I posted this rant back in Feb.

[Momof1]

Figured I would re-post it in the State forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=4929

:)

[No Mandate Here.]

1. We just went to State College for an annual meeting, and

I was remembering the last four or five trips. One was just after Shyster rammed a bill (?) through that effectively made all Federal environmental laws and rules not apply to this project. You heard that correctly- no studies - no data - no research - applied to the final routing of this highway over the top of the mountain.

Now, when you drive through this lovely valley, you see this huge clearcut scar- probably 1000 feet wide - slowly taking over the side of the ridge, and then devouring the mountain top. The project is delayed a year and the streams will very likely never be restored. The cost of neutralizing the acid runoff will be well into the millions. It is the worst I have seen. Until...

The PA turnpike commission takes its next step and starts getting rid of the remaining tunnels. They, and the road building/ gravel/ asphalt behemoth company that is essentially PennDot (Southern PA DUers know who I mean) plan to cut an equal amount of White Horse mountain down about 350 feet and spread millions of yards of fill in eastern Somerset County. There are many voices against this, and it has been quiet lately, but we know it is lurking. This is so the Turnpike can gain a little more income from the I-70 trucks who are now going through Maryland on I-68.

This thread comes a few days after the Turnpike raised their tolls about 30%.

Back roads, anyone?

[Momof1]

2. I heard on the news tonight

that Penndot is planning to announce all road construction projects for the next 12 yrs. Or a list of their priorities. I will look for it tomorrow and post it.

The thing that really gets me with the State College situation is with all this rain, its not a question of if the streams and then the dam will be contaminated, its a question of when.

[bleedingheart]

3. it always amazes me how the environmentalists are portrayed as wacky

but when this stuff happens no one ever admits..."the environmentalists told us so..."

Funny thing is that in this state environmentalists aren't the hippy long haired kids that Faux would have you believe they all are....they are hunters and fishermen/women who enjoy the outdoors...normal every day folk...

Why does everyone think its okay to destroy the environment???

[Momof1]

4. FINALLY....the local paper blames Shuster

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/9380698.htm

I-99 beyond reach of federal eye

Officials: Bud Shuster inserted language into roads legislation that constrained government oversight
Two sentences that U.S. Rep. Bud Shuster inserted into a giant highway funding bill six years ago exempted Interstate 99 construction at Skytop Mountain and elsewhere from federal inspections and oversight, state and federal transportation officials said this week.

I-99 road builders at Skytop between April and October 2003 unearthed more than 900,000 cubic yards of a stream and groundwater pollutant -- pyrite-laced sandstone -- that has since damaged well water and a high quality fishing stream, Buffalo Run.

The Federal Highway Administration would normally have done periodic inspections of construction of a highway such as I-99. But Section 1212 (u) of the Transportation Equity Act of 1998 took the FHWA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers out of regulatory roles for I-99, even though 80 percent of the road's $750 million cost is being paid for with federal money.

"All we did was basically pass over the money," said David Cough, highway administration director of operations for Pennsylvania.

[Momof1]

5. Update on Shuster and how he screwed my backyard

Run off from a MT. That has 700,000 cubic tons of exposed iron Pyrite on it.

And it is now racing toward the Susquehanna & Juniata rivers.

I hope everyone is safe.



:cry:

(on edit- changed smiley)