Work to stabilize tons of coal fly ash along River Hill Road in Forward will begin next week with a new $500,000 boost from the state, officials announced yesterday.

A massive landslide in January sent tons of fly ash down a hill and into Perry Mills Run, which feeds into the Monongahela River.

Kathleen McGinty, state Department of Environmental Protection secretary, said state contractor URS will complete the final phase of cleanup by February.

URS workers will use the fly ash to create a stable embankment with a drainage system under the ash, she said.

The system will allow rain and groundwater to drain without carrying ash sediment to the stream.

Coal fly ash can contain high levels of arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead and other materials that have been linked to a variety of health problems.

After the landslide on Jan. 25, residents complained of headaches, coughing, throat irritation and watery or burning eyes. But a new report released by the Allegheny County Health Department yesterday concluded that the fly ash shouldn't have long-term health effects.

Veronica Slominsky, who lives near the remaining ash, was home on the day of the landslide.

She said she first heard what sounded like a gunshot and was shocked by what came next.

"I saw water gushing down the street and the fly ash settling," she said. "I'm just glad nobody got hurt."

The landslide started along River Hill Road when a 100-yard-long slab of wet ash gave way and slid down the creek, creating a dam. The dam eventually broke and flushed the fly ash down onto Rostosky Ridge Road.

Officials don't know what caused the slab to break away, but rain and water from a broken Westmoreland County water line may have played a part, said Helen Humphreys of DEP.

The pipe is being analyzed to find out if it broke before or during the landslide, she said.

The fly ash, which had been in the area for about 50 years, most likely came from power plants and steel mills.

The DEP's Bureau of Investigation is working to identify the responsible parties.

So far, 1,500 tons of ash have been removed from roadways, commercial and residential properties and a public parking lot at Gallatin Sunnyside Park.