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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.

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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

Elizabeth Twp Approves Controversial Power Plant Proposal – Legal Challenge Follows Immediately

December 21, 2018

Despite listening to more than three hours of public comment in opposition to the proposal, the Elizabeth Township Commissioners voted 4-3 to pass a controversial ordinance and zoning change that would…

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Attend the upcoming hearing on proposed industrial zone & power plant along Yough River in Elizabeth Twp

December 13, 2018

At the hearing, the Commissioners will consider a proposal by Invenergy LLC, who is hoping to build a 550-megawatt gas-fired power plant, known as the Allegheny Energy Center (AEC). The AEC would be constructed next to the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny bike trail, nearby the neighborhood of Smithdale. In order to build their power plant, Invenergy has proposed a zoning change and an ordinance, which would rezone nearly 147 acres from rural residential to light industrial. The proposed ordinance would also list power plants as a ‘permitted use’ in all industrial zones.

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Amerikohl’s Revtai GFCC coal mine would leave community without standard state protections

December 13, 2018

On Wednesday, December 12th, over 35 people packed the room in the Saltlick Township Municipal Building for the public hearing on Amerikohl’s proposed Revtai Government Financed Construction Contract (GFCC). The…

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