Protect Our Parks (“POP”) is a coalition of grassroots groups, established environmental organizations (including the Allegheny Exploration), and concerned individuals. It was launched in August, 2013, when Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) began soliciting proposals for “fracking” for natural gas under one of the County’s nine public parks. Earlier that year, the County had agreed to lease the land around the Pittsburgh International Airport to Consol Energy for natural gas extraction. The public debate over that airport lease had been spirited but fairly brief. This time, the founders of POP believed that the prospect of industrial activity at the public parks would strike an emotional chord with citizens, and would give the anti-fracking movement a very immediate threat around which to mobilize their energies.
About Allegheny
Since 1997, the community has been a dumping ground for the toxic waste material resulting from the burning of coal-coal ash.