CENTRAL CITY — The state has ordered the closure of a popular ATV park, maintaining Mountain Ridge Trails Resort has not obtained mandatory erosion-control, storm-water discharge and stream-crossing permits despite months of warnings.
The Stonycreek Township resort closed Tuesday and is expected to remain dormant until at least Jan. 1, its Web site read.
“They’re not following the law,” said Keith Largent, erosion-control technician for the Somerset Conservation District, which administers permits for the state Department of Environmental Protection.
“It’s illegal to do what they’re doing without getting a permit first.”
Largent said park operators had been warned for months that they were prohibited from operating without the permits.
“I’ve actually been out there and warned them of the impending doom,” Largent said. “They did not comply. The law’s the law.”
Largent said the resort was shut down by DEP.
“At this point, the DEP has not received a permit application,” agency spokeswoman Helen Humphreys said.
Once the permits and erosion-control plan are submitted, the conservation district will have 20 days to review the plans to ensure they are complete. If the plans are found to be satisfactory, the permits will undergo a 30-day technical review.
“The DEP and ourselves still believe it’s a good location for the park,” Largent said. “But they need to follow the environmental rules and regulations.”
Jay Zimmerman, one of the park’s partners, did not immediately return telephone calls Thursday seeking comment.
On the Web site, the resort said it is “well into” the permitting process but must wait on a 60-day review period.
All season pass holders will have their passes extended for whatever period the resort is closed, the park added.
Stonycreek Township Supervisor Greg Walker said controlling dust and runoff into streams has been an ongoing issue.
“I know there were some issues with soil conservation and things were not completed,” Walker said.
“I know they weren’t done with some permits when they had Quad Fest earlier this summer. It’s a slow time of the year for them, anyway.”
Three weeks ago, the park hosted some of the world’s top off-road dirt bike and ATV riders at the Geico Mountain Ridge National Cross Country Race.
The ninth stop on a 13-stage national tour, the race attracted about 1,500 competitors and thousands of spectators.
Mountain Ridge, one of two large ATV parks in Somerset and Cambria counties, draws nearly 5,000 spectators to its annual Quad Fest in July.
The more than 2,500-acre park had been planning a fall-foliage ride for Oct. 6 and a turkey ride Nov. 17.
Local News
Lack of permits shuts ATV park
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
