Mon/Fayette DEIS

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the extension of the Mon-Fayette Toll Road from Route 51 to the center of Pittsburgh. GASP urges all interested citizens to attend the following events and submit comments to the PTC.

OPEN HOUSES

The PTC will host open house plans displays so that interested citizens can review mapping and ask questions about the DEIS.

    – Tuesday, June 25, 2002, 1:00 – 8:00 p.m.
    Burgwin Elementary School, 5401 Glenwood Ave., Hazelwood

    - Tuesday, July 9, 2002, 1:00 – 8:00 p.m.
    West Mifflin High School, 91 Commonwealth Ave., West Mifflin

PUBLIC HEARINGS

The PTC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold three public hearings. Each public hearing will include a display of plans where residents can review maps, information and possible alternatives for the project. Citizens will be able to give public oral testimony limited to five minutes. Speakers can submit more detailed written comments to accompany their oral testimony. Each speaker only needs to attend one meeting to give testimony.

Representatives of the PTC and the Army Corps of Engineers will give formal presentations at 2 pm and 6 pm, followed by citizens’ public testimony. Private testimony allowed from 1 pm until 9 pm.

    – Tuesday, July 16, 2002
    West Mifflin High School, 91 Commonwealth Ave., West Mifflin

    - Tuesday, July 23, 2002
    Burgwin Elementary School, 5401 Glenwood Ave., Hazelwood

    - Thursday, July 25, 2002
    Monroeville Expo Mart, 105 Mall Blvd., Monroeville

WRITTEN COMMENTS

Written testimony may be submitted to the PTC or Army Corps of Engineers by mail anytime through September 9, 2002. Comments will not be accepted by e-mail.

Written comments on the DEIS should be sent to:
David P. Willis, Environmental Manager
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
P.O. Box 67676
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676

Written comments on the Section 404 Permit Application should be sent to:
Rich Sobol, Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch
1000 Liberty Avenue, 1834 Federal Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Again, GASP urges all concerned citizens to present testimony. If you do not intend to present testimony, it is still important that opponents to the tollway express their strength in numbers at the events.

Pre-register to give public testimony or obtain additional information: Lisa Yackovich, PTC Public Involvement Coordinator at 724-755-5261

If you would like a CD-ROM version of the DEIS contact GASP at (412) 325-7382. Printed hard copies can be viewed at most public libraries in the vicinity of the project, from Oakland upriver to McKeesport.