Acid Rock Resurfaces in Central Pennsylvania

When you think about Central Pennsylvania you're probably thinking about hunting, fishing, mountains, and unspoiled scenery. And Penn State football, this time of year, anyway. But one thing you don't generally think of is that Central PA is the epicenter of the current acid rock scene.

That's right. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, One of America's Great Newspapers, reports that three years ago the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) unearthed 1 million cubic yards of acid-bearing rock, which has contaminated streams and groundwater. It has also delayed construction of a 1.5 mile section of Interstate 99, one of the state's biggest federal pork barrel projects.

Transportation officials want to move nearly 70 percent of the acid rock to a site three miles away. The remaining rock, however, is rock solid and cannot be moved because it could make the ground unstable.

A PennDOT construction executive, Ben LaParne, said last week that he hoped to open the new section of I-99 by spring of 2008. State officials are planning to name the 1.5 mile stretch of road the Grace Slick Curves.