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Forest Hills Borough (USA) Ordinance: natural gas drilling ban, community rights, and rights of nature

Pennsylvania, USA
Approved in 2011
Local
Legislation
Rights Of Nature
Natural communities and ecosystems
All Nature
CELDF and residents
Civil Society, NGO

Summary

In 2011, Forest Hills Borough, Pennsylvania adopted an ordinance that bans natural gas drilling in the borough in response to drilling plans in neighboring Penn Hills. The ordinance gives residents the right to local self-government, a healthy environment, a sustainable energy future and water. The ordinance says “the commercial extraction of natural gas in the urban environment of Forest Hills Borough violates the rights of residents and neighborhoods, and poses a significant threat to their health, safety, and welfare.” Residents adopted the ordinance, which also recognizes rights of nature, with the help of CELDF.

Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/forest-hills-boroughs-community-rights-and-protection-from-natural-gas-exploitation-ordinance/.

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Legal Document

Forest Hills Borough's Community Rights and Protection from Natural Gas Exploitation Ordinance
Access PDF

Additional Resources

Article - After Drilling Ban Legality Still a Question in Forest Hills
Visit Resource

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