Veronica Coptis
Veronica Coptis joined the CCJ staff in March 2013 as a Community Organizer and is now serving as the Executive Director. She grew up in western Greene County near the Bailey Mine Complex and currently lives in the eastern part of the county. Before joining the CCJ staff, Veronica served on the Board of Directors for CCJ and organized with Mountain Watershed Association. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from West Virginia University. She enjoys hiking and geocaching at Ryerson State Park and other areas around Greene County with her husband and daughters. Read more about Veronica in a New Yorker Magazine profile at https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/03/the-future-of-coal-country.
Contact Veronica at veronica@centerforcoalfieldjustice.org.
Blog Posts by Veronica Coptis
Reclamation funding could bring tens of thousands of jobs to a region hit hard by the economic downturn.
WASHINGTON, PA — Across the United States, millions of oil and gas wells are no longer in production, but have no party legally or financially responsible for plugging them. These “orphaned” or abandoned wells pose serious risks to public safety and our environment, leaking oil and gas into our water and soil and releasing climate-warming methane into the atmosphere.
CCJ statement on President Biden’s American Jobs Plan: It is a critical first step for equitable investment in rural communities that have been abandoned for far too long “We envision a future where communities hit hard by the decline of the coal industry have vibrant, resilient, and equitable new economies with thriving local businesses and […]
This week two major publications were released that highlight public health impacts on people living next to oil and gas operations. The Environmental Health News released their investigation looking at how chemicals associated with oil and gas are present at levels 90 times higher than the average in families’ urine, including samples from children. The […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Environmental organizations work with DEP on settlement to allow public input on shale gas wastewater permits Today, the DEP agreed to allow public comment for all 49 permits and will accept public comments for 60 days from the date of public notice, which is expected no later than March 31, 2021. The […]