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Allegany County staff warn local roads can’t sustain heavy truck traffic from Pennsylvania mine
Summary
County staff and commissioners discussed truck traffic from a Pennsylvania mine using Allegany County roads, possible restrictions, and options including memoranda of understanding, length limits and state enforcement; staff said roads are not built for the volume and urged further coordination with the mine operator.
Allegany County staff told commissioners that heavy truck traffic linked to a mine operating across the state line is damaging local roads and that the county is pursuing options to limit impacts.
County public works staff gave an update saying they have contacted the Bureau of Mines and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection but have not been able to secure cooperation on truck movements. “The roads really just are not built to be able to handle that amount of ... truck traffic,” staff said, reporting field inspections by the Frostburg district supervisor and the county road supervisor.
Staff said the mine operator has indicated a willingness to maintain the roads during operations and to perform rehabilitation “at the end,” but county staff said they have not yet located a contact at the mine to negotiate terms. Staff proposed pursuing a memorandum of understanding to manage impacts; if that fails, they flagged restricting trucks by length as an option and said they would seek state police help for enforcement.
Commissioners asked about alternative haul routes