Anti-Shale Group Loses EHB Appeal to Block CNX Wells in SWPA

A leftist anti-fossil group calling itself Protect PT (Penn-Trafford), located in Westmoreland County, PA, backed with big money from Big Green groups, has for years challenged Penn Township ordinances that allow Apex Energy (now CNX Resources) to drill and operate shale wells. Protect PT finally struck out (legally) at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in May 2020 (see Penn Twp Frack Ban Case Strikes Out at PA Supreme Court). However, using Big Green money, Protect PT soldiered on even after its crushing defeat at the Supreme Court. Apex (later bought by CNX) proposed drilling two wells---the Drakulic Well project---on a pad in a rural part of Trafford, PA, a borough straddling Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Protect PT challenged the original permits and a time extension at PA's special environmental court called the Environmental Hearing Board in early 2024 (see PA EHB Allows “Narrow” Appeal of 2 Apex Energy Well Permits). The EHB recently ruled against Protect PT's appeal.

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