Pennsylvania: Wal-Mart Has A Stabilization Plan

Wal-Mart has new plan to stabilize Kilbuck site [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Wal-Mart has submitted a final site stabilization plan to the state for the landslide-prone River Pointe Plaza parcel in Kilbuck, and, at a public meeting next week, will review and discuss the remediation work that is scheduled to begin early next month.

The plan, which will be available for review beginning today at the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Southwest Region office on Herrs Island, does not address whether the retailer still plans to develop the 75-acre property along state Route 65/Ohio River Boulevard.

The DEP says monitors show earth is continuing to move slowly on the property. A September 2006 landslide there dumped 300,000 cubic yards of rock, dirt and debris onto the heavily traveled road below, closing it for two weeks and necessitating extensive roadway repairs. Three tracks of Norfolk Southern railroad were also closed for several days.

“Wal-Mart is not allowed to do anything that isn’t working toward the goal of stabilizing the site,” said Helen Humphreys, a DEP spokeswoman. “New development plans will not be considered, accepted or reviewed until the site is stabilized.”

The meeting next Tuesday will be in the Avonworth High School auditorium, 258 Josephs Lane, Ohio Township, with the proposed plan to be available for review in the lobby at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., Wal-Mart representatives will begin a formal presentation describing the proposal’s erosion and sediment controls, surface water management and excavation plans.

As work progresses, the DEP will hold follow-up meetings to keep residents and others informed and provide opportunities to comment.

Jim Davis, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said there’s been no discussion about future development of the 37.5 acres the company owns on the former Dixmont State Hospital site. Applebee’s, the restaurant chain, owns 2.75 acres and Kilbuck Properties, which had been in charge of development for the entire property until Wal-Mart assumed operational control in March, owns 35 acres.

“We’ve been working closely with the DEP over the last couple of weeks to identify the best course of action to stabilize the site,” Mr. Davis said. “Until that’s done, we won’t consider development plans.”

Mr. Davis said he doesn’t know how much the stabilization plan will cost or how long it will take to finish.

Once the hillside is stabilized, the first thing that could happen is the reopening of the northbound lane of four-lane Ohio River Boulevard that has been closed since the landslide as a safety buffer.

“But it’s going to remain closed to traffic until the site is stabilized,” said Jim Struzzi, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Individuals interested in reviewing the report at the DEP offices should make an appointment by calling 412-442-4315.

Posted by Corey Himrod on Tuesday, July 24, 2007