WILMORE — Summerhill Township taxpayers may have to pay for cleanup of “red dog” coal waste being used as the base of a dirt road less than a mile from Wilmore Dam.
No cost estimate was available Tuesday, but township officials said the rebuilding of McCormick Road north of Wilmore has been stopped while the situation is assessed.
Red dog is the remains of burned-out coal refuse. It gets its name from the reddish color the rock develops from exposure to high heat.
Officials are concerned that if the material, usually highly acidic, remains on the township road, it could leach polluted rainwater into streams that feed the dam.
“Red dog is not an appropriate material for road use,” said Robb Piper of the Cambria County Conservation District.
The township may have to remove all the rock dumped on the road over the past three weeks and send it to a state-approved landfill. Local officials could be held responsible for any remediation costs at the site.
“It’s going to cost the township a lot of money,” Supervisor Ed Hudak said. “This is serious stuff.”
Hudak said he was not involved in the decision to use the red dog. While it was used many years ago, it has not been considered by PennDOT an acceptable material for at least 30 years, he said Tuesday.
Supervisor Lee Bassett said it was his idea. He said he believed he had received the OK from a PennDOT employee at a recent seminar. He did not know the employee’s name.
The red rock was taken with the permission of the local bony pile owner, Bassett said.
“It was right here in Beaverdale. That’s what was so nice about it and I thought it would benefit everyone,” he said.
PennDOT does not allow use of the waste coal on state or local roads.
“We do not condone using red dog in the least,” spokeswoman Pam Kane said. “It is not on our list of materials. Any municipality must use only materials that are approved.”
The township already has $6,000 invested in putting the red dog on that three-mile road that serves about a dozen homes.
A spokesman with the state Department of Environmental Protection was unable to provide more information Tuesday.
Local News
Related Photos
-
“Red dog” covers McCormick Road in Summerhill Township. The township may be in for a costly cleanup after it allowed the highly acidic coal-waste material to be spread on the dirt road. Todd Berkey
Discussion
Coal-waste road coating could prove costly
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
