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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/