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.
I-70 Delays Upset Local Residents
Mining operations under I-70 near the West Virginia and Pennsylvania border have begun and will cause delays for commuters. These specific lane closures will last until at least the end of May, and this is just the first leg of many in the marathon of destroying and rebuilding the highway. PennDOT executives estimate that the…
Welcome Caroline and Mimi
Caroline Boone and Mimi Wahid are MIT undergraduate students who are interning with CCJ this month. They are excited to learn more about the needs of coalfield communities and contribute to CCJ’s mission. Born and raised in Salisbury, North Carolina, Mimi Wahid is a sophomore at MIT where she is majoring in Urban Studies and…
Petrochemical Projects Given Green Light over Holiday Break
The PA Department of Environmental Protection issued water permits (Chapters 102 and 105) for the PA leg of the Falcon Pipeline to be built, run, and operated by Shell. This pipeline will carry ethane, a natural gas liquid, from Houston, PA’s MarkWest facility to the Ethane Cracker Plant in Beaver County. Concerned residents from Washington,…
Explosion at MarkWest Processing Facility in Washington County Left Four Injured
The explosion and fire occurred at the MarkWest gas processing plant in Houston, PA, on Thursday, December 14. All of the injured workers suffered burns; one of them is in critical condition. They were flown by medical helicopter to two Pittsburgh hospitals. A MarkWest official said in a statement that the explosion occurred “near two…
Black Lung Disability Fund in Jeopardy unless Congress Acts
Rates of Black Lung disease are on the rise in coal communities across Appalachia, but Congress is set to allow Black Lung Disability benefits to be jeopardized. Congress has failed to pass an extension of current funding levels, but some members are fervently working to pass this extension as part of an appropriations bill up…
There’s No Place Like CCJ for the Holidays!
Join the Center for Coalfield Justice and Washington County United for our Ho-Ho-Holiday Party on December 11th from 6 PM to 8 PM at our new office on 14 E Beau St, Washington, PA 15301. We look forward to having a jolly good time with our supporters and allies! Don’t miss the fun and RSVP…
Relationships are the foundation for a Just Economic Transition
November 7th to 9th the Just Transition Fund Hosted their National Convening with grantees and speakers in Washington, DC. Folks gathered from across the country just after the elections celebrating some great wins and still aware of the work that is ahead to build just and sustainable communities. From listening to speakers and talking with…
Residents in Footprint of Tunnel Ridge Learn Proactive Steps to Protect Homes and Water Supplies
The Center for Coalfield Justice along with friends from the Buffalo Creek Watershed Association held an “Undermining for Residents Workshop” at the Donegal Township Municipal Building in the evening on Wednesday 14, 2018 and nearly forty (40) people attend. Community members were engaged, asked questions and talked amongst themselves in hopes to better understand what…
EJ Groups Gather to Discuss Breaking Free From Plastics
CCJ previously attended a Break Free From Plastics gathering in Houston, but the consensus from that meeting was that environmental justice groups were not proportionally represented in the space, so groups like GAIA and TEJAS with support from Earthworks arranged this meeting. Groups like Portand Citizens United, 5 Gyres, and Louisiana Environmental Action Network attended…
Protectors of Mingo Remain Active; Ramaco Permitting Process Continues
This campaign has been active for 6 years, with small wins along the way. Township officials met with residents years ago to place a set of restrictions on the mine designed to protect community members, drivers and their passengers through the area, and homeowners. Currently, POM are keeping an eye on developments in the permitting…