On May 18, 2015, the League of Women Voters of Indiana County presented the fourth annual Peggy Clark Grassroots Environmental Leadership award to the East Run Hellbenders Society. This award recognizes grassroots citizens, groups, or businesses who show exemplary leadership and active participation in policy issues that involve protecting or pre-serving our environment. The Peggy Clark Grassroots Environmental Leadership award was established in honor of a longtime Indiana County grassroots environmental activist and League member, Peggy Clark, who has had a long-term interest in environmental issues, especially issues related to energy extraction. It is awarded annually.
The East Run Hellbenders Society received the group award. In their short existence, the Hellbender organization has compiled a remarkable and impressive list of accomplishments and is just the type of organization that the League likes to honor. They were recognized for their work on protecting the safety, health, and well-being of the citizens of Grant Township by opposing the development of a waste water injection well in their township.
In addition, they were instrumental in working with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund to develop and defend a Community Bill of Rights. Chad Nicholson of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund CELDF, presented the League of Women voters with information about his organization’s work as well as the concept of Home Rule, which brings significant changes to the structure of local governments by transferring authority in municipal affairs from state law to local charters that are adopted and amended by the voters.
A Home Rule Charter was subsequently adopted by the residents of Grant Township in Indiana County in the November 2015 election by a two to one margin. This is the country’s first municipal charter establishing a local bill of rights. The Grant Bill of Rights codifies environmental and democratic rights and bans frack wastewater injection wells as a violation of those rights. With this community rights movement, Grant is standing up to a system of law that forces frack waste wells and other practices into communities and protects corporations over people, communities and nature. They are saying to government and corporations, “We’re no longer willing to be fracked, poisoned, and polluted.” Grant’s Charter is the first that is written entirely on the basis of asserting and protecting rights.