a community gathering featuring Sharon Lavigne, the nationally recognized faith leader and environmental justice advocate from Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. Sharon is founder of RISE St. James, a faith-based, grassroots nonprofit that led a ‘David vs. Goliath’ battle to stop a massive plastics plant from being built in her Louisiana community. Her faith, courage, and perseverance in defending the community she calls home from the devastating health effects of pollution has inspired people across the nation. Now, hear her discuss the connection between her struggle in the Gulf South and the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
This event will be held in-person at Washington and Jefferson College’s Yost Auditorium (located in the Howard J. Burnett Center) on Wednesday, October 22 at 6:30 PM. Tickets are free for all ages, register for yours now!
Greene County Ghouls – Virtual Livestream
October 24 | 6:30 PM | Live on Zoom
Join us virtually on October 24th for Greene County Ghouls a brand new CCJ event just in time for Halloween! This webinar will feature a collection of stories celebrating all things spooky and supernatural in and around Greene County, Pennsylvania — from haunted houses to creepy cryptids! We’ll share stories and videos from noteworthy locations throughout the area and take questions and additional stories from our virtual attendees. If you would like to submit a story ahead of time, reach out to us at info@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org!
This will be an online-only webinar event hosted on Zoom on Friday, October 24th at 6:30 PM. Be sure to RSVP now to receive the Zoom link; if you can’t make it but would like to receive the recording, you must register ahead of time!
ALLY & COMMUNITY EVENTS:
10/4 — Fall Fun Day
1-5 PM at Mingo Creek County Park Shelter 6
Join the park staff for a fun filled day of pumpkin carving, scarecrow stuffing and hayrides. Wagon Rides – $2.00 per person; Pumpkins – $4.00 per pumpkin; Scarecrow Stuffing – Free: bring your own clothes, straw provided.
Pre-registration required; Call to Register: 724-228-6867
10/5 — Plastic-Free Picnic and Community Potluck
3-6 PM at Pittsburgh Friends Meeting House (4836 Ellsworth Ave)
Pittsburghers Against Single-Use Plastic is hosting their annual Plastic-Free Potluck & Community Picnic. This FREE event will be held on the front porch and lawn of the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting House in Shadyside (Inside the Meeting House in case of bad weather!) Bring a dish to share, reusable dishes for your own use, and a blanket or lawn chairs on which to picnic! This event is welcoming to all, so bring your family, friends, and neighbors!
Help PASUP plan to serve all by registering!
10/8 — Suicide Prevention and Education
5 PM at Bowlby Library (311 N. West St., Waynesburg, PA)
Help save someone’s life: recognize the warning signs and learn what you can do to help at this free training for community members hosted by the Eva K. Bowlby Library.
Please call 724-627-9776 to register as there is limited seating available.
10/9 — Meadowcroft Rockshelter Talk
6-7:30 PM at Meadowcroft Rockshelter
Come join Buffalo Creek Watershed Association in Buffalo Township for a discussion about the oldest known site of human habitation in North America — Meadowcroft Rockshelter! Learn about the archaeological discoveries and the significance of this ancient site from Andrew Donovan, Program Coordinator for Meadowcroft.
Attendance if free, but registration is required: RSVP for free here.
10/20 — Oil and Gas Development and Pediatric Cancers: The Latest Evidence
3-4 PM on Zoom
Join Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units for a webinar about Childhood Cancer & the Environment to learn more about oil and gas development and pediatric cancers from Nicole Cardello Deziel, PhD, MHS, Associate Professor in Environmental Health Sciences at the Yale School of Public Health
Register here to receive the Zoom link.
10/24 — Drink Your Watershed: Three Rivers Waterkeepers Annual Fundraiser for Clean Water
6-9:30 PM at Pittsburgh Brewing Company (150 Ferry St, Creighton, PA)
Join Three Rivers Waterkeeper at their annual fundraiser to celebrate all the progress made towards clean water with conversations on where we still need to go! TIckets include catered dinner, open bar (for 21+), commemorative glassware, music and entertainment, entry for a door prize, and more.
Buy Your Tickets Here
WEEKLY AND MONTHLY EVENTS:
Tuesdays & Saturdays —Greene County Flea Market
7 AM – 2 PM at Greene County Fairgrounds
Wednesdays — Waynesburg Farmers Market
9 AM – 1 PM at High St and Morris St
Thursdays — Main Street Farmers Market
3 – 6 PM at Main Street Pavilion (Washington, PA)
Thursdays (except 4th Thursday) — Washington County GSA Game Night
5:30 – 8:30 PM at the CENTER on Strawberry
Second Friday of Every Month — Washington County GSA Free Friday Dinner
5:30 – 8:30 PM at the CENTER on Strawberry
Please RSVP at programs@wcgsa.org
Saturdays — McDonald Farmers Market
9 AM – 12 PM at McDonald Trail Station and History Center
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.