Headwaters Defense Fund

  • US$1,351.00
    raised of $10,000.00 goal goal
13% Funded
6 Donors
Help this ongoing fundraising campaign by making a donation and spreading the word.
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The Headwaters Defense Fund is an open-ended fundraising campaign to meet our organizational needs, our legal defense, and our independent water testing. We need your support!

Headwaters Defense is a grassroots organization hard at work defending the water, health and rights of the citizens of Fayette County, West Virginia. We are a community-based organization attempting to take a stand against toxic contamination and the corporate control of our government. We are an all-volunteer organization, with no paid staff, no organizational budget for meetings/events, and no money for legal counsel, water testing, or scientific experts. In order to stand a chance against the well-funded oil and gas industry, we're gonna need your support! Here's the breakdown of costs:

1. Organizing Fund - $4,000
We are fundraising to support our grassroots organizing efforts. This includes door-knocking and leafleting in frontlines communities, hosting meetings/informational sessions/rallies/demonstrations, and developing leadership among impacted community members. $1000 would support our Printing Budget - $300, Banners/Signs/Art Supplies Budget - $200, Phone - $300, and an Organizer Stipend (800/month) for 4 months - $3,200.

2. Legal Defense Fund - $3,000
We are in the middle of a legal battle to defend Fayette County's Ban on Oil and Gas Waste. After passing the ordinance in January of 2016, the Fayette County Commission was taken to Federal Court by EQT Corporation and Danny Webb Construction. These corporations are attempting to get a Permanent Injunction placed on our ordinance, making it impossible for the Commission to enforce its ban on hazardous oil and gas waste disposal. We are preparing for the Permanent Injunction Hearing on April 22, 2016. The County is receiving pro-bono legal aid from Appalachian Mountain Advocates and Rist Law, but we do have other costs. Primarily, we need funding for Expert Witnesses to testify in court on our behalf. In order to present a strong case we need three Expert Witnesses who can testify about Injection Well Integrity, Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals, and the history of the Danny Webb Construction site. This funding would cover Speaking Fees at the court date - $1800 ($600/ea), Gas/Travel Reimbursements - $600 (200/ea), and Hotel/Lodging Fees for the duration of the Trial - $600 (200/ea)

3. Water Testing Fund - $3,000
Throughout Fayette County there have been numerous instances of water contamination caused by the coal, oil, gas industries. Hazardous waste poses a serious health risk to our community. We are particularly concerned about the health and safety of our children in the public schools. Currently, we are pressuring the Health Department to test the water at the Fayetteville Elementary School, where the water is visibly discolored and sedimented. Meanwhile, we are also attempting to fundraise for an independent, third-party testing of the Public School's drinking water. A Tier-III test (the most comprehensive test for a range of chemicals, heavy metals, and radioactivity) from Summit Laboratories (a reputable testing company based in Ohio) costs $1500. We intend on starting by testing in two locations to start to get an accurate analysis of what is coming out of the taps in Fayetteville.

Thank you all for your help!

Our water is at stake. Together, we can keep it safe.

Organizer

  • Brandon Richardson
  •  
  • Community Organizer

Donors

  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 15, 2016
$100.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 13, 2016
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Apr 03, 2016
  • Jackson's been keeping us up to date with the incredible organizing job you've been doing, Brandon. Keep up the good work for your community!

$1000.00

No updates for this campaign just yet

Donors & Comments

6 donors
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 15, 2016
$100.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 13, 2016
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Apr 03, 2016
  • Jackson's been keeping us up to date with the incredible organizing job you've been doing, Brandon. Keep up the good work for your community!

$1000.00
  • Pamela Ruediger
  • Donated on Mar 19, 2016
$10.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 18, 2016
  • It was great to see students getting involved with issues that affect their community!

$101.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Mar 18, 2016
Amount Hidden

Followers

4 followers
Jean Evansmore
Pamela Ruediger
Kevin Smith
Debbie Dick
US$1,351.00
raised of $10,000.00 goal
13% Funded
6 Donors

Help this ongoing fundraising campaign by making a donation and spreading the word.

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