To justify building an additional hazardous waste landfill, MAX petitioned to change the designation of Landfill 7’s proposed area from a 100-year floodplain.
Expanding Coal Mines Threaten the Heart of the Laurel Highlands
LCT Energy, LP is a metallurgical coal producer headquartered in Johnstown, PA. Many Fayette and Westmoreland County residents are already familiar with the company, as it operates the Rustic Ridge Mine on County Line Road. The Rustic Ridge I Mine …
Help Stop the MVP and Joe Manchin’s “Dirty” Side Deal
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022, was passed by a 51-50 vote in the Senate, with all senators voting along party lines and Vice President Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. There …
Take Action Today: PA Senate sells out Municipal Water with SB597
Recently, the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 597, the “Water Quality Accountability Act’. If signed into law, it would raise the cost of operations for public water authorities by implementing burdensome reporting and compliance requirements that many feel are non-essential. Under …
Environmental Pros and Cons of the Inflation Reduction Act
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. The bill’s purposes are to reduce healthcare costs, reduce emissions associated with energy development, and raise taxes on large corporations. The bill contains many provisions that …
Raising Funds to Purchase Land and Protect Rasler Run
MWA is proposing to purchase a 192.6 acre property in Fayette County which borders Indian Creek, a tributary of the Youghiogheny River, and Rasler Run, a tributary to Indian Creek. Indian Creek is designated as a high quality coldwater fishery, …
Summer Fish Surveys Went Swimmingly
In the last week of June, staff at the Mountain Watershed Association were able to slide into their hip waders to join Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) in some fish shocking. Fish shocking, also recognized as electrofishing, is an environmental survey …
Mountain Pines Zoning Meeting Review and Further Call to Action
On May 11th, 2022, the Fayette Zoning Hearing Board held a public hearing to determine if Mountain Pines should be granted a special expectation to expand their campground onto the old Clifford Pritts Elementary School in Saltlick Township. Since the …
MWA Tests Nurdle Patrol Against Spill
MWA responded to buffer cars filled with nurdles careening into the water and crumpling on the riverbanks.
An Ancient Ally: Warnings from Freshwater Sponges
Underneath the rocks that cover the floors of our watershed lives possibly the oldest animals ever recorded, sponges. They’re not much to look at, in fact, you might not notice they’re an animal at all at first glance. These tan …