Our blogs are written by the staff of the Center for Coalfield Justice, with an occasional guest post. The most recent post appears on top, and others show up below in order of publishing date. You can receive the blogs in your inbox by signing up for our mailing list. Once per month we publish a newsletter, which contains most of the blog posts.
A 30th Anniversary Fundraiser to Remember!
On October 5th, we had the great privilege of hosting our 30th Anniversary Fall Fundraiser and it was definitely one for the books! The Stone Pavilion in Washington Park was the backdrop for our biggest fundraiser of the year. The sun was shining, spirits were high, and our community really turned out with over 100…
Stop the Dirty Deal – 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….
The Bigger Issues with OWPG and MERP
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulates oil and gas development in Pennsylvania. DEP shoulders the burden of regulating energy development and protecting the Commonwealth’s intrinsic rights to clean air, water, and the environment. With that contextualized, we will break down some of the recent funding and programs DEP has created and why they are…
Help Deploy More Solar and Save Taxpayer Money, Tell Your State Rep to Vote Yes on HB 2577 Today!
This summer, our state legislature passed Solar for Schools – allowing school districts in Pennsylvania the opportunity to cut energy costs by installing on-site solar. Modeled on this successful bipartisan effort, Representative Merski from Erie County introduced HB 2577. If passed, it would allow municipalities and emergency responders to apply for a grant to install…
Franklin Township Zoning Board Approves More Wells On Cosgray
On August 27, 2024, the Franklin Township Zoning Board in Greene County held a meeting to hear Rice Energy/EQT representatives present their plans for expanding their operations on an existing well pad. The Cosgray well pad is near Bonar Ave and is roughly 1300 ft. from the Waynesburg Hospital. It was initially permitted for ten…
September 2024 Newsletter
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Our 30th Anniversary Fall Fundraiser is THIS WEEKEND! We’re just a few days away from our 30th anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 5th from 5 – 9 PM! We’re so excited to see friendly faces from across three decades of community building. Come celebrate with dinner, drinks, music by Aristotle Jones:…
SB 525 Threatens Our Access to Information
Next week, the Pennsylvania Senate is scheduled to vote on SB 525 for the last time before sending it to the House for their consideration. This bill would allow a state agency, a county, or a township to petition the Office of Open Records to get a person who often files Right-to-Know requests labeled as…
Former Executive Director Veronica Coptis on 30 Years of CCJ’s Evolution
The Center for Coalfield Justice is celebrating 30 years as an organization working to protect our environment, invest in rural and small-town communities, and advocate for justice. Our former Executive Director, Veronica Coptis, discussed some of her thoughts about the milestone and what CCJ has meant for her. Veronica worked at CCJ for over a…
Congratulations, Jodi!
We are so proud of our Community Organizer Jodi Borello, who is being recognized at the 2024 Physicians for Social Responsibility Health Heroes Awards! Jodi testified in front of the 43rd Statewide Grand Jury about the harm the oil and gas industry caused her family and the failure by regulators to protect public health. Her…
Governor Shapiro and PA DOH Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen: Take action on protecting PA children from fracking-related cancers!
Over a year ago this August, the University of Pittsburgh, in support of the PA Department of Health, released long-awaited results of the PA Health and Environment Studies. Those results showed an alarming correlation between the health of kids living in Southwestern PA and fracking infrastructure. According to the studies, children living near fracking infrastructure…