Friday marked the end of the public comment period regarding PENNDOT’s Interstate 99 remediation proposal to deal with acid-bearing rock problems along a construction area located in Centre County.
However, the transportation agency continues to hold a regular series of meetings on the subject while it continues to release updates regarding actions it has already taken or is planning regarding the issue. The agency is now awaiting the state’s Department of Environmental Protection’s response before implementing any permanent plan.
The Associated Press, among other news agencies, had previously reported that earlier this year, PENNDOT engineers discovered construction on the highway had exposed tons of previously covered rock to air and water, allowing the rock to oxidize and become acidic. Acid runoff could potentially pose a threat to streams and groundwater in the area.
Last month, PENNDOT presented its plan to the state Department of Environmental Protection and then gave the public an opportunity to review the plan at a June 1 meeting and ask questions and offer comments.
Last week, the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization recommended PENNDOT move all the acid-bearing rock from the construction site located along Skytop Mountain. The recommendation could add millions of dollars to the plan’s cost and lead to additional delays to that portion of the I-99 project.
The group also suggested trains be used rather than trucks to haul the large amount of pyrite from the site located in Huston and Patton Townships to a Rush Township abandoned strip mine.
PENNDOT’s District Two executive director George Khoury told the planners it was now a possibility a synthetic liner estimated to cost $1 million dollars would be necessary in addition to existing clay to protect groundwater in Rush Township.
PENNDOT spokesperson Marla Fannin said Thursday, “no determination has been made” on the issue.
The possibility arose after soil tests were conducted in the disposal area.
Khoury indicated PENNDOT might decide on a less costly disposal site if such a move became necessary.
The CCMPO voted after hearing from Khoury, who had indicated the train versus truck hauling idea might be useful.
CCMPO officials made it clear concerns about groundwater were important in their decision making process. Comments from the CCMPO were to be forwarded to DEP.
The cost of the project has been estimated at $10 to $12 million dollars and that figure doesn’t include work to deal with pyrite that has already been covered by pavement in the affected construction area. PENNDOT had said the proposed cleanup could delay the affected portion of the project for a year to a year and-a-half. At the outer end of the time frame, completion could be delayed until early 2006, according to Fannin. But, PENNDOT is hopeful that would not be the case.
On Thursday, PENNDOT held a regular partnering meeting where another acid-rock drainage area in Patton Township was discussed.
Fannin indicated recent soil tests on fill used by a contractor at the Echo Hills development in Patton Township showed sulfur content slightly above a “threshold limit” which is used to determine the potential for water contamination. The recent tests were conducted not by PENNDOT but through a study authorized by Patton Township.
Earlier tests conducted through PENNDOT indicated the sulfur levels were below the threshold for potential contamination.
“We’ve decided to open that back up as an action item and continue to monitor the situation,” Fannin told The Daily Herald.
She also said there would be further discussion regarding another area located in Ferguson Township. In that case, pyritic fill material was used under Blue Course Drive, a recently opened four-lane road.
Fannin said some testing revealed acceptable limits of sulfate were exceeded but impervious clay and limestone underneath the road had eased concern since the mix provides alkalinity to offset any potential acidity.
The Centre Daily Times reported Friday, Penn State officials had expressed concerns about the area. The newspaper reported, “pyritic fill was used to a depth of 16 feet, but tested to a depth of only four feet” The article referenced information provided by a DEP geologist.
Penn State has a golf course and well located near the road. A Penn State engineer indicated they have “aesthetic” concerns beyond the depth of the sample according to the article.
Information released by PENNDOT on Friday indicated the Penn State golf course monitoring well could be scheduled for sampling this week.
Other concerns beyond the remediation proposal still exist at Skytop Mountain including what to do about fill used in an already paved area of the I-99 project.
Earlier this month, the Associated Press reported through information provided by the Centre Daily Times, PENNDOT was considering removing acid-producing rock from fill underneath the completed portion of Interstate 99. The additional cleanup if done, could add millions of dollars to the existing cost.
On June 10, Khoury said, no decision had been made about whether to remove the fill from underneath the road on Skytop Mountain.
Fannin noted on Thursday, additional testing in the butress/bifurcation area would be done this week.
“Drilling will begin on June 29 (today),” said Fannin. “Twenty holes will be drilled and we are asking for a quick turnaround on the tests.”
The testing needs to be done before PENNDOT takes further action in the already paved area.
Also earlier this month, the Centre County Planning Commission raised concerns about PENNDOT’s plan regarding water quality issues around the areas in Rush and Worth Township, sites which PENNDOT has outlined as preferred locations to dispose of the acid-bearing rock.
PENNDOT’s preferred disposal sites include the abandoned mine in Rush Township, the proposal calls for 240,000 cubic yards of high-sulfur pyrite to be moved there. Meanwhile another 380,000 cubic yards of lower-sulfur acidic rock is earmarked for a disposal site located in Worth Township.
Since PENNDOT revealed its plans last month, several agencies and municipalities have met and prepared comments to forward to DEP about the proposal.
Last week, PENNDOT gave indications the cleanup is expected to affect funding for normal road improvement projects in Centre County.
Since the need became known for a remediation plan earlier this year, local officials have expressed concerns among themselves that the cleanup plan would affect regular funding.
The DEP is expected to take action on the remediation plan in July, with the possibility of revisions.
“The DEP is the responsible regulatory agency,” said Fannin. “PENNDOT will make the final decision but it will have to meet the regulatory requirements of the DEP.
“Time is of the essence,” Fannin told The Daily Herald. “But, not at the expense of creating a greater problem.”
She said throughout the process, PENNDOT has regularly met with a number of “partners,” including the DEP, PENNDOT’s engineering consultant, Skelly and Loy, the Game Commission, the Fish and Boat Commission, Patton Township and other interested parties. The agency is expected to continue those meetings.
Fannin indicated after the DEP takes its action on the plan and a disposal site or sites are agreed upon, additional presentations and comment periods are expected to be scheduled.
Public comments about the proposal have been posted on the DEP web site: www.dep.state.pa.us/
