The Center for Coalfield Justice is a left-of-center environmentalist organization that opposes the development of conventional energy projects in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The organization has a long history of opposition to coal mining in Pennsylvania. ¹

History

The Center for Coalfield Justice was established in 1994 to oppose the development of coal mining in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. At the time, the organization operated under the name “Tri-State Citizens Mining Network.” In 2007, the group re-organized under the Center for Coalfield Justice name and expanded the group’s organizational mission to oppose the development of all conventional sources of energy, advocating instead the growth of environmentalist energy projects. ²

Finances

In 2019, the Center for Coalfield Justice received $163,806 in contributions and $164,028 in total revenue. ^{3 4} The Center also incurred $267,726 in expenses and reported $147,827 in net assets. ^{5 6}

The Center for Coalfield Justice has received financial support from a number of left-of-center organizations. In 2019, the Center for Coalfield Justice received $150,000 from the New Venture Fund, a left-of-center grantmaking foundation;⁷ $50,000 from the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, the grantmaking arm of the Service Employees International Union-owned Amalgamated Bank;⁸ and $20,079 from Rachel’s Network, an environmentalist grantmaking organization. ⁹

Tactics

The Center for Coalfield Justice operates by generating local opposition to non-renewable energy projects. After developing support for its campaigns, the organization uses this support to organize public hearings on energy development projects, request meetings with energy regulatory agencies and legislators, and challenge permits that allow energy companies to move forward with conventional energy projects. ¹⁰

The Center for Coalfield Justice has led campaigns to protest and impede the development of the Bailey Coal Mine in Graysville, Pennsylvania,¹¹ as well as campaigns that oppose the creation of new deposit sites for coal refuse from that coal mine. ¹²

The organization has also opposed the development of a new coal mine in Mingo Creek Park in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. ¹³ The Center for Coalfield Justice has praised Protectors of Mingo, an organization devoted solely to opposing mineral extraction at the site, for delaying permits for the coal mine. The Center for Coalfield Justice has given Protectors of Mingo credit for delaying the construction of the mine since 2013 by opposing its permits with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. ¹⁴

Leadership

Veronica Coptis is the executive director of the Center for Coalfield Justice. Prior to joining the staff in 2013, Coptis sat on the board of the Center for Coalfield Justice while organizing for the Mountain Watershed Association. ¹⁵

1. “Campaigns” Center for Coalfield Justice. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/campaigns
2. “What We Do” Center for Coalfield Justice. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/what-we-do
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Coalfield Justice. Part I, lines 8-10. 2019.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Coalfield Justice. Part I, line 12. 2019.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Coalfield Justice. Part I, line 18. 2019.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Coalfield Justice. Part I, line 22. 2019.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Schedule I.  New Venture Fund. Part II, line 87. 2019.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Schedule I. Amalgamated Charitable Foundation. Part II, line 47. 2019.
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Schedule I. Rachel’s Network.  Schedule I. Part II, line 4. 2019.
10. “What We Do” Center for Coalfield Justice. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/what-we-do
11. “Campaigns” Center for Coalfield Justice. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/campaigns
12. “Campaigns” Center for Coalfield Justice. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/campaigns
13. “Campaigns” Center for Coalfield Justice. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/campaigns
14. Martik, Sarah. “Protectors of Mingo stall Mine Permit for Six Years” Center for Coalfield Justice. May 9, 2019. Accessed May 16, 2021. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/blog/2019/5/28/protectors-of-mingo-stall-mine-permit-for-six-years
15. “Veronica Coptis” Center for Coalfield Justice. https://www.coalfieldjustice.org/blog/2019/7/31/veronica-coptis-executive-director