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.

Nurdle Patrol

Nurdle Patrol What Are Nurdles? Have you ever found a tiny plastic bead floating in a creek, wedged between rocks, or even inside a hooked fish? That’s a nurdle! These…

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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.

Campaign Archive

Fayette County Restricts Injection Wells!

April 23, 2024

On March 21, Fayette County Commissioners voted unanimously to protect the health and welfare of Fayette County residents by restricting oil and gas wastewater injection well development. While the ordinance…

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DEP rejects petition to protect the Laurel Highlands; MWA appeals

March 25, 2024

On Friday, March 22, 2024, Mountain Watershed Association filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Environmental Protection’s rejection of the non-profit’s “Unsuitable for Mining” Petition, which could protect 11,000 acres…

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New signs along Sewickley Creek send a warning

March 20, 2024

Mountain Watershed Association and Yukon community members installed two informational warning signs on the banks of Sewickley Creek, near the permitted discharge point of MAX Environmental Technologies Landfill #6 on…

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