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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 4824

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 897 Session of 2006


        INTRODUCED BY PETRONE, RAMALEY, BEBKO-JONES, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN,
           COSTA, DALEY, DeLUCA, FLAHERTY, GERGELY, GRUCELA, JAMES,
           JOSEPHS, KOTIK, LEDERER, MELIO, MUSTIO, PALLONE, PISTELLA,
           PRESTON, READSHAW, SAINATO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, THOMAS, WALKO,
           WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 18, 2006

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 18, 2006

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct an
     2     in-depth investigation into the landslide in Kilbuck
     3     Township, Allegheny County, including a thorough review of
     4     the applicable State and local permit and approval processes;
     5     and requiring a report.

     6     WHEREAS, On September 19, 2006, a massive landslide occurred
     7  at the commercial construction project at the Kilbuck
     8  Properties, L.P. site in Kilbuck Township, Allegheny County; and
     9     WHEREAS, Between 500,000 and 600,000 cubic yards of earth and
    10  stone from the site cascaded down onto the four-lane
    11  Pennsylvania State Route 65, a vital roadway for 22,000 vehicles
    12  a day, and three Norfolk Southern Railways tracks, a major
    13  commercial rail link between Chicago and New York City, which
    14  carry close to 100 trains a day, forcing their closure; and
    15     WHEREAS, The closure of these major transportation arteries
    16  completely disrupted the lives of thousands of people daily and
    17  negatively impacted the quality of life of the residents and the
    18  economy of Allegheny County and a large portion of southwestern

     1  Pennsylvania, resulting in untold costs for cleanup, wages,
     2  damages and lost revenue; and
     3     WHEREAS, Officials of the Allegheny County Office of Economic
     4  Development cautioned Kilbuck Township officials prior to the
     5  incident that the site, formerly the location of the Dixmont
     6  State Hospital, was well-known to be prone to landslides; and
     7     WHEREAS, Local residents expressed numerous concerns about
     8  the safety and viability of the proposed construction project at
     9  that site; and
    10     WHEREAS, Permits or approvals, or both, for the project were
    11  ultimately granted by the Department of Environmental
    12  Protection, the Department of Transportation and Kilbuck
    13  Township, and the project commenced; therefore be it
    14     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
    15  State Government Commission to conduct an in-depth investigation
    16  into the landslide in Kilbuck Township, Allegheny County,
    17  including a thorough review of the applicable State and local
    18  permit and approval processes; and be it further
    19     RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
    20  authorized to create a task force and an advisory committee to
    21  assist the task force in this undertaking; and be it further
    22     RESOLVED, That additional assistance in this endeavor be
    23  provided by the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution
    24  Control and Conservation Committee; and be it further
    25     RESOLVED, That the task force be authorized to hold public
    26  hearings, take testimony and conduct any site visits; and be it
    27  further
    28     RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission compile
    29  a report based on the findings and recommendations of the task
    30  force and submit the report to the House of Representatives as
    20060H0897R4824                  - 2 -     

     1  soon as possible but no later than one year following the
     2  adoption of this resolution.



















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