ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR CHESTER
Welcome to Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL or “circle”). We are a community-led non-profit group leading the environmental justice movement for clean air and healthy communities in Chester City and Delaware County, since 1992.
BAN THE BURN: END TRASH INCINERATION IN CHESTER
Did you know that the LARGEST trash incinerator in the U.S. is located in Chester, PA?
LEARN MORE
SAY NO TO LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) IN DELCO!
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“THE LAST THING OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS”: LNG in Chester, PA
View interactive storymap on the threat of LNG and other polluters
CRCQL COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Next CRCQL Community Meeting: June 5th @ 7pm on Zoom.
REGISTER HERE
CRCQL General Meetings are for Chester residents, Delaware County residents, allies & supporters of environmental justice in Chester City and across the region. We welcome newcomers!
JOIN A TEAM!
Action Planning & Communications Team meets every other Tuesday evening at 6:30pm on Zoom. The next one will be on June 24th. Research Team meets periodically.
Email [email protected] to be added to our email list to receive meeting reminders and action alerts!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Visit our social media for more info on upcoming events! Check out our Instagram, our Facebook page, and the C4 instagram.
Protest at Western Fumigation Public Meeting – Tuesday, June 10 at 5:45pm
On Tues, June 10 at 5:45pm, CRCQL will be hosting an action outside of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s public meeting about the expansion of Western Fumigation’s operating permit at Penn Terminals in Eddystone.
Rather than hosting a formal public hearing about the plan so the public can testify and provide comment, the DEP has decided that they will ONLY have an informal public meeting to explain the operations and expansion plan. This is unacceptable!! Any proposal or permit modification in an Environmental Justice (EJ) community should AUTOMATICALLY trigger a public hearing. In addition, DEP has done a very poor job of publicizing this meeting ahead of time.
Join us in protesting this forum and demand that DEP follow the proper protocol for community engagement in EJ communities. We will NOT be attending the meeting. Contact [email protected] or call 484-402-7530 if you have any questions.
Stop the Bleed Training – Thursday, June 12 6-8pm at the ACCESS Center (701 Booth Street, Chester, PA)
Join us to learn how to respond to life-threatening bleeding in emergency situations. The training, lead by a healthcare professional, will teach participants to address wounds and slow down bleeding, giving bystanders the skills to slow the progression of an injury in emergencies. With the closure of the Chester Crozer Medical Center, the goal of this training is for residents to be informed on how they can intervene in life-threatening situations. Open to all!
LNG Info Session in Eddystone – Tuesday, June 17 6-8pm at John Hughes Memorial Hall (1112 E 7th St, Eddystone, PA 19022)
Chester and Eddystone are currently being targeted as the site of a potential LNG (liquified natural gas) export facility, a $7+ billion, 60+ acre project proposed by Penn America to process a massive amount of gas per day to export overseas. LNG facilities are extremely dangerous and will have drastic impacts on community health and well being, including reduced property values. Join us for a information session for residents to learn about how this project could impact your community and what you can do to prevent it. Click here for more info. Welcome to all!
LNG Info Session – VIRTUAL – Tuesday, June 24 at 6pm
Click here to register for meeting.
MEMOS
CRCQL Statement regarding Chester Stormwater Authority:
Thursday, May 16, 2024 – Residents of Chester currently pay some of the highest stormwater fees in the United States. The Chester Stormwater Authority has borrowed millions of dollars that the residents will ultimately have to pay via rate increases.
CRCQL stands in support of the Chester Receiver’s actions to demand the financial records of the Stormwater Authority. We applaud the motion that the Receiver’s office filed with U.S. Bankruptcy Court for a federal judge to intervene. This intervention would provide residents with the much needed transparency as to the financial operations of this public authority.
For years, CRCQL has been concerned over the management of the Stormwater Authority, escalating fees for residents and lack of transparency. We are equally concerned about the roles of council members also serving as paid members of the Stormwater Authority’s Board, and the conflict of interest it creates.
WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK – TAKE OUR STORMWATER SURVEY!
PAST EVENTS
Visit NEWS & UPDATES for full list of past events, actions and more. Or check out our Facebook page!
Saturday, May 3 – 5th annual Environmental Justice Day March!!
We will meet at 11:30 at Chester City Hall (1 E. 4th St, Chester PA). The march will begin at 12pm. This event is rain or shine!
Residents of Chester City, Delaware County and the region will be joining forces with CRCQL to march from Chester City Hall to Covanta/Reworld trash incinerator to generate awareness of the issues of pollution from the nation’s largest trash incinerator and other industries that have dire impacts on the health of residents. We also unite to stand against new fossil fuel polluters targeting the City.
Make signs, bring noisemakers or instruments, wear costumes! The march will be led by the one and only Positive Movement drumline! Swarthmore’s dance team will also be making an appearance.
- Parking is available at Chester City Hall. The Chester Transportation Center is located 2 blocks north on Avenue of the States between 5th and 6th Sts. There will be a car caravan available for those with mobility issues or who prefer not to walk.
- The walk is 2.5 miles total. There will be a shuttle following the march for those who would like to walk for a portion or get tired. Shuttle will provide people rides back to City Hall at the end of the march.
- Luncheon & Program will be held at Indigo Mills (114 W. 5th St. Chester, PA – 2 blocks from City Hall) after the march that all are welcome to!
- Please remember to bring water, sunscreen and snacks. There is a chance of rain so bring a pancho, jacket or umbrella if you would like!
Saturday, April 5 @ 3pm – LNG Community Meeting @ Christian Church of Chester (308 W. 3rd St. Chester)
Chester City is being targeted for a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility. In order to construct this explosive and polluting facility, the company Penn America plans to displace hundred of residents and destroy homes, businesses, & churches. Learn about the threat of LNG facility and what we can do!!
EJ Toxic Tour with Zulene: Each semester, Zulene leads a toxic tour of Chester’s industrial waterfront for Professor Giovanna Di Chiro’s class at Swarthmore College to discuss the impact of polluters in Chester, community resistance, and the opportunity for a cleaner future.
4th annual Chester Justice Celebration on July 27th at the Access Center in Chester, PA.
WEBINARS
“Looking Back, Moving Forward” Law, Policy & Environmental Justice
VIEW RECORDING OF CONFERENCE
Looking Back, Moving Forward, a 2-day virtual conference critically examining the past, present, and potential future roles of the law and legal strategies to advance environmental justice policy and action.
Zero Waste with Alex Danovitch
About CRCQL
Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL, pronounced “circle”) has been leading the fight against environmental racism in Chester, PA since 1992. Learn more about CRCQL’s history here.
CRCQL is a community-led activist group led by Chester residents and others concerned with air pollution and the health of our community, in Chester City and across the region.
CRCQL demands an end to toxic trash incineration at the Reworld facility, formerly Covanta, in Chester, increased emission standards for other polluters along the Delaware River, and opportunities of clean, green jobs for residents. Together we advocate for clean air and justice in our city and across Delaware County.
CHESTER IS NOT A SACRIFICE ZONE!
Email [email protected] to contact us and learn more.
