A coal company's site plan to remove 6 million tonnes of waste coal has received Conemaugh Township Planning Commission approval.

The plan also comes with Robindale Energy Services' pledge that the company will maintain a 6 AM to 6 PM hauling schedule, which some residents had been seeking. The company will maintain a 300 foot buffer between Krings Street and the boney pile work site to minimize noise and dust.

The commission's approval, and the project itself, remains dependant on Robindale acquiring a highway occupancy permit and DEP's mining approval to excavate the waste coal.

Planning officials said that the end result should be an improved Tire Hill neighborhood once the pile is gone.

Mr Doug McIlwain commission member said that "Moving that boney is going to be a good thing for everyone."

Mr McIlwain noted that the project will remove blight and clean up Stonycreek River discharges.

Robindale will reclaim the site by removing the coal and then planting a mix of fly ash and limestone on the land to neutralize the acidic soil.

Company officials have said that the waste coal is to be trucked from a hauling road to Krings and then Eisenhower Boulevard on its way to the Seward co generating plant.

In the process, the project would clean up six discharges, including two iron laden ones that spill directly into the Stonycreek and add to its orange tint in that area.

Robindale agreed to the buffer after hearing concerns from residents during a public meeting on the project in June.

Zoning officer Mr Mark Walker said that planning commission officials asked the company to consider moving its access road to Krings, further toward Eisenhower and away from numerous homes, but Robindale said that would be too costly.

Source - The Tribune Democrat‎

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