photo credit: KATIE COLANERI/STATEIMPACT PA
Highland Township in Elk County, PA, adopted a Community Bill of Rights Ordinance in January 2013, codifying the community’s rights to clean air, water, the rights of nature, and to local self-governance – and banning fracking wastewater injection wells as a violation of those rights.
Faced with Seneca Resources Corporation applying for a permit to site an injection well within the Township, the community contacted CELDF to assist in drafting their Community Bill of Rights to protect themselves from the threat of wastewater.
Seneca Resources Corporation has now threatened a lawsuit. With overwhelming community support for the Township Supervisors, the Supervisors have retained CELDF to defend the Community Bill of Rights.
For more information on Highland Township organizing, or Community Rights organizing in Pennsylvania, contact Chad Nicholson at chad@celdf.org.