PENNDOT is continuing to work with DEP regarding two separate environmental issues involving the I-99 expansion project.
Just last week, PENNDOT District Two began issuing weekly reports regarding efforts being made to deal with acid rock issues in Centre County which has led to a delay in that portion of the project. PENNDOT has also recently responded to a DEP request to submit a plan and a schedule on how and when it will deal with discharge issues involving Bald Eagle Creek in Blair County.
“There was a late March deadline for us to respond to DEP regarding Bald Eagle Creek,” said Marla Fannin, community relations coordinator with PENNDOT district two. “We have not yet received a formal response from DEP regarding what we submitted.”
“Since that is the case I can’t really comment any further on what we submitted and have proposed in terms of dealing with the discharge,” said Fannin.
Earlier this year, the builders involved in the I-99 project were informed a higher than allowed amount of metals and mud was going into Bald Eagle Creek. State environmental officials said this violated the discharge permit involving the project.
“We continue to take water samples in the area and we are working with DEP,” said Fannin. “In addition to PENNDOT, the department’s environmental consultant, Skelly and Loy, and DEP officials are on the scene on a regular basis.”
“The water samples are being tested on a regular basis,” said Fannin. “The discharge problem is in regard to what is known as sedimentation pond 11.”
In Centre County, PENNDOT is working with DEP to resolve the acid rock issues which developed at Buffalo Run located in the Skytop area.
“We have started to issue weekly updates,” said Fannin. “These were originally intended to be internal memos to keep various parties informed but we decided it was also another opportunity to keep the public informed on the issue.”
“We are working on a permanent plan for a solution which we must submit to DEP by early May,” said Fannin. “DEP will review it and hopefully it will be satisfactory to all parties. In addition to DEP, we are also working with the state Fish and Boat Commission, Patton Township, the Clearwater Conservancy and our own environmental consultant.
Fannin was unable to offer any official time frame as to when work would resume in the area for a number of reasons.
“It really is dependent on what DEP accepts as a permanent solution to the problem,” said Fannin. “That is really going to affect not only the length of the delay but also how much it will cost to correct the problems.”
Fannin went on to say work could resume later in the year but could offer no guarantees without knowing DEP’s response. She also indicated that section of the project could be completed in 2005 if work were able to continue within a reasonable time frame.
The DEP indicated it is not only willing to work with PENNDOT to solve the current I-99 issues but wants to work with it on a more regular and long-range basis in the future.
“PENNDOT and DEP are meeting on a bi-weekly basis to identify and solve not only the specific issues involving I-99 but also in working together on environmental issues which could affect future projects,” said Kurt Knaus, press secretary at the DEP office in Harrisburg.
Knaus also confirmed DEP officials are on the scene on a regular basis in the area of the project which affecting Bald Eagle Creek. Work on that portion of the project has not been halted according to PENNDOT.
