Aug 5, 2006 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a permit Friday that allows South Union Township to relocate a portion of Duck Hollow Road so it can be connected to the proposed Matthew Drive Extension. The township sought the permit for the work so the development of the Fayette County Business Park can continue.

A related permit application from the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority to relocate wetlands so Matthew Drive Extension can be constructed remains under review.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also has to approve both permit applications.

Robert Schiffbauer, chairman of the South Union Township supervisors, said he believes both agencies will approve both applications within two weeks.

If that happens, the construction bidding process would immediately begin and work would start by next spring.

He said he learned from the DEP and Sen. Richard Kasunic that the DEP is concerned about two or three issues in the wetlands permit application, but the issues are correctable.

“These don’t seem to be insurmountable issues,” Schiffbauer said. “They’re relatively minor ones. It does look encouraging.”

The permit applications were simultaneously submitted to the DEP and Army Corps, which work together on permits that deal with environmental concerns relating to construction projects, he said.

Approval from the DEP usually is a good indication that the Army Corps will follow suit, he said.

The Water Obstruction and Encroachment permit from the DEP calls for the township to build a 54-foot-long arch culvert with a 26-foot span in Jennings Run and associated storm water discharges.

The culvert will allow Duck Hollow Road to be built over Jennings Run while protecting the stream, according to the DEP.

“This permit is the result of a partnership between DEP and the municipality to advance economic development in Fayette County and ensure strict environmental standards to protect Jennings Run,” DEP Southwest Regional Director Kenneth Bowman said. “We’ll continue to work with local officials to make sure this important project moves forward.”

The DEP is also reviewing the permit application that the redevelopment authority submitted for road construction work that would impact 480 feet of a headwater stream of Jennings Run and would fill and relocate almost a half acre of wetlands.

If approved, the permit would allow construction of Matthew Drive Extension, which would connect Route 40, New Salem Road and the Mon-Fayette Expressway.

Bowman said the DEP and the redevelopment authority have already reached an agreement on the location of Matthew Drive Extension.

However, the authority’s permit application contains some problems. Additional storm water runoff from the road could cause flooding and stream degradation, and wetland and stream mitigation were not sufficiently addressed, Bowman said.

The redevelopment authority was informed about the problems and is working to provide the DEP with information needed to complete the application review, Bowman said.

The Army Corps has to approve both permit applications before work can begin and its review process is pending, he said.