Meagan Niebler
I live in Ohio…There's a Stream On My ...

Landowners may be curious as to who has the right to make a decision about a creek on their private property, and the answer is not necessarily a straightforward one. Unfortunately, the “right” to make decisions about waterways on a private property is multifaceted and not always just up to the landowner.

I live in Ohio…There's a Stream On My Property... What Can I Do?
Meagan Niebler
Baseline Monitoring: creating a "before" and ...

Baseline monitoring can help community members address concerns about environmental and personal health risks associated with data centers and other industrial development. 

Baseline monitoring helps to: 

  • Create a record that shows a variety of impacts to the environment before, during, and after development to record any potential changes 

  • Collect data for community organizing efforts by showcasing the impacts of industrial development on the area  

  • Potentially help meet a legal burden of proof that an industrial project negatively impacted a community 

Baseline Monitoring helps establish written and visual records of environmental conditions over time. It can take years before a facility is permitted, built, and ready for operations. The time lag makes it difficult to recall pre-construction conditions accurately enough to establish a “before and after” comparison. 

Baseline Monitoring: creating a "before" and "after" for legal and organizing advocacy
Legal Lowdown
Guest User
Challenging Data Centers 101

Despite the  perceptions  that data centers  operate  in somewhat of a regulatory “gray area,” they are subject to regulation. Unfortunately, the legal frameworks surrounding this industry remain fragmented, site-specific, and quickly evolving as our various bodies of government attempt to respond to the industry’s rapid growth.  

Challenging Data Centers 101
Meagan Niebler
Rezoning - What Is It and How You Can Have a ...

Residents throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, are raising the alarm as new data centers, warehouses, and industrial facilities move in rapidly leading to public concerns surrounding noise, water, and power-usage. How is this happening so fast? Too often, municipalities approve these developments through quiet but completely legal rezoning processes. Many communities are left wondering: Can zoning rules really be changed that easily? Why don't we know about it? How can we get involved before final decisions are made? How does this work, and is there anything I can do about it? 


Here's how the zoning process works, how municipalities change their zoning maps and codes, what the legal requirements are, and how you can better advocate to protect your community from these unwanted changes. 

Rezoning - What Is It and How You Can Have a Voice in the Process
Meagan Niebler
The world around us: How does our environment ...

Have you ever gone for a walk outside, heard the birds, and felt it clear your mind? Even lift your mood? There's a reason why people say they need to "get outside" – our surroundings have a profound impact on the way we think, feel, and cope with our situations. But what is the effect when those surroundings are polluted, neglected, or even unsafe? Our environment impacts more than just our physical health; it has a substantial impact on our mental health too. 

The world around us: How does our environment affect our mental health?

Keep Pittsburgh Water Public–Using Your Voice in the May 20th Election

Keep Pittsburgh Water Public–Using Your Voice in the May 20th Election

What is the ballot referendum?  

On May 20th, Pittsburgh voters will get to decide whether they want to keep their water systems public. The question will be displayed on the ballot as follows:  

“Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter be amended and supplemented by adding a new Article 11:  RIGHT TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS, WASTEWATER SYSTEM, AND STORM SEWER SYSTEMS, which restricts the lease and/or sale of the City’s water and sewer system to private entities?” 

Voting YES is a vote for public water. Voting YES would add an amendment to the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter and protect our water systems from privatization.  

Environmental Justice Advisory Boards - A Scorecard for States

Environmental Justice Advisory Boards - A Scorecard for States

An Environmental Justice Advisory Board (EJAB) is a group that advises government agencies on issues related to environmental justice, ensuring that policies and actions address the needs and concerns of marginalized communities disproportionately affected by environmental harms. These boards play a crucial role in promoting fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in environmental decision-making processes.

Update on the East Palestine Train Derailment

Update on the East Palestine Train Derailment

Much has happened in the East Palestine community in the past year and a half since the Norfolk Southern train derailment – lawsuits have been filed, government investigations were carried out, and laws were proposed in response.    Many nonprofit organizations, including Fair Shake, have worked to help the community deal with the accident and the collective response. 

Fair Shake's Earth Day Highlights

Fair Shake's Earth Day Highlights

We hope everyone found a meaningful way to celebrate Earth Day, whether by planting trees, participating in a community actions, or simply spending time appreciating the beauty of nature. Our team marked the occasion by planting pollinator gardens, launching a little seed library in their neighborhood, and talking to their children about power and decision-making in our local governance.

Get to know a little bit about our team below & let's continue to prioritize environmental stewardship every day, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.

24 Women and Non-Binary Environmentalists to Know in 2024

24 Women and Non-Binary Environmentalists to Know in 2024

Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services would like to highlight these twenty-four champions of the environment in honor of Women’s History Month 2024. The Climate Crisis is not gender neutral—uplifting the voices of women and non-binary environmentalists is crucial to building sustainable environmental justice and conservation efforts. We want to take the time to celebrate the contributions of these amazing advocates and the inspiration they continue to provide us with to live in harmony with our planet and fiercely protect the places where we live, work, and play. 

Who is Responsible for Ensuring Drinking Water at Schools and Child Care Centers are Lead Free?

Who is Responsible for Ensuring Drinking Water at Schools and Child Care Centers are Lead Free?

For over a century, our governments failed to regulate lead as it entered almost every facet of our consumer market and infrastructure. Despite long-standing knowledge of the risk of lead poisoning, lead was used for its versatility and low-cost. New studies estimate that at least half of the United States population was exposed to adverse lead levels during early childhood. While statutes and regulations have been put in place to prevent the continued use of lead in infrastructure and some products, few hold anyone responsible for affirmatively removing lead hazards. 

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