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
-
-
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
-
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
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
