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.
Pennsylvania to receive $1.07 billion from the $26 billion opioid settlement
As of January 26th, all 67 Pennsylvania counties have joined the $26 billion settlement agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson – over the companies’ role in creating and fueling the nationwide opioid crisis. This settlement will allocate funding to the states and local communities that…
Updates on Redistricting in PA
Congressional Redistricting Map Update The state of Pennsylvania has been undergoing the process of determining new district boundaries for the state’s federal congressional districts. After a census, districts are redrawn to ensure that each citizen’s vote carries the same weight in the ballot box. On December 15th, the GOP released the final copy of their…
Canonsburg Borough includes community in discussions of how to use over $900,000 in ARPA funds
On Monday, January 31st, the Canonsburg Borough Council held a public workshop to discuss the use of over $900,000 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds. Community members were encouraged to bring their ideas for the use of the funds to the table. Due to Covid risk, we decided not to attend. As you can…
Radon: What it is, and how we can protect our families
What Is Radon? Radon is created when uranium found in the soil, rocks, and underground water breaks down. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and travels vertically through holes and cracks in the ground; this gas can sometimes enter homes, businesses, and schools. When inhaled, radon can increase the risk of cancer and result in…
On the naughty list: State funding for a facility to transport fracking wastewater
As more and more decorations are being hung throughout our communities, you can feel the spirit of the holidays in the air. Soon enough, people will be together with their families to celebrate the wonderful holiday season, stuffing our faces with delicious food, playing games, and having some great laughs. That one Holly Jolly guy…
CNX Resources Enters into Plea Agreement to Air Pollution Control Act Violations, Commits $30,000 to South Franklin Township and 184 Acres of Land to Elizabeth Township
Center for Coalfield Justice member’s complaints and recordkeeping precipitated DEP investigation and criminal charges Washington, PA – December 2nd, 2021, CNX Resources Corporation signed a no contest plea to criminal violations of the Air Pollution Control Act resulting from an investigation into air quality complaints by a Center for Coalfield Justice member determined to protect…
“The New Coal” — What Climate Conversations Miss About Coal Communities
A report was recently released by Beyond Plastics, a non-profit organization based out of Bennington College in Vermont that seeks to end plastic pollution. This 21-page report does a wonderful job of explaining the comparisons in climate-changing emissions from the coal industry and the plastic industry. Plastics manufacturing currently emits the CO2 equivalent of 57…
Proposed Rulemaking on CRDAs
Act 74 of 2019 Previously, PA’s Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act limited the temporary cessation of operations at coal refuse disposal sites to no more than 1 year. The Federal Surface Mine Conservation and Reclamation Act of 1977 (“SMCRA”) allowed for flexibility with temporary cessation status. Act 74 of 2019 amended Section 6.1 of the…
Hemp Can Help to Regrow Our Local Economy
In late September, a few CCJ staff members took a field trip to Burnsville Hemp Company in West Finley in Washington County, with Greene County and the Bailey Mine CRDA just a stone’s throw away (see the photo above). As we drove through the winding roads to the farm, I was amazed how much of…
CCJ Applauds Governor Wolf, Lawmakers on Actions to Prioritize Environmental Justice
WASHINGTON, PA — In response to Governor Wolf’s Executive Order to codify and expand the Office of Environmental Justice and the Environmental Justice Advisory Board (EJAB), and planned legislation by the Black Caucus to both support the executive order and require an environmental impact statement on permits, the Center for Coalfield Justice released the following statement: