PEDF: Pennsylvania Enivronmental Defense Foundation

The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.
- Pennsylvania Constitution, Section 1, Article 27


	The Perkiomen Creek, in early Spring. PEDF helped protect the Perkiomen and the entire watershed.

Update! On March 24, the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation informed Governor Rendell of their intent to sue the Governor if he leases additional land in state forests for gas drilling in Marcellus Shale.

Download PEDF's Letter to Governor Rendell (PDF)

Download PEDF's News Release (PDF)

The Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the citizens of Pennsylvania about state and federal environmental laws as well as to enabling citizens to use these laws to protect and improve the environment.

Where the laws grant citizens the right to pursue litigation for environmental protection, the Foundation advises individuals and groups of their rights and enables them to pursue legal action against polluters.

The Foundation has an extensive record of successful actions that have resulted in improvements to Pennsylvania's rivers and streams. Over the years PEDF has affected about 150 streams in all parts of Pennsylvania. When the Courts have assessed penalties, funds have been used for stream rehabilitation projects. The Foundation has made available hundreds of thousands of dollars to other nonprofit environmental organizations such as watershed associations, land conservancies, and Chapters of Trout Unlimited. Where such groups do not exist, the Foundation may facilitate the creation of an organization and provide continued support and advice.

PEDF's Pine Cone Award

A prime example of the Foundation's work is an acid mine treatment project on Babb Creek in Tioga County. A suit against Antrim Mining Co. for acid mine drainage into Babb Creek and Pine Creek from underground mines resulted in a settlement where penalty payments went to Babb Creek Trust Fund, established by PEDF. The Fund has been used to construct and maintain limestone diversion wells on Babb Creek. The stream, which has been virtually dead since mining began in the 1850's, now has a resurgent aquatic insect and fish population, including trout.

The Foundation has established the Pine Cone Award to give formal recognition to individuals who have made significant efforts to improve the environment in Pennsylvania. The first awards were given to Governor Tom Ridge and to Tom Brokaw.