Thursday, September 18, 2003

By Don Hopey, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

State environmental officials have raised numerous questions about a controversial strip mining and racetrack proposal in Pittsburgh's Hays neighborhood and have given the developer 30 days to respond.

The Department of Environmental Protection's 10-page review letter cited more than 70 deficiencies in a mining permit application, including failing to limit mining runoff, shortcomings in its mine fire control plan and problems with combining streams and channeling them to flood-prone Glass Run.

And a state Game Commission review has determined that the 645-acre wooded site where developer C.J. Betters wants to build a thoroughbred racetrack after he mines it is a "habitat of unusually high value for wildlife," and may require additional study.

Both assessments will be discussed at an informational meeting hosted by the state Department of Environmental Protection from 6 to 9 tonight at Greenfield Elementary School, 1 Alger Drive.

Michael Terretti, DEP district mining manager, said the department's staff will make a short presentation about the permit review, followed by a presentation by Betters' firm, PGD Land Development Inc.

DEP staff and representatives from the city will be available to answer questions about the proposal, including mine subsidence, blasting, storm water and dust controls and site reclamation.

"The two biggest problems we see are the loss of vegetation and wildlife habitat, which is extensive, and the loss of the streams' ecological and drainage functions," said Heather Sage, outreach coordinator for Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, a group opposing the development.

Betters has proposed a total mining permit area of 613 acres and the remining and filling of 334 acres of abandoned underground mines, an operation that will require blasting. The mining contractor has already sent out 2,600 letters to residents within a half-mile of the site offering to perform a free pre-blast survey.

Betters could not be reached for comment. If he fails to change his permit proposal, it will be ruled incomplete and returned.

Proponents of the proposal have sought to characterize it as a project to reclaim an environmentally degraded area where there is an underground mine fire and polluted mine drainage.

But Sage said the object of the project is development, not remediation, and pointed out that the developer doesn't have a license to operate a racetrack and hasn't met zoning requirements or had its development plans approved.

"Normally, to get a mining permit, a firm is required to submit a plan to return the land to its original contours, but not here," Sage said. "They're asking for maximum flexibility so they can do whatever they want. And eliminating streams and vegetation doesn't cure any environmental problems."

The Game Commission's review found no endangered or threatened species on the proposed development site but noted that the deer, raccoons, wild turkey and other species that inhabit the area, which is isolated from other wooded habitat, will be pushed out by the project.

Another topic that might come up at the meeting is the city zoning administrator's approval Tuesday of a 43-acre commercial logging operation at 772 Beechwood St., near the site of the proposed Betters development. The timbering is not part of the Betters mining proposal.

City Council President Gene Ricciardi, who opposed the city's granting of a conditional use permit for the development, yesterday introduced two resolutions that would ban commercial timber operations in the city or, if that isn't legally possible, regulate it.

Ricciardi said regulations should require those cutting timber to replant and stabilize soil, especially on steep slopes like those in the Hays area.

"Trees are a big part of the beauty of our urban landscape," Ricciardi said. "Trees are important for soil retention, and we already have flooding in Hays."

Written comments will be accepted until Oct. 7 by Tom Kovalchuk, DEP Chief of Permits and Technical Services, Greensburg District Mining Office, Armbrust Professional Center, RD#2, Box 603-C, Greensburg 15601.

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