celdf - natural gas now · 2016-09-23 · “on community civil disobedience in the name of...

SHALEINSIGHT™2016|SEPTEMBER21-22,2016

CELDFTHERIGHTTOLOCAL-SELF

GOVERNMENT

KevinJ.Moody,GeneralCounsel&VPGovtAffairs

WhatisCELDF?CommunityEnvironmentalLegalDefenseFund─www.celdf.org

Formedin1995,basedinMercersburg,PA

Mission Statement

To attain sustainability, a right to local self-government must be asserted that places decisions affecting communities in the hands of those closest to the impacts. That right to local self-government must enable communities to reject unsustainable economic and environmental policies set by state and federal governments, and must enable communities to construct legal frameworks for charting a future towards sustainable energy production, sustainable land development, and sustainable water use, among others. In doing so, communities must challenge and overturn legal doctrines that have been concocted to eliminate their right to self-government, including the doctrines of corporate constitutional rights, preemption, and limitations on local legislative authority. Inseparable from the right to local self government - and its sole limitation - are the rights of human and natural communities; they are the implicit and enumerated premises on which local self government must be built.

CELDFMissionHowdoesCELDFdothis?Ordinances,HRCs&BallotQs

•  Rejectanylocal,stateorfederallawsinconflictwithdeclaredrighttolocalself-government

•  StripcorporaZonsthatviolate–ormerely“seek”toviolate–theordinance/HRCofallrights,privileges,powers,andprotecZonsgrantedto“persons”understateandfederalconsZtuZons

•  Stripped“rights,privileges,powers,andprotecZons”includeasserZngstateorfederalpreempZvelawstooverturnordinance/HRCandasserZngpeoplelackpowertoadopt

•  Bestowrightsas“persons”on“naturalcommuniZesandecosystems”andauthorizesanyresidentorthemunicipalitytoenforceordefendtheserightsonbehalfoftheecosystemornaturalcommunity

CELDFMissionWheredoesCELDFdothis?

•  “Over200communiZesacrosstheU.S.”California,Colorado,Hawaii,Illinois,Maine,Maryland,Massachusecs,NewHampshire,NewMexico,NewYork,Ohio,Oregon,Pennsylvania,

Texas,Washington

PicsburghNovember2010─“first-in-the-naZonordinance”StateCollegeNovember2011─criminalizesextracZonofnaturalgas

•  InternaZonalColombia,Ecuador,India,Ireland

CELDFTargetsNotLimitedtoExtractiveIndustries

ThecommunityrightsmovementisnotprimarilyaboutsolvingsingleissueassaultsonourcommuniZes,anditisnotatalllimitedtoenvironmentalissues.Itisaboutrecognizingandchangingthelegalandgoverningsystemthatallowsstatesandthefederalgovernmenttolicenseandpermitharmsagainstindividuals,communiZesandnature.ItisaboutremovingtheobstaclesthatlegalizetheviolaZonofinalienablerightsintheplaceswelive.

h2p://celdf.org/rights/issues/

•  Chemicaltrespass─pesZcidesandindustrialwastedisposal•  Retailchainstores─underpaywages,benefits;producZonoverseas;

disruptlocaleconomies;harmfarmlandandnature•  UnsustainableAgriculture─industrialanimal&foodproducZon;

monoculturefarming;80-90%ofUSwateruse

CELDFTargetsNotLimitedtoExtractiveIndustries

•  Waterpriva?za?on─privateprofitinindustrialacZviZes;bocledandsoldbacktothepublic

•  SewageSludge─ferZlizerusecheaperthanlandfills&incineraZon

•  UnsustainableEnergy–“green”and“renewable”energy(hydropower,industrialwindfarms,solarpower,nuclearpower);transmissiontowers;energytransportaZoncorridors;coaltrains;exportterminals

•  GMOs–GeneZcallyModifiedOrganismsforplantagriculture

•  Forestry/Timbering

EssenceofCELDFRighttoLocalSelf-Government

•  RightisSuperiortoPowerofStateandFederalgovernments

CELDFarguesthat“peoplearethesourceofallpower,andcommuniZespossessaninalienablerighttogovern...[which]cannotbedelegated,limited,ormadesubservienttoanyotherpower.Thepoweroflocalself-governmentisexemptfrom,andhencesuperiorto,thegeneralgovernmentofthestate.”Com.v.EastBrunswickTownshipetal.,956A.2d1100,1107(Pa.Cmwlth.2008)

EssenceofCELDFRighttoLocalSelf-Government

“OnCommunityCivilDisobedienceintheNameofSustainability:TheCommunityRightsMovementintheUS”(Campbell&Linzey,2015),CELDFfounderThomas

Linzey:•  Municipallawsmustbeestablishedthat“challengethe

exisZngconsZtuZonalstructurebycreaZnganenZrelynewone.”

•  “OverturninglegaldoctrinesthatsupportcurrentinjusZcerequiresfrontalanddirectbreakingofexisZnglaws.”

•  Theseeffortswillresultin“thousandsofmunicipalconsZtuZons”thatwillserveas“atemplatefornewstateandfederalconsZtuZonalstructures.”

EssenceofCELDFRighttoLocalSelf-Government

Sen.JubelirerstatementinsupportofACRE(Agriculture,Communi?esandRuralEnvironment,Act38of20052005LegislaZveJournal—Senate,p.633(July4,2005)

AttheheartofthelocalordinancemovementisthenoZonthatthereistherighttorejectanything,anywhere,foranyreason,atany?me.ThatisarightthatexistsonlyintheimaginaZonofthemindsbehindwhatisreallyananZ-agriculturepush....Localgovernmentsshouldanddopossesspowersforseunglimitsandestablishingstandardsforvariouskindsofdevelopment,buttoacempttodictatewhomayormaynotownvariousenterprises,ortodictatewhatsortsofcontractualrelaZonshipsmayexist,isalevelofinterferencethatknowsnoendandhasnohealthyoutcome.

...IdonotdiscountthedifficulZesfacinglocalofficialscaughtintheclashespiunghomeownersagainstmodernagriculturalpracZces,butitiswrongwhengroupscontendthatthereisnocontrol,nolimit,noprotec?onunlessweletlocalofficialswriteanyrestric?ontheywant.

CELDFRecognizesLackofLegalBasisforAssertedRight

CELDFvideo“SoYourCommunityisGoingtobeFracked,Mined,FactoryFarmed,orfillintheblank….”

hcp://celdf.org/2014/09/so-your-community-is-going-to-be-fracked-mined-factory-farmed-or-fill-in-the-blank/

•  Admitsordinancesarecontrarytostateandfederallaw

•  Askswhetherordinanceproponentscanputsufficientpressureonlocalofficialstoadoptsomethingthatiscontrarytostatelaw

•  AdmitsstateandfederalconsZtuZonsmustbechangedtoauthorizerighttolocalself-government

•  HasassistedinpreparingconsZtuZonalamendmentsforintroducZoninfourstates

CELDFRecognizesLackofLegalBasisforAssertedRight

ThomasLinzeyresponsetoJanuary2015federalcourtrejec?onofMoraCounty,NewMexicoordinance

•  “Withthisdecision,theCourtaffirmswhatourcommuniZesalreadyknow,thattheexis?ngstructureoflawdenieslocal,democra?cself-governance.”

Standardordinanceprovisions•  ”UseofthecourtsorthePennsylvanialegislatureinacemptsto

overturntheprovisionsofthisOrdinanceshallrequirecommunitymeeZngsfocusedonchangestolocalgovernancethatwouldsecuretherightofthepeopletolocalself-government.”GrantTwp,IndianaCountyOrdinance,Sec6on7.

•  ”ThroughtheadopZonofthisOrdinance,thepeopleofGrantTownshipcallforamendmentofthePennsylvaniaCons?tu?onandthefederalCons?tu?ontorecognizearighttolocalself-governmentfreefromgovernmentalpreempZonandornullificaZonbycorporate‘rights.’”GrantTwp,IndianaCountyOrdinance,Sec6on8.

UnitedStatesDemocracyorRepublic?

CELDFDemocracySchool

•  Democracy–Greek“demos”and“kratein”meaning“thepeopletorule”–majorityrule

•  Republic–LaZn“respublica”meaning“thepublicthing(s)”or“thelaw(s)”–theruleoflaw–  “Arepublic,ifyoucankeepit.”BenjaminFranklin,ConsZtuZonalConvenZon

of1787–  USConsZtuZonArt.IVguaranteeseveryState“aRepublicanformof

Government”

•  JohnAdams–  “Democracyneverlastslong.”–  “Itsoonwastes,exhaustsandmurdersitself.”–  “Therewasneverademocracythatdidnotcommitsuicide.”

•  GeorgeWashington–  Dedicatedto“thepreserva6on...oftherepublicanmodelofgovernment.”

USConstitutionViolations

•  SupremacyClause

•  EqualProtecZonClause

•  ContractsClause

•  FirstAmendmentPeZZonClause

•  Fiyh&FourteenthAmendments

–  SubstanZveandProceduralDueProcess

PAConstitution

•  Ar?cleI,§2.Poli?calpowers.Allpowerisinherentinthepeople,andallfreegovernmentsarefoundedontheirauthorityandinsZtutedfortheirpeace,safetyandhappiness.Fortheadvancementoftheseendstheyhaveatall?mesaninalienableandindefeasiblerighttoalter,reformorabolishtheirgovernmentinsuchmannerastheymaythinkproper.

•  Ar?cleI,§20.Rightofpe??on.TheciZzenshavearightinapeaceablemannertoassembletogetherfortheircommongood,andtoapplytothoseinvestedwiththepowersofgovernmentforredressofgrievancesorotherproperpurposes,bypeZZon,addressorremonstrance.

PAConstitution

•  Ar?cleI,§25.Reserva?onofpowersinpeople.Toguardagainsttransgressionsofthehighpowerswhichwehavedelegated,wedeclarethateverythinginthisar?cleisexceptedoutofthegeneralpowersofgovernmentandshallforeverremaininviolate.

•  Ar?cleI,§26.Nodiscrimina?onbyCommonwealthanditspoli?calsubdivisions.

NeithertheCommonwealthnoranypoli?calsubdivisionthereofshalldenytoanypersontheenjoymentofanycivilright,nordiscriminateagainstanypersonintheexerciseofanycivilright.

PAConstitution

•  Ar?cleIX,§1.Localgovernment.TheGeneralAssemblyshallprovidebygenerallawforlocalgovernmentwithintheCommonwealth.Suchgenerallawshallbeuniformastoallclassesoflocalgovernmentregardingproceduralmacers.

•  Ar?cleIX,§2.HomeRule.MunicipaliZesshallhavetherightandpowertoframeandadopthomerulecharters.AdopZon,amendmentorrepealofahomerulechartershallbebyreferendum.TheGeneralAssemblyshallprovidetheprocedurebywhichahomerulechartermaybeframedanditsadopZon,amendmentorrepealpresentedtotheelectors.IftheGeneralAssemblydoesnotsoprovide,ahomerulecharteroraprocedureforframingandpresenZngahomerulechartermaybepresentedtotheelectorsbyiniZaZveorbythegoverningbodyofthemunicipality.Amunicipalitywhichhasahomerulechartermayexerciseanypowerorperformanyfunc?onnotdeniedbythisCons?tu?on,byitshomerulecharterorbytheGeneralAssemblyatany?me.

PAConstitutionandImplementingLegislation

•  Ar?cleIX,§2.HomeRule.GrantofhomerulepowertomunicipaliZes,notthepeople

“Cons?tu?onreservedtothestatelegislaturethepowertoimposerestricZons,limitaZonsandregulaZonsonthegrantofhomerule....”Caliv.Philadelphia,177A.2d824(Pa.1962).

•  HomeRuleCharterandOp?onalPlansLaw53Pa.C.S.§§2901–3171

Nopowerscontrarytoorenlargingstatutorypowers

Can’tchangestatutesofgeneralapplicaZon

PreempZonprinciplesapply–ActofGeneralAssemblyprevailsovercountyordinance.Frossv.CountyofAllegheny,20A.3d1193(Pa.2011)“WhatwasgrantedtoPhiladelphiawasarestrictedrightorpoweroflocalself-government.”PhiladelphiaFacili6esManagementCorpora6onv.Biester,431A.2d1123,1134(Pa.Cmwlth.1981).

PAConstitution

•  Ar?cleVI,§3.OathofOffice.Senators,RepresentaZvesandalljudicial,Stateandcountyofficers

shall,beforeenteringontheduZesoftheirrespecZveoffices,takeandsubscribethefollowingoathoraffirmaZonbeforeapersonauthorizedtoadministeroaths.

“Idosolemnlyswear(oraffirm)thatIwillsupport,obeyanddefendtheConsZtuZonoftheUnitedStatesandtheConsZtuZonofthisCommonwealthandthatIwilldischargetheduZesofmyofficewithfidelity.”

....AnypersonrefusingtotaketheoathoraffirmaZonshallforfeithis

office.

PAConstitution

•  Driscollv.Corbe2,69A.3d197,207-09(Pa.2013)ArZcleI,§2grantsthepeopletheauthoritytoamendtheirstateconsZtuZonastheydeemfit,solongastheydonotviolatetheUnitedStatesconsZtuZon.

•  Wellsv.Bain,75Pa.39(Pa.1873)“Thewords‘insuchmannerastheymaythinkproper,’...embracebutthreeknownrecognisedmodesbywhichthewholepeople,thestate,cangivetheirconsenttoanalteraZonofanexisZnglawfulframeofgovernment,viz.:

ThemodeprovidedintheexisZngconsZtuZon.Alaw,astheinstrumentalprocessofraisingthebodyforrevisionandconveyingtoitthepowersofthepeople.ArevoluZon.”

”Aswiththemovementsthatwentbeforeus,wemustbecomerevolu?onaries,notreformers.”CELDFfounderThomasLinzey

GrantTownship,IndianaCounty,PAfederalcourtlitigation

•  PIOGAmemberPGE,Inc.undergroundinjec?onwell■ PGEAmendedComplaintfiledSeptember2014■ PGEJudgmentonthePleadingsgrantedOct14,2015onstatelawgrounds■ Twp/CELDFJudgmentonthePleadingsdeniedOct14,2015

“Defendanthasprovidednolegalprecedent[foritsassertedright].WithoutalegalbasisforitsacZons,asopposedtohistoricaldocumentsandevents,thisCourtcannotprovidethereliefGrantTownshipseeks.”

■ PGE,PIOGAandTwp/CELDFMoZonsforSummaryJudgmentpendingsinceJanuary2016

PGE–USConsZtuZonPIOGA–PAConsZtuZonTwp/CELDF–inheritandinalienablerighttolocalself-government

GrantTownship,IndianaCounty,PAfederalcourtlitigation

•  PIOGAmemberPGE,Inc.undergroundinjec?onwell■ LicleMahoningWatershedandEastRunHellbendersSociety,Inc.

intervenZonsdeniedOct14,2015■ Ecosystem/HellbendersappealdeniedJuly27,2016

2“WewillrefertotheAppellantsinthepluralthroughoutthisopinion,butweare,atbest,dubitante,becausewearenotconvincedthattheLicleMahoningWatershedisaproperpartyunderFed.R.Civ.P.17.”[musthavecapacitytosueorbesued]“dubitante”:doubZng—usedofajudgewhoexpressesdoubtaboutadecisionreachedbythecourt(Merriam-Webster)

■ Ecosystem/HellbenderspeZZonforrehearingbytheThirdCircuitpanelandthecourtenbancdeniedAugust22,2016

PuttingCommunitiesatRisk

•  LiZgaZondamages&acorneys’fees/42U.S.C.§1983•  NomunicipalityinsurancecoverageforillegalacZviZes•  Municipalbankruptcy

“Andifatowngoesbankrupttryingtodefendoneofourordinances,well,perhapsthat’sexactlywhatisneededtotriggeranaZonalmovement.”CELDFfounderThomasLinzeyinReuters

•  Criminalliability–18Pa.C.S.§5301.Officialoppression.•  Impeachmentformisbehaviorwhileinoffice–PAConsZtuZon

ArZcleVI,§§4-7ViolaZonofoathofoffice

AdditionalInformation

•  JackieStewart~EnergyInDepthhcps://www.energyindepth.org/?s=celdf

•  TomShepstone~NaturalGasNOWhcp://naturalgasnow.org/

•  JimWillis~MarcellusDrillingNews-#208hcp://marcellusdrilling.com/