News

Scroll down for an update on our conservation work, our ongoing campaigns, our upcoming events, our volunteer opportunities, and press.

Signs of Spring in the Yough Watershed

By Colleen O'Neil / March 8, 2025

Happy March! The clocks have changed, and the long, dark days of winter are officially over. Even though there might be some springtime snow storms in our future, we’re ready…

DEP renews controversial Rustic Ridge mine permits

By Colleen O'Neil / March 3, 2025

Despite strong opposition from residents and elected officials, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has renewed permits for the Rustic Ridge #1 Coal Mine, setting the stage for a…

2024 Year in Review

By Colleen O'Neil / February 24, 2025

Our 2024 Year in Review is hitting mailboxes across the country! Our supporters come from as far east as New Jersey and as far west as California. The diversity of…

Rockwood’s New Quarry: What You Should Know

By Colleen O'Neil / February 20, 2025

At the end of January 2025, the Daily American posted a blasting notice for the town of Rockwood, PA. Some community members were surprised and concerned that a new quarry…

ACTION ALERT: Keep Maryland Frack Free!

By Colleen O'Neil / February 8, 2025

The Youghiogheny watershed is in trouble. A new bill, just introduced in Maryland, could repeal the state’s ban on hydraulic fracturing. SB0878 threatens Garrett and Allegany Counties, Deep Creek, the…

Title V and Tenaska: Community Meeting Announcement 

By Em Hough / February 5, 2025

The Tenaska Generating Station is located in South Huntingdon Township, just behind the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. This 940-megawatt combined cycle power plant makes electricity using both a gas turbine and…

Nature’s Highways: Wildlife Corridors

By Chantelle Hutchens / January 29, 2025

What is a Wildlife Corridor?  A wildlife corridor, simply put, is a passageway or path of movement that wildlife use to complete their life cycle. A corridor can refer to…

Welcome to our new team members!

By Colleen O'Neil / January 29, 2025

We’ve gained two more terrific staff members at MWA, and a few positions have shifted around in the early weeks of 2025! Chantelle Hutchens has stepped into the position of…

Did you know? One of PA’s top 12 polluters is in Westmoreland County.

By Colleen O'Neil / December 4, 2024

Tenaska Generating Station is a 940 megawatt combined cycle natural gas fueled power plant operated by Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners. The power plant produces electricity from both natural gas and steam.…

Yough Defense Party – Thank You!

By Colleen O'Neil / December 4, 2024

This year’s Yough Defense Party was a truly memorable! We had a little bit of snowfall, several warm bonfires, and a whole lot of fun! Hopefully you did too. Throughout…