News

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

Fracking Operator Seeks Leases from Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County

By Nate Ricketts / May 13, 2026

Through a recent “Right to Know” request, MWA learned that the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC) was approached to lease large areas of land to fracking operator, PH Masterline. …

Blue Hole Creek still polluted, but no further action from PA DEP (ACTION ITEM)

By Colleen O'Neil / April 30, 2026

A whole year after MWA learned about lead pollution in Blue Hole Creek in Forbes State Forest, this once-pristine stream remains contaminated with lead and heavy metals. Yet the PA…

Your Water Bill Could Go Up — Here’s What That Letter Really Means

By Melissa Marshall / April 27, 2026

Recently, many Indian Creek Valley Water Authority (ICVWA) customers opened their mail and found a “Rate Impact Notice” about possible future rate increases. Because it mentioned potential bill increases of…

MWA Files Appeal After $2.8M Cut to Mine-Damage Protections

By Melissa Marshall / April 21, 2026

MWA has filed an appeal challenging a decision to cut millions of dollars in financial protections for damage from underground coal mining near the Pennsylvania Turnpike. On March 6, 2026,…

Happy Egg Season! What’s About to Hatch?

By Lindsey Waugaman / April 10, 2026

It’s my favorite time of year! EGG SEASON. No, not just Easter egg hunts. But the time of year where some birds have already found their mates and are laying…

The Vernal Pool, a Salamander Nursery!

By Lindsey Waugaman / April 3, 2026

I’ve been seeing a ton of social media posts about vernal pools, but, what are they?  What is a vernal pool? It’s a small, temporary, low-lying area that can fill…

Celebrate Earth Month with MWA!

By Colleen O'Neil / April 3, 2026

April is Earth Month, an annual time of celebration and action for the good of the planet. If you’re looking for a way to make a difference this month, MWA…

DEP Holds Long-Awaited Public Hearing on Tenaska Westmoreland’s Title V Operating Permit Draft

By Colleen O'Neil / March 4, 2026

After over an year and a half of organizing by local residents and environmental groups, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted a hearing on Tenaska Westmoreland’s air quality…

Use Caution with Unsolicited Property Offers

By MWA Board Member / February 23, 2026

Spam comes in many forms these days. Recently, community members have reported getting unsolicited land offers from random text messages, phone calls, and even handwritten letters. If you get a…

2025 Year in Review

By Colleen O'Neil / February 19, 2026

2025 tested our commitments and our stamina. Our communities faced a barrage of emerging threats: lead contamination in Blue Hole Creek, federal funding cuts that stripped many of their basic…

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Swimmable Waters Update

September 3, 2014
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Our August round of E. coli sampling at popular swimming holes around the watershed is complete.  We’re happy to say that the…

Gas-fired power plant proposed along the Yough River

August 8, 2014
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Sign the Petition & Comment on Air Quality Permit Application Tenaska is seeking to construct a gas-fired power plant in Westmoreland County…

MWA Announces Creation of Direct Support Fund

August 1, 2014
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Today we’re pleased to announce the launch of our Direct Support Fund. Through this project we can provide small amounts of money…

Sunoco Denied Public Utility Status

August 1, 2014
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MWA applauds the decision of Administrative Law Judges Salapa and Barnes to deny Sunoco’s petitions requesting exemptions from local zoning for its…

DEP Finally Issues Orders on Curry Pollution

July 17, 2014
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For over a year we’ve been filing complaints about extensive erosion and sedimentation issues emanating from the Curry Mine site in Dunbar Township,…