PennDOT and the state’s Department of Environmental Protection learned last week that an investigation by Penn State experts indicate that a section of the I-99 construction area just north of Port Matilda will need remediation regarding pyrite.
The substance, also know as “fool’s gold” was discovered in rock in a section of I-99 further north in Centre County at Skytop.
Marla Fannin of PennDOT District’s 2 said a report on the investigation is now in draft form and was part of the conversation at the most recent partners meeting regarding the pyrite issues.
“We anticipate the finished formal report would be ready at the end of the month or early July,” said Fannin. “It simply is an investigation north of Port Matilda in regard to pyritic material. We have been working with DEP for some time on this.”
DEP had asked for the investigation into the potential of pyrite material in the section north of Port Matilda.
One of the investigators addressed the partner’s meeting last Thursday. Fannin said Duff Gold, a Penn State geology expert, indicated the area in question didn’t appear to pose a problem.
“That has been our position for a long period of time. We did not believe it would be a problematic area. Everyone wants to err on the side of caution so DEP had asked us to do some further investigation and that’s where the report comes into play.”
Earlier this month, PennDOT applied for a permit with the DEP to remove the pyritic material to a site in Worth Township located about three miles from the Skytop area. The permit application addresses PennDOT’s plan to remove and transport about 675,000 cubic yards of pyritic material to an engineered rock placement area in Worth Township. The ERPA would serve as a containment site or what PennDOT District 2 spokesperson Marla Fannin described as a “ dry tomb” to house the material.
Previously, The Associated Press had reported the plan is part of a $50 million cleanup regarding the pyrite.
DEP has scheduled a July 20 meeting and a hearing regarding PennDOT’s plan to remove pyrite-laddened rock.
According to a DEP press release, the meeting and hearing has been scheduled so residents can ask questions and present testimony regarding the water quality permit application submitted by the PennDOT.
Before the most recent application for the permit, PennDOT had applied for a permit to complete work in the Skytop area, where the pyritic material cannot be moved and has to be treated where it is situated.
Fannin confirmed PennDOT is due to receive a “deficiency letter” for DEP regarding the work at Skytop to treat the pyritic material that must remain there. A ‘deficiency letter” is part of DEP’s review process for permits. It allows the agency the chance to ask questions and list concerns that were discovered during the review of the permit.
A previous Associate Press report said about two million tons of pyritic rocks were unearthed three years ago during I-99 construction and dumped in spoil piles and fill areas that leached into Buffalo Run and groundwater. Pyrite, or iron sulfide, reacts with water and oxygen to create sulfuric acid.
The DEP meeting/hearing will be held on July 20 in the Bald Eagle Area High School auditorium in Wingate, Centre County. The two sessions will address pyritic rock that must be moved from the Interstate 99 area at Skytop, Centre County.
The public meeting will start at 6:30 p.m., followed immediately by the public hearing at 8:30 p.m. DEP will also accept written testimony until the close of business on Aug. 3.
For more information on the I-99 acid rock remediation, visit DEP’s web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us. Click on “DEP Keywords” and then “I-99 Information.”
