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.
Updates on the Robena preparation plant site, and a short survey for those who live nearby
Author Ethan Story Ethan comes to CCJ with a J.D. and a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. While attending Vermont Law School, Ethan worked as a Research Associate with the Water and Justice Program. In this role, he worked with diverse stakeholders to help protect their access to reliable, clean…
CCJ Celebrates Earth Day With Three Events
This past Earth Week was busy for the CCJ team. We kicked off festivities on Saturday April 24th by supporting the Izaak Walton League Harry Enstrom Chapter of Greene County in their tree planting event at the State Gamelands in Garards Fort. Together with Izaak Walton League, CCJ Staff Heaven Sensky and Veronica Coptis, along…
Community Advocates Welcome Manchin’s RECLAIM Act & AML Reauthorization Bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2021 View as Webpage Media Contact: Trey Pollard, 202-904-9187, trey@pollardcommunications.com Infrastructure Bills Led by Five Senators Work Hand-in-Hand to Restore & Reclaim Abandoned Mine Sites to Create At Least 13,000 Jobs in Coal-Impacted Communities With coal communities more in need of support and investment than ever before, today Senator Joe…
Overdose deaths are rising. Why not try something different?
This is the 20th installment in our What’s on your mind? blog series and was written by CCJ Community Organizer Heaven Sensky. This past year has brought many new challenges to many of our families, including mine. I lost someone very young and dear to me to an accidental overdose this past fall. My loved…
Center for Coalfield Justice Issues Statement Hailing United Mine Workers’ Support for Transition to Clean Energy Jobs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jodi Hirsh, jodi@sequalconsulting.com, (412) 326-9832 WASHINGTON, PA — We envision a future where the communities hit hard by the decline of the coal industry have vibrant, resilient, and equitable economies with thriving, local businesses and quality, family-sustaining jobs. This future sees workers and communities on the frontlines of our nation’s energy…
New Bill Would Address Abandoned Wells and Mines in Pennsylvania
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
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…
Join Pennsylvanians to Ensure Our Communities can Thrive
During our monthly community meeting in February we discussed with our supporters about what is in the THRIVE agenda and what this means for our communities in Washington and Greene Counties. At the end of this month we are joining the Thriving PA Working Group* in hosting a statewide town hall to learn about the…
What is Act 54, and how can we use it to ensure better protection for our communities?
The area of Duke Lake in Ryerson Station State Park, after it was drained due to damage from underground coal mining. In 1966, our state enacted a coal mining law known as the Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act (BMSLCA). The law laid out several requirements and protections to make coal mining safe for…
Highlighting the Too-Often Invisible Labor of Mothers, Who Protect Us and Lead Us
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…