PennDOT and Pennsylvania DEP's Duh of the Day

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have, through painstaking investigation, determined the cause of the blast that caused the landslide that covered Route 65 and that closed it to traffic for 2 days in April. The blasting was being done at the site of the new River Pointe Plaza, a 207-acre development to be anchored by a Wal-Mart on the site of the former Dixmont State Hospital.


The It appears that too many explosives were used, according to DEP spokeswoman Helen Humphreys, who added, "This should not have occurred."

Humphreys expressed confidence in DEP's investigative prowess, noting "We're thinking of branching out into flooding. The next time the cricks rise, we're gonna be right on the case, reviewing the meterological records. We'll be shooting for a two week turnaround time. If it was rains that caused the floods, we need to know."