Campaigns

We empower communities in the broader Youghiogheny River Watershed to engage in campaigns to address environmental degradation, climate change, and its root causes.

Shale Gas & Petrochemicals

Currently, one of the greatest threats to the health of the watersheds and quality of life in the Appalachian region is the development of shale gas and petrochemical infrastructure.

Allegheny Energy Center

A Chicago-based company, Invenergy, has been attempting to construct a shale gas-fired power plant in Allegheny County since 2016. This 639-MegaWatt plant is proposed along the Youghiogheny River, near the…

Read More

Mariner East II Pipeline

Sunoco Logistics, L.P. (Sunoco) filed petitions in late March 2014 to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) for exemptions from local zoning in municipalities impacted by its Mariner East pipeline…

Read More

Nurdle Patrol

Nurdle Patrol What Are Nurdles? Have you ever found a nurdle floating in a creek, wedged between rocks, or even inside a hooked fish? Nurdles are oat-sized dots of plastic…

Read More

Hazardous Waste

MWA continues to work alongside communities directly affected by the pollution discharge, poor air quality, and health impacts of hazardous waste landfills.

MAX Environmental Hazardous & Residual Waste Landfill

MAX’s Yukon plant is the only facility in Pennsylvania that offers RCRA Subtitle C permitted waste treatment and on-site commercial disposal of residual waste. The facility’s residual waste landfill is…

Read More

Coal Mining

Over the past 20 years, Mountain Watershed has raised almost $9 million dollars to create mine drainage treatment systems that remove harmful pollutants and have helped to restore the water and hence, quality of life, in our region. Given the success of our existing restoration activities and the tendency for mining in this watershed to produce discharges, any current and proposed coal mining activity is a huge risk for our area.

Rustic Ridge Coal Mine

The Indian Creek watershed is approximately 125 square miles and contains over 130 known discharges from abandoned coal mines. These discharges have resulted in contamination of surface water, wells, and…

Read More

APPLY TO MWA'S DIRECT SUPPORT FUND!

Currently, one of the greatest threats to the health of the watersheds and quality of life in the Appalachian region is industrial resource extraction, primarily the development of shale gas, coal, and petrochemical infrastructure. The Direct Support Fund provides small grants to grassroots groups and advocates working toward social change on any of these environmental justice issues and more.

DSC_0389-4

A Year in the Yough

Quality of life in the Laurel Highlands region depends on the Youghiogheny River and tributaries like Indian Creek. Our streams are a source of recreation, tourism, sustainable economic growth, and drinking water. As citizens, it is our duty to protect these resources.

We hold polluters and environmental regulators accountable to ensure protection of our communities and the environment.

News & Updates

Demand Public Hearing On Permit To Evaporate Toxic Leachate

June 4, 2020

The Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, located in Belle Vernon, has applied for a state permit to evaporate leachate (liquid runoff) from the site, putting nearby residents and sanitary workers at risk.…

Read More

DEP Sides with MWA to Protect Coalfield Residents

May 12, 2020

Last week, in response to our advocacy efforts alongside the Center for Coalfield Justice, the Department of Environmental Protection issued guidance that called on coal operators to protect residents during pre…

Read More

Unrestricted Mining Activities Putting Residents’ Rights and Health at Risk

April 8, 2020

While COVID-19 grips public health and the economy, coal mining operations in Pennsylvania are proceeding at full speed. On the eve of Governor Wolf’s address closing “non-essential” business, coal mining…

Read More