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Protect PT is a citizen's group working to ensure the health and safety, security, and quality of life from the effects of unconventional gas development in Penn-Trafford and surrounding communities to protect resident's rights. Our Mission Protect PT (Penn-Trafford) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring residents' safety, security, and quality of life by engaging in education and advocacy to protect the economic, environmental, and legal rights of the people in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Protect PT was established in 2014 as a grassroots community-based nonprofit organization designed to protect our community from the harmful environmental impacts of fossil fuel activity. We are dedicated to ensuring Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties residents’ safety, security, and quality of life. About Us Upcoming Events May Lunch & Learn w/ John Stoltz on the DEP Landfill Leachate Tue, May 26 protectpt.info/lunch More info RSVP Upper Burrell Data Center Community Workshop Thu, Jun 04 Penn State New Kensington More info RSVP Plum Air Quality Community Meeting Tue, Jun 09 Plum Community Center More info RSVP Monessen Air Quality Community Meeting Tue, Jun 23 Monessen High School (LGI Room) More info RSVP The Lorax Kids Return to the Capital Thu, Jun 25 Capitol Rotunda More info Buy Tickets Blog: News and Updates "No Risk to Human Health"? - Protect PT and Coalition Call Out DEP's Dismissal Noah Bedard 2 minutes ago SWPA Residents Rage Against the Machines Debra Smit Mar 19 Penneco Won't Take "No" For an Answer Gillian Graber Feb 24 EPA Repeals Endangerment Finding, Plunging U.S. into Climate Chaos Lauren Posey Feb 13 Read More

Read our advocacy letters, all written with the goal to protect our environment and the health of our community. Advocacy Letters Library Letter to the DEP: Acknowledge the Risk of Radioactivity in Landfill Leachate May 14th, 2026 In 2021, then-Governor Tom Wolf ordered the DEP to investigate the presence of radium, and radioactivity, in untreated leachate from municipal landfills across PA. On March 13th, 2026, the DEP released a report stating that the radioactivity in untreated leachate posed "... no risk to human health" despite there being no risk study done in association with the report. Their own report cites radioactivity in the thousands of picocuries per liter - well over the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's legal limit for waste from certified nuclear facilities. Our municipal sewage treatment plants are not capable of filtering out radium. DEP must consider this, and take action to prevent harm to public health from radioactive landfill leachate. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to the DEP: Enforce the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill's Consent Order March 3rd, 2026 Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill (WSL) has a long-running history of violations, which impact residents of nearby Environmental Justice tracts. Despite the requirements listed under its Consent Order, WSL has failed to permanently correct issues including the tracking of materials onto Tyrol Boulevard, and the repeated incidence of intermittent odors emanating from the site. DEP should exercise its power granted by the Consent Order to assess appropriate civil penalties against WSL for these repeated and disruptive violations. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP: Deny Permits for the TL-636 Pipeline January 12, 2026 After reviewing the environmental damage that will be caused by the TL-636 pipeline, the Department should deny a SWQC, Chapter 102 Permit, and Chapter 105 Permit for the TL-636 pipeline. Based on the contents of the permit applications and information provided by EGTS, granting these permits would endanger local residents and risk irreversible damage to the local environment in Westmoreland County. Given the significant degree of public interest in this project indicated by this comment and by the proximity of the TL-636 pipeline in Westmoreland County to thousands of local residents, including multiple members of Protect PT, Protect PT requests that the Department schedule and notify the public of a public hearing nearby the location of the TL-636 pipeline for the Department to consider in-person comments from local residents. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to EPA: Do Not Reconsider the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) November 3, 2025 Protect PT strongly opposes the EPA’s reconsideration of the GHGRP. The U.S. is a major emitter and will have an outsized impact on the entire globe’s progress towards mitigating climate change, making the proposed near total elimination of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program a devastating blow to at-risk communities all around the world. Our country is already afflicted by sea level rise, increased natural disasters, and longer wildfire seasons, and ceasing data collection on the root cause of these calamities will only leave our scientists, engineers, policy-makers, and business leaders in the dark as they try to address them. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to EPA: Do Not Delay Methane Rule Compliance September 26, 2025 The 2024 EPA methane rule would prevent 58 million tons of methane emissions from 2024 to 2038, helping to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Pushing back compliance deadlines only undermines any progress already made by industry towards improved efficiency and will slash any protections and benefits promised to residents. Delaying compliance for the methane rule shows a blatant disregard for the health of our communities. Therefore, Protect PT is opposed to the EPA’s Extension of Deadlines in Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources in the Oil and Natural Gas Sector and requests that the EPA reconsiders this compliance delay immediately. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to AI Strike Team & Advisory Committee: Lessen the Public Health and Economic Impacts of Fueling Data Centers with Fracking by Considering Renewable Energy Sources September 9, 2025 We urge the AI Horizons Summit Planning Committee to promote discussion through plenaries on diversifying energy sources for AI and considering community impacts in future summit events. We know that this year’s summit features some renewable energy-focused speakers, which is encouraging, but there is room for greater inclusion of both renewable energy speakers and community representatives. AI Horizons can foster true innovation by connecting renewable energy leaders, who are creating some of the fastest growing and least expensive energy on the market, with AI developers. From: Protect PT and Others Read the Letter Letter to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC): Consider the Potential Environmental, Health, and Increased Electric Rate Impacts of Hyperscale Data Centers May 21, 2025 Along with 14 of our partner organizations, we urge the Pennsylvania PUC Chairman and Commissioners to exercise the utmost caution, care, and restraint in integrating data centers and other large load customers. Hyperscale data centers are profoundly different from other customers and present numerous, wide-ranging impacts on other ratepayers and Pennsylvania residents as a whole. From: Protect PT and Others Read the Letter Letter to DEP: Deny Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill's NPDES Permit Application April 2, 2025 Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, LLC has been dumping toxic, radioactive fracking waste into its landfill for well over a decade. The residents of Monessen, Rostraver, and Belle Vernon have been opposing the operation of the WSL for at least as long. This NPDES permit application is the last gasp of a landfill which has failed at every other method of dealing with the problem which it created itself through its mismanagement, negligence, and disregard for the local community in pursuit of private gain. The WSL has tried smuggling its leachate into local sewage systems, a move a judge required the WSL to stop. The WSL has tried using storage tanks and trucks, but the storage has quite literally overflowed. The WSL tried to evaporate its leachate into the air, but abandoned this plan after it could not meet federal permitting requirements to have it approved. Unable to legally pollute our wastewater treatment plants, our soil, and our air, the WSL is now trying to pollute our water. For the reasons given in this and other comments both in-person at the March 20th DEP hearing and in writing, the DEP should not allow this to happen. The DEP should, first and foremost, deny the Permit. If the DEP approves the Permit or any amended variant, the DEP must send that permit to the EPA for review. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP: Expand Ambient Air Monitoring around Shale Gas Extraction October 21, 2024 Protect PT urges the PA DEP to expand their current ambient air monitoring in areas of increased industrialization and shale gas development due to known health effects from said infrastructure. Other recommendations include increasing the quality of monitors and standardizing the chemicals measured from one monitor to another to allow for comparison. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP, Improving Erosion and Sediment Permitting Processes July 26, 2024 The health of Pennsylvania’s environment, waterways, and people are important to Protect PT and 3WRK. We recommend changes and revisions to the updated erosion and sediment permit process. We believe these changes will better protect the environment and ensure that the Department of Environmental Protection is fulfilling their mission to guarantee Pennsylvanians their constitutional rights to a clean and healthful environment. From: Protect PT and Three Rivers Waterkeeper Read the Letter Letter to Governor Shapiro, RGGI Issues August 23, 2023 Protect PT wrote a letter to PA Governor Shapiro to call out undemocratic government proceedings and demand change. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Comments and proposed changes to the 2023 Update of the PEMA State Hazard Mitigation Plan Jan 11, 2023 Protect PT and partners wrote to PEMA and Vernon Land Use LLC about the 2023 update of the PEMA State Hazard Mitigation Plan. From: Protect PT, BCMAC, FracTracker Alliance, Cathy Lodge Read the Letter Comment on Tonkin gas compressor station Dec 16, 2022 Protect PT wrote to the DEP to deny the renewal of the Tonkin gas compressor station. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to the DEP Sep 19, 2022 Protect PT wrote a letter to deny the application for a leachate evaporator at the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Comments to Revised ME2 E&S Permit Renewal Applications April 29, 2022 Protect PT and partners wrote a letter to the DEP regarding commenting on Sunoco's Mariner East pipeline. Image Credit: FracTracker From: Protect PT, Clean Air Council, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Mountain Watershed Association, Food & Water Watch Read the Letter Drakulic Sign on Letter Oct 21, 2021 Protect PT wrote a letter to PA DEP to request the denial of the drill and operate permits for the 1H and 7H wells. Several organizations signed on. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Beaver Run Letter to DEP July 22, 2021 Protect PT wrote to the PA DEP requesting them to stop CNX operations near the Beaver Run Reservoir to protect the source water area. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Invenergy Comment June 8, 2021 Protect PT commented during the hearing for the Invenergy proposed Allegheny Energy Center 639 megawatt combined-cycle natural gas-fired power plant, permit number 0959-I001, in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County From: Protect PT Read the Comment Letter to the DEP: CNX's Application for a Waterline in Beaver Run Reservoir May 4th, 2026 Beaver Run Reservoir serves over 123,000 residents between both Westmoreland and Allegheny County. Despite its status as a critical water source for these communities, CNX is seeking to tap directly into the Reservoir to siphon water for its fracking operations. Protect PT has long held concerns about the use of a residential water supply for fracking, and the Reservoir has already seen two taps installed in 2025 for EQT, another oil and gas operator. Protect PT is writing to make a simple request: Deny the permit, and ensure that residents continue to have access to their water supply for years to come. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to the DEP: Follow-Up on Testing Results from our Environmental Science Team January 20, 2026 Protect PT's Environmental Science team has conducted diligent monitoring of local bodies of water for years. Through our monitoring, our Environmental Scientists have observed results that would conflict with DEP designations for impairment. We believe DEP should consider these results when evaluating the causes and degree of impairment in local bodies of water. We also encourage DEP to engage in further testing to determine whether their designations are still accurate. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC): Adopt a Strong Model Tariff to Regulate Data Centers December 22, 2025 We appreciate the PA PUC’s thorough consideration of stakeholder perspectives in its efforts to create a robust Model Tariff for large data centers. These facilities are new to our state and present a wide range of deleterious impacts on our residents, environment, and economy if improperly managed. Therefore, the PUC’s priority in this process should be protecting those existing ratepayers. The PUC must adopt a Model Large Load Tariff as soon as possible and require that it be followed by the utilities. