Last week, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee attorneys, in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund and Blacks in Green, filed an appellate brief on behalf of the Pembroke Environmental Justice Coalition (PEJC), a grassroots coalition working towards halting plans for a new gas pipeline in the historic Black farming community of Pembroke Township, Illinois. The appeal seeks review of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)’s decision granting Northern Illinois Gas Company (I.e., “Nicor Gas Company”, or “Nicor”) permission to proceed with their gas line construction plans due to the misapplication and misinterpretation of several key regulatory and legal requirements and “in order to protect the customers and ecosystem of Pembroke from irreparable damage that is likely to result from construction.” The appeal, filed in the Appellate Court of Illinois for the Third Judicial District, also asks the court to reconsider the ICC decision denying PEJC’s request for rehearing based on new evidence that has become known since the initial filing took place.
Chicago Lawyers Committee is proud to stand with the residents of Pembroke Township in this monumental battle to maintain the ecological integrity of their ancestral lands. To follow and support the ongoing work of the #PreservePembroke campaign.