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

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

Summary

In 2011, West Homestead Borough, Pennsylvania adopted an ordinance banning the commercial extraction of natural gas within the borough. The ordinance gives residents the right to local self-government, a healthy environment, a sustainable energy future and water. The ordinance also recognized rights of nature, declaring “natural communities and ecosystems…possess inalienable and fundamental rights to exist, flourish and naturally evolve within West Homestead Borough.”

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/west-homestead-boroughs-community-protection-from-natural-gas-extraction-ordinance/.

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Legal Document

West Homestead Borough's Community Protection from Natural Gas Extraction Ordinance
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