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to EPA Region 3: Do Not Approve Columbia Gas Injection Well Permit October 16, 2025 Given the proximity of this injection well to residential homes and waterways, the risks are simply too great to overlook. Clean air and water are the foundation of healthy, thriving communities, and once contaminated, they cannot easily be restored. We respectfully urge the EPA to deny this permit and to uphold its responsibility to safeguard the health, safety, and environmental integrity of Beaver County residents and the broader Ohio River Basin. From: Protect PT and Others Read the Letter Letter to EPA: Do Not Repeal the Endangerment Finding September 19, 2025 The EPA 2009 Endangerment Finding was a necessary update to the Clean Air Act that enabled us to more effectively and accurately fulfill the goal of protecting public health and welfare. On April 2, 2007, in Massachusetts v. EPA , the Supreme Court found that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act. The Court held that the EPA Administrator must determine whether or not emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles contribute to air pollution that endangers public health, or whether the science is too uncertain to make a reasoned decision. The science was clear. Removing the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions will only undermine existing progress to improve industrial efficiency, adapt our economy, protect public health, and mitigate the wide-ranging and severe effects of climate change. As the rest of the world moves forward, America will lag behind, choosing to regress and stagnate instead of forging a better future. For the sake of our nation, we urge the EPA not to repeal the Endangerment Finding. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP Secretary Shirley: Hold Operators Accountable for Violations August 28, 2025 We are writing to express our appreciation to your office and the Department’s Southwest Regional Office for their discovery of a series of willful, severe violations found at EQT Prod. Co.’s Porter Well Pad in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County. We write further to formally request that the Department follow these violations with a consent assessment of civil penalty or an assessment of civil penalties to EQT Prod. Co. of an amount at least equivalent to the gross profits resulting from EQT’s refusal to delay fracking operations at the Porter Well Pad from July 10, 2025 to July 28, 2025 to conduct environmental remediation in compliance with the law in order to deter willful, knowing, and severe violations of Pennsylvania law and the degradation of Pennsylvania’s environment. Photo credit: PA DEP inspection report From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to Fish & Wildlife Service: Do not rescind the definition of “Harm” under the Endangered Species Act May 19, 2025 Protect PT submitted comments to oppose the Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to remove the definition of “harm” from federal regulations without any replacement definition due to concerns for endangered species. If the agency wishes to revise the meaning of "harm," it should do so after a fully considered analysis by engaging in a study of the foreseeable impacts of this regulation as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. It should not, under any circumstances, eliminate the meaning of "harm.” From: Protect PT Read the Letter Blue Moon Compressor Station Comment to DEP: Hold a Public Hearing re. Draft Permit March 3, 2025 Commenters request that DEP hold a public hearing for Blue Moon’s Draft Permit due to numerous complaints from local residents of the Facility and how it disrupts their homelife and health. Since starting operations around 2017, residents around the Facility experience health symptoms that include burning eyes and trouble breathing. From: Protect PT, Clean Air Council, Breathe Project, Environmental Integrity Project Read the Letter Allegheny County Health Department Permit Errors for Monroeville Landfill September 23, 2024 The Environmental Integrity Project, alongside Protect PT, found several errors in the Draft Title V Renewal Permit (“Draft Permit”) issued by the Allegheny County Health Department (“ACHD”) for the Monroeville Landfill, operated by Chambers Development Company Inc. (hereinafter “CDC”). This comment letter explains the errors and asks that they be addressed. From: Environmental Integrity Project and Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to Governor Shapiro, Improving Setbacks December 18, 2023 Protect PT and 6 other environmental groups attended a press conference in front of the Southwestern PA DEP Office to ask Governor Shapiro to direct DEP to improve its regulations by increasing distance between the waters of the Commonwealth and fracking operations. From: Protect PT and Others Read the Letter Letter to Pennsylvania DEP, Comment on Hyperion Midstream LLC; Delmont North Pipeline Individual Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit April 21, 2023 Protect PT wrote a letter to the Pennsylvania DEP to deny the issuance of the Delmont North Pipeline Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit to Hyperion Midstream, LLC. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Apex Energy LLC; Draftina Central Well Pad-31 ESCGP-3 Jan 11, 2023 Protect PT wrote a letter to deny the Erosion and Sedimentation Control General Permit - 3, proposed in December 2022. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Comment on Level Green and Lyons Run Pipelines Nov 8, 2022 Protect PT wrote to the DEP to deny the permitting of the Level Green and Lyons Run pipelines. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Further Comment on Permit #PAS2D702BALL, Penneco Environmental Solutions, Sedat 4A Underground Injection Well Aug 22, 2022 Protect PT wrote to the EPA to deny a permit for Sedat 4A Underground Injection Well. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Draft General Permit WMGR163 March 11, 2022 Protect PT and Three Rivers Waterkeeper wrote a letter to the Bureau of Waste Management to address the inadequacies of Draft General Permit WGMR163. Image credit: FracTracker. From: Protect PT, Three Rivers Waterkeeper Read the Letter Comment to DEP on Drakulic Well Pad Aug 26 2021 Protect PT wrote a letter to PA DEP about the Drakulic Well Pad in Penn Township requesting a public hearing on two new well permits. Photo Credits: Jason Cohn (Pittsburgh Foundation) From: Protect PT Read the Letter Titan Pipeline Letter July 13, 2021 Protect PT wrote to the Murrysville Planning Commission regarding the pipeline near the Titan Well Pad. From: Protect PT Read the Letter WSL Letter to DEP April 21, 2021 Protect PT and Environmental Health Project co-wrote a letter to the PA DEP Southwest Regional Director Jim Miller to follow up on requests made by residents during a community meeting in March. From: Protect PT, EHP Read the Letter Letter to the Allegheny County Health Department: Do Not Grant EQT a Dehydrator Permit April 15th, 2026 Currently, EQT is pursuing a permit that would allow the installation of a Tri-ethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration unit, reboiler, and enclosed combustor at their Leto well pad in West Deer. The Leto well pad is located in close proximity to several residential areas and occupied commercial buildings. The granting of this permit would allow EQT to pollute the air with additional contaminants, which increase health risks already posed to residents living within 5 miles of the well pad. We are asking the Allegheny County Health Department to consider these health implications before making their final decision on the permit. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP: Strengthen the Proposed Erosion and Sedimentation Control Rulemaking January 20, 2026 After reviewing the DEP's proposed rulemaking on policy for erosion and sediment control and stormwater management for earth disturbance associated with oil and gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations or transmission facilities, we propose strengthening this rulemaking in places, such as accounting for documented and expected increases in erosion and sedimentation risk as a result of climate forcing and considering cumulative impacts on an area instead of allowing projects to be segmented and reviewed in isolation. From: Protect PT and Others Read the Letter Letter to the DEP: Allow Residents to Hold the Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station Accountable November 3rd, 2025 The Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station has requested a Title V Operating Permit for their activity. However, the draft permit does not include monitoring provisions sufficient to determine compliance within emission limits as required by the Clean Air Act. This poses a risk to local residents, especially those living in identified Environmental Justice tracts. DEP should hold a public hearing prior to considering this permit, and allow residents to raise their concerns, prior to increasing pollution burden on them. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to FERC: Do Not Grant Permit for JB Tonkin Compressor Station October 3, 2025 Based on the Air Quality General Permit 5 (“AQ GP 5”) application by EGTS to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) for the JB Tonkin Compressor Station and Exhibit F-I of the Resource Report submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") by EGTS, granting this permit to EGTS would not be in the public convenience and necessity. The Appalachian Reliability Project ("ARP") would severely pollute the air in Murrysville with increased quantities of criteria air pollutants, hazardous air pollutants (“HAPs”), carbon dioxide, and noise, creating a severe impact on the surrounding community that EGTS has not proposed to adequately mitigate. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP: Deny Air Quality General Permit 5 for compressor and associated machinery at the JB Tonkin Compressor Station September 18, 2025 Based on the permit application by Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc (“EGTS”), granting this permit would violate the Air Pollution Control Act (“APCA”), violate the constitutional rights of Pennsylvanians, and result in an unreasonable degradation, diminution, and destruction of Pennsylvania’s natural environment and airborne resources. To summarize, the permit application proposes that EGTS should be permitted to significantly increase the Compressor Station’s emissions of nitrogen oxides by 34% to 95.08 tons per year (“tpy”), carbon monoxide by 16% to 31.40 tpy, sulphur dioxide by 29% to 1.40 tpy, all particulate matter by 49% to 13.41 tpy, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) by 18% to 14.19 tpy, and CO2 equivalent emissions by 328% to 128,495.79 tpy. This is despite the Department’s decision to downgrade the Compressor Station from a major source of air pollutants to a minor source of air pollutants in 2022. That decision ignored failures to comply with emission testing standards at the Compressor Station that indicated asserted emissions levels could be lower than actual potential levels of air pollutant emissions. Though this testing failure was detailed in a 2022 comment by the Clean Air Council (CAC), the Department did not heed the CAC’s warning at the time. The Department has another opportunity now to fix its mistake and prevent a radical increase in air pollution in Westmoreland County. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to Pennsylvania DEP: Create a Strong, Durable, and Protective State Methane Emission Reduction Plan July 25, 2025 Pennsylvania residents are directly exposed to methane pollution and regulatory standards need to be in place to protect them. Roughly 1.2 million Pennsylvania residents live within a half-mile of an active oil or gas wellsite. Those residents are vulnerable to developing serious health conditions. Additionally, this pollution disproportionately impacts low-income and vulnerable populations, as these are the communities most likely to live near oil and gas wells. By cutting methane emissions, we also cut air pollution, and we stand the chance to cut down hardships faced by our residents. Photo credit: Farm in Washington County, PA by Karen Kasmauski, Environmental Integrity Project From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP: Notification Requirements for Unauthorized Discharges to Waters of the Commonwealth May 15, 2025 We understand the intention of this proposed rulemaking is to streamline the process for responding to unauthorized discharges. However, the proposed rule creates a process of self regulation that leaves open multiple avenues for operators to err on the side of self-interest, rather than operating in a way that protects the people and resources of the commonwealth. From: Three Rivers Waterkeeper and Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP: Do not Renew Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill's Air Quality Title V Operating Permit November 18, 2024 The PA DEP should only consider renewing the Title V permit for the WSL when WSL, LLC can show that it can meet its obligations under Pennsylvania’s Article 1 Section 27 rights to clean air and water, comply with its existing regulatory obligations and agreements with the DEP, and refrain from unequally and unlawfully infringing on the rights, health, and safety of Pennsylvania’s citizens living in the surrounding communities. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP, Mamont 12 Well Pad Erosion and Sediment Plan September 9, 2024 Protect PT submitted comments regarding the Mamont 12 site and the pending Erosion & Sedimentation plan due to concerns about erosion and sedimentation at this facility and the impact this facility can have on the community both in regards to the environment and the health of nearby residents, especially noting that this is an environmental justice area. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Letter to DEP, Collaborative Group Comments on Proposed EJ Policy Revision November 30, 2023 Protect PT and 17 other groups collaborated on a letter to DEP regarding concerns that DEP's proposed policy does not have the ability to create actual change and improve the environmental pollution impacts in EJ communities. From: Protect PT and Others Read the Letter Monroeville Council Public Hearing, April 4, 2023 April 14, 2023 FairShake Environmental Legal Services wrote a letter to the Mayor of Monroeville regarding the mishandling of Monroeville Council's Public Hearing on April 4, 2023. From: Protect PT, FairShake Environmental Legal Services Read the Letter Apex Energy LLC Backus Well Pad ESCGP-2 Jan 11, 2023 Protect PT wrote a letter to deny the Erosion and Sedimentation Control General Permit - 2 proposed in November 2022. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Comment on Lyons Run Pipeline Project Oct 4, 2022 Protect PT wrote to the DEP to deny the permitting of Lyons Run Pipeline. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Comment on Permit #PAS2D702BALL, Penneco Environmental Solutions, Sedat 4A Underground Injection Well June 28, 2022 Protect PT wrote to the EPA to deny a permit for Sedat 4A Underground Injection Well. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Mariner East Chapter 102 Permit Comment Jan 25, 2022 Protect PT partnered with other organizations from Pennsylvania to write a comment on the renewal of permits for Sunoco's Chapter 102 permits. From: Protect PT and partners Read the Letter Revoke the Plum Injection Well Aug 2 2021 Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services wrote to the US EPA on behalf of Protect PT to advocate for the revocation of the Sedat 3A Injection Well Permits. PC: FracTracker Alliance From: Fair Shake Read the Letter Letter to US Coast Guard June 28, 2021 Protect PT and partner organizations wrote to the US Coast Guard and the US Army Corps of Engineers to request them to not allow fracking waste to be barged on the 3 rivers. From: Protect PT Read the Letter Support Our Work

Solar in Rural Communities Sign-up for Email Updates Upcoming Events Affordable, Safe Energy From the Sun Did you know that just one hour of noontime summer sun is equal to the entire annual U.S. electricity demand? Harnessing this plentiful, constant resource allows us to generate reliable electricity for our communities and reduce our environmental impact. Over the past decade, solar energy has seen great technological advancements, with costs falling by about 90% while panel efficiency improves to over 20%. For homeowners, this means it takes about 7-10 years to break even on a home solar system investment. Once the payback period is over, homeowners enjoy free or reduced electricity costs, with panels providing free power for 15-20 years after they have paid themselves off. For electric utility providers, this means that solar panels are now the quickest and cheapest form of energy generation to install. And for farmers, starting to practice agrivoltaics is more accessible than ever. Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating agricultural production with solar energy generation on the same land. Farmers can do this with crops, livestock (as seen above), greenhouses, or pollinator habitats. This dual use of property generates stable income for farmers and can even result in crop benefits like increased yield and reduced water loss. While research is ongoing, current findings demonstrate that vegetables and berries are some of the most suitable crops for agrivoltaics. Check Out Our Fact Sheet! Watch our Webinar! Resources Check out Solar United Neighbors , a national organization conducting solar advocacy and helping homeowners go solar to save on their electric bills. PA Solar Center helps nonprofits and small businesses go solar. They also offer this online resource hub , which contains a qualified solar developer directory. Read this white paper from PennFuture on solar development in Pennsylvania to learn about solar benefits for communities, common myths about solar, and solar policy. The U.S. Department of Energy has a page describing the benefits of residential solar electricity and how to plan and finance your home solar system. If there's one thing most Pennsylvanians can agree on, it's that their electric bills are too high. Electricity costs have skyrocketed over the past five years, rising on average by 46 percent since 2018. To help combat rising energy costs, the PA Solar Center and Solar United Neighbors have joined together to create a new campaign – Energy Independence for Pennsylvania (EI4PA). And they are looking for volunteers like you to help them promote the cost-saving benefits of solar! Opportunities range from in-person presentations to posting to social media from the comfort of your own home. Learn More Here

In 2024, the Penn Township commissioners discussed plans to change the zoning of a large area in the township's northeast corner from Rural Resource (RR) to Industrial Commerce (IC). The EQT Industrial Complex The EQT Industrial Complex is composed of the Poseidon and Aphrodite Well Pads and the Guardian Compressor Station. Originally developed by Olympus, the well pads and compressor stations have since been purchased by EQT, who operates dozens of well pads throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Poseidon is located less than 1 mile from houses located in the Blackthorn Estates residential development. The location of the EQT industrial Complex Are you living near the EQT industrial Complex or other fracking infrastructure? Click above to use our free Fracking Map. Have Something to Report? Connect with resources provided by us, Penn Township, and the DEP to report any noise complaints or environmental observations Report Concerns & Observations PROTECT PT MOBILE APP Noise Complaints CONTACT PENN TOWNSHIP Submit an Environmental Complaint SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO DEP Sign up for a Free Yard sign to represent your concerns Sign up Download our previous PT Rezone Community Meeting Presentation History In 2015, Penn Township proposed expanding the current industrial zone along Walton and Melon roads, but due to outcry from residents, that proposal was scrapped. Now Penn Township commissioners are attempting to expand this industrial zone again, making way for uses like truck stops, compressor stations, gas processing facilities, warehousing, and other industrial uses. Residents do not want heavy industry disrupting the rural characteristic of their home, decreasing their p roperty values, and potentially causing tax increases across the township. At the October 2024 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission discussed plans to change the zoning of a large area in the township's northeast corner from Rural Resource (RR) to Industrial Commerce (IC). At this meeting we found out that the Board of Commissioners have been working behind closed doors since last year with a consultant company, Strategic Solutions, without telling the residents most affected. Protect PT worked to quickly inform and mobilize people on this decision, making sure that residents have an input and their concerns are considered. Since then, nearly 100 residents have shown up to oppose this effort at the continued public hearings and caucus meetings. In April 2025, the formally proposed map has been removed. More revisions will be considered thanks to the strong community efforts in expressing their concerns. In October 2025, the Township approved a map and ordinance including a Mineral Overlay & Light Industrial Commerce zones. Protect PT will continue to provide up-to-date information about developments and future meeting dates. Come back to this webpage to stay up to date, or stay posted via email! Click the link below to submit our Penn Township rezoning interest form. Email Interest Form Don't know who your commissioner is? Check out this ward map to find out! Click to download.

Our work involves community education and involvment with the beaver run well pad, youth climate action, oil and gas waste, and legal advocacy. Our Work We work in communities across Westmoreland and eastern Allegheny counties impacted by unconventional oil and gas development. What We Do Using grassroots organizing, policy analysis, environmental science, and community education, and legal advocacy, we work to protect our public health and preserve our natural environment here in southwest PA. We collaborate with a diverse network of non-profit organizations as well as local and state government officials to enact change that benefits local residents. Legal Advocacy Our legal team works to protect Pennsylvanian's right to clean air and pure water, as as acknowledged under the Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1 Section 27. Learn More Focus Areas Penn Township Protect PT's home base, Penn Township, has had significant levels of unconventional oil and gas development in the past decade, including over ten proposed well pads and two compressor stations. Learn More Beaver Run Reservoir Located in Westmoreland County, Beaver Run is a public water source for 150,000 people in the 39 surrounding townships. More than 50 wells are located near the reservoir; many less than 1,000 feet from the water's edge. Learn More Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill This landfill produces significant health and environmental impacts to nearby residents in Rostraver, Monessen, and Belle Vernon. Learn More Operator Accountability Holding local operators accountable for their actions is critical to protecting our rights to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of our environment. View our permitting digest, find out what operators are near you, and report your observations here! Learn More Data Centers and Fracking As of early 2025, Protect PT has begun working around a proposed data center located in Upper Burrell Township that would negatively impact residents. Learn More Plum Injection Well The Plum Injection Well is situated near the Allegheny River, the drinking water source for the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. A leak from the injection well could impact hundreds of thousands of residents. Learn More Additional Resources 1. Fracking 101 Learn what fracking is and how it can impact you, your family, and your community. Learn More 2. Leasing Information Learn everything you need to know before you consider signing a lease. Learn More 3. Permitting and Violations Stay up to date about new permits and operator violations near you. Learn More Support our Work Become a member of Protect PT and help us continue providing essential programs that protect our environment and public health here in southwest PA. I WANT TO BE A MEMBER!

If you value environmental protection and are concerned with how it can affect you or other community members like you, then I urge you to take the time to complete any of the forms we have listed. Each form is unique so take the time to review each description. Additionally, many of our actions don't require any financial expenses from participants, although we are always accepting donations if you are willing and able.  Take Action! If you value environmental protection and are concerned with how it can affect you and your community, please take the time to complete any of the actions to show support: Ask Penn Township to adopt a Protective Data Center Zoning Ordinance SIGN ON TODAY! Learn More Protect our MAWC Water Supply! - Conservation for Consumptive Users During Drought SIGN ON TODAY! Learn More Support Continued Advocacy! Your gifts support continued advocacy to ensure the safety, security, and quality of life for Westmoreland and Allegheny County residents. Donate Ask Penn Township to update the Ordinance to protect the Community from the impacts of Oil & Gas SIGN ON TODAY! Learn More

Check out our upcoming events, including virtual community lunch and learns, youth meetings, educational workshops and more! Upcoming Events May Lunch & Learn w/ John Stoltz on the DEP Landfill Leachate Tue, May 26 protectpt.info/lunch More info RSVP Upper Burrell Data Center Community Workshop Tue, Jun 09 Penn State New Kensington More info RSVP Plum Air Quality Community Meeting Tue, Jun 09 Plum Community Center More info RSVP Monessen Air Quality Community Meeting Tue, Jun 23 Monessen High School (LGI Room) More info RSVP Living Near Shale Gas Workshop Series PT Local Gov Meetings To see Penn Township's meeting agendas, please visit their website https://ecode360.com/documents/pub/PE1662/Agendas/?year=2020 To see Trafford Borough's meeting details, please visit their website https://www.traffordborough.com/ Support Our Work Submit an Event! Our Webinars

Learn how unconventional gas development can affect both private water well and public water users, and how to test your well water for harmful chemicals. Water Quality If you are drinking well water, get it tested NOW to develop a baseline. Unconventional gas drilling can pollute surface water and underground aquifers. Hydraulic fracturing requires approximately 15-20 million gallons of water per well, of which only 15 - 20% is recovered from the ground. The use of high volumes of water mixed with toxic chemicals results in polluted water that can migrate through fissures deep in the earth, allowing fracking wastewater to seep into the underground aquifers that feed many people's private water wells. Spills of chemicals at drill sites, as well as wastewater extracted from drilling, can leak offsite and into our streams and rivers. Water used for hydraulic fracturing is never again fit for human consumption and poses many health threats to the people living near shale gas development sites. Who does this affect? Unconventional gas development can affect both private water well and public water users. In Westmoreland County, most residents receive their water from the Beaver Run Reservoir. Currently, over 10 well pads are in operation along the reservoir. Nearly 130,000 residents of Westmoreland, including a few residents of Armstrong and Indiana Counties, are supplied with drinking water from the reservoir. This drinking water has been in close vicinity of unconventional gas wells and can be contaminated. While IUP monitors the quality of surface water and air at the Beaver Run Reservoir, their monitoring does not cover all the ways that toxins can contaminate the water. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette published an article in January 2018 explaining how research found radioactive materials in the Allegheny River and two Indiana County creeks downstream from conventional gas development that took place years ago. Much of the radioactive materials were found in the sediment, not on the surface. Truthout.org published an article earlier this year based on research done by Penn State. Penn State researchers found Strontium in freshwater mussels downstream from a dump site in Warren, PA. The Strontium was linked to conventional gas well wastewater that had been poured into the streams in 2011. More than 2.9 billion liters of this "treated" wastewater was poured into streams between 2008 and 2011. The wastewater dumping stopped after traces of heavy metals and radioactive materials were found in 2011. However, this study, published in the peer-reviewed Environmental Science & Technology journal, shows that the effects of this wastewater are more long-term than anticipated. This study shows that toxic substances have entered the food chain as a result of wastewater from conventional gas development. Further studies will need to be completed before we understand the full long-term implications for human health. Map of Well Pads on Beaver Run Reservoir How can poor water quality impact health? Exposure to chemicals used in unconventional oil and gas drilling or “fracking” can occur in several ways: ingesting chemicals that have spilled and entered drinking water sources, absorbing chemicals through direct skin contact, or breathing in vapors from flowback wastes stored in pits or tanks. According to The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, an examination of the toxicity of 353 chemicals used in fracking found that many are dangerous to human health: -25% can cause cancer and mutations. -37% affect the endocrine system. -40 – 50% affect the brain, kidneys, and nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems. -More than 75% affect the skin, eyes or other sensory organs, and the respiratory and/or gastrointestinal systems. Testing Your Well Water Always test your well water with a state certified laboratory, and test for specific chemicals found in flow back water such as barium and strontium. Anyone living within 3 miles of a drilling site should have their water tested, particularly if the borehole is directly underneath your property. Click here for an up-to-date list of DEP Certified Labs near you. The testing lab will help you decide what chemicals to test for. Gas companies are not required to disclose exactly what is in their fracking fluid but there are many that are known to be used that labs include in their testing parameters. Be sure to ask about the chain of custody when getting your well tested. When you get the report, compare it to your previous tests results and against federal Environmental Protection Agency acceptable limits. Your water should not exceed federal contaminate limits. Some testing companies will analyze your results for a fee. To properly test your well, you should test once a season for a year to get a baseline before unconventional gas development occurs in your neighborhood. If there is no time, you should still have your well tested, because have some baseline is better than nothing. The use of a CATTfish device can help with testing for bulk parameters, PH and conductivity, on a daily basis. A change in water PH or conductivity can indicate water pollution and then you can proceed with further testing. Contact Southwest PA Environmental Health Project for information. Report well contamination to PA Department of Environmental Protection, by filing an online Incident Report or call 412-442-4000. Federal Center for Disease Control Dr. John F. Stolz, Ph.D. Professor, Biological Sciences Director, Center for Environmental Research and Education Duquesne University stolz@duq.edu 412-396-4367 Phone Phone Surface Water Testing Unconventional gas development can poison surface water. When toxins from a well site spread through rain runoff they can reach our creeks, streams, rivers, and reservoirs. Through citizen science monitoring, residents can help protect waterways by actively monitoring the contents of the creeks and streams near their homes. In June of 2025, Protect PT launched a citizen scientist water monitoring program where local residents are trained to collect samples and observations to assess the health of surrounding streams affected by the shale gas development in their communities. It can also be important to establish baseline measurements of nearby streams before development begins. The workshop starts with a presentation and then participants learn hands-on in a nearby stream. In order to accurately collect and analyze stream content, there is a standard protocol for testing stream water. If you would like to monitor a stream on your property or one that you have access to, keep an eye out for our next water monitoring workshop where we will provide you with the materials and training you will need in order to begin. Want to learn more about water quality? Attend one of our Living Near Shale Gas Community Workshops! Additional PFAS Resources “Forever Chemicals” Called PFAS Show Up in Your Food, Clothes, and Home Articles from the Environmental Working Group

Sign up for our Living Near Shale Gas Community Workshop Series! We educate the community about topics such as Complaint and Compliance, Emergency and Disaster Awareness, Air and Water pollution, and Noise and Nuisance. Living Near Shale Gas Workshops The Living Near Shale Gas Community Workshops are a series of trainings that cover topics surrounding oil and gas development, from extraction and production, to transportation and waste issues. This series is broken up into multiple sections to mirror the Living Near Shale Gas Resource Guide, a binder we put together with resources designed to help you protect resident's homes and livelihoods. These trainings are free and open to the public. Participants will receive a copy of the Guide when they attend a training. If you are a resident and would like to request training to be scheduled for your community, please contact kyle@protectpt.org. If you would like to request one of our Living Near Shale Gas Resource Guides, please email Kyle at kyle@protectpt.org. Attend our Next Workshop We hold our Living Near Shale Gas Workshops several times a year. To see if we have any upcoming workshops, visit our events page with the link below! Upcoming Workshops: April 18th, 2026 - Protect PT Office 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM Register Here Upcoming Events Collaborate with Protect PT to bring the Living Near Shale Gas Workshop to New Communities If you are a part of an organization or group and would like to collaborate on a LNSG Workshop in your community, please fill out our form . We are only able to hold this event for communities in Pennsylvania, due to the specific nature of the laws and regulations discussed. Thanks for your understanding. Request a Workshop Support Our Work!

