Pennsylvania environmental rights amendment class

Photo above by Gary Bendig

PA Constitution Article1, Section 27; Natural Resources and the Public Estate

"The people have a right to clean air, pure water and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment.

Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come.

As trustees of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people."

This class has two goals. The first is for you to learn the legal history of Article 1, Section 27 of the PA Constitution. The second goal is for you to write, practice and then present public comment on an environmental issue of your choice to a local or Pennsylvania environmental regulatory body.

Community Education Class

Photo above by Annie Sprat

Join my four session class with other Pennsylvania residents. We meet virtually Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 pm over four consecutive weeks:

I supply suggested reading and discussion materials about the Environmental Rights Amendment (ENRA) to prepare for class;
I send a weekly Zoom meeting link; and
I act as facilitator to guide discussion based upon suggested materials.

My next class begins Wednesday, January 7 at 6 pm. Schedule thereafter is:

January 14 @ 6 pm
January 21 @ 6 pm
January 28 @ 6 pm.

Pay $25 to me by December 1 and I will send you a zoom link to Session 1 and the suggested readings to be discussed. I accept personal checks which would need to clear my bank before you will receive the zoom link.

Contact me for more info at:

thomas@twbaileylaw.com

412.452.1677

Class Objectives

Participants will be able to:

become familiar with the text and history of Article 1, Section 27 of the PA Constitution;

2. facts and holdings of two PA Supreme Court cases discussing ENRA:

Robinson Twp. v. Commonwealth of PA (2013) and
PA Environmental Defense Foundation v. Commonwealth of PA (2017);

and one US Supreme Court case discussing climate change & greenhouses gases:

Massachusetts v. US Environmental Protection Agency (2007;

3. Draft and practice presenting public comments for local or Pennsylvania regulatory agency;

4. Become familiar with Allegheny County Health Department's Emissions Inventory webpage;

5. visit and use PA Department of Environmental Protection's (PA DEP) Public Participation webpage to view/submit "ecomments" concerning proposed PA DEP actions; and

NEW: PA DEP Climate Change Advisory Committee's 2024 Impacts Assessment & Climate Action Plan

a man in a suit and tie speaking into a microphone

Write and Present Your Public Comment

Photo above by Benyamin Bahlouli

First you pick an environmental issue, within our state, that concerns you.

Write an outline of your ideas incorporating Judge Castille's opinion in Robinson Twp.

Present your public comment to other class members and myself.

Visit the public meeting, where you would like to speak, beforehand to observe their process.

Submit your final draft to me for feedback.