Use our fracking map to find fracking sites near you. Fracking Near You See well pads, compressor stations, and other kinds of infrastructure in Westmoreland and Allegheny County. For best results, view in full screen by clicking on the top right corner of the map. Click the symbol to open in a new browser window If you have any questions about our interactive fracking map, or if you feel as if any infrastructure is missing, feel free to contact us at enviroscience@protectpt.org .

Operator Accountability Weekly Permitting and Violations Digest Are you concerned with unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) in Southwest PA? Do you worry about how oil and gas companies are impacting the environment? If so, sign up to receive a weekly round-up from Protect PT on any new permits filed by oil and gas companies operating in the area or notices of violations. Citizen watchdogs help ensure the Department of Environmental Protection is adequately addressing the impacts of fracking, and that they hold oil and gas companies to the highest standard when complying with the law. All reports are sourced from the Department of Environmental Protection's Pennsylvania's Environment Facility Application Compliance Tracking System (eFACTS) . Use our map to find operators near you! Subscribe Here See Something? Say Something. Use our reporting app to notify community of environmental hazards in your area! IF YOU ARE WITNESSING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY, CONTACT THE DEP IMMEDIATELY AT 800-541-2050 Report Your Observations You can report observations at home or on the go with our environmental reporting tool . This mobile responsive website can be used on any device. You can record observations of environmental hazards and health impacts, as well as find additional directions on reporting these impacts to the proper agencies. You should report... Air pollution Noise and Nuisance related to development Water contamination Headaches, dizziness, or other symptoms caused by pollution Safety concerns And more! Be sure to also report your observations to the DEP in order to hold operators accountable for their actions. Protect PT will follow up on any reports you make through the app, but will not disclose any personal information to third parties without your consent. If you have questions about using this tool, contact the Environmental Science team at enviroscience@protectpt.org . Learn to Make a Report! OR Download Our App! We Can Hold Them Accountable Check out these recent enforcement actions by the DEP. View more on our Instagram! File Your Report Here Or, scan this QR code with your phone to file a report on your mobile device!

Unconventional oil and gas waste contains several harmful and often radioactive constituents that can pollute waterways in cases of spills or leaks. While the industry touts this method of transportation as a way to reduce truck traffic, vehicle exhaust, road damage, etc. the transportation of this waste on rivers is poorly regulated and increases the risk of leaks or chemical spills right into major bodies of water. Many of these rivers are sources of drinking water.  Waste Barging Why is Waste Barging such an issue? Unconventional oil and gas waste contains several harmful and often radioactive constituents that can pollute waterways in cases of spills or leaks. While the industry touts this method of transportation as a way to reduce truck traffic, vehicle exhaust, road damage, etc. the transportation of this waste on rivers is poorly regulated and increases the risk of leaks or chemical spills right into major bodies of water. Many of these rivers are sources of drinking water. The potential for a spill is enormous, and the consequences could be catastrophic. A single barge can hold approximately 24,000 barrels of toxic, radioactive waste, and there is no limit to the number of toxic barges that could be traversing the Ohio River each day. (Read more on the blog by Concerned Ohio River Residents .) Drilling and fracking wastewater contains salty brines, drilling and fracking chemicals and naturally occurring radioactive material flushed from shale formations thousands of feet underground. Radium-226 and radium-228, both found in brine waste, are known carcinogens and can cause bone, liver and breast cancer in high concentrations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The wastewater can also contain other radioactive components, including Potassium 40, Thorium 232, and Uranium 238. Groups from PA and OH have been working together to raise awareness and address the potential of barging fracking waste down the three rivers (the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio). Together, we submitted a petition with over 15,750 signatures to the United States Coast Guard asking them to deny any and all authorizations for barging fracking waste down the rivers. You can read the full petition linked on this page. Read more about waste barging in an article published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Waste Barging Petition Want to get involved? Contact info@protectpt.org to find out how you can help. Watch Parts 1 and 2 of the Better Path Presents webinar on Waste Barging and What You can do Support Our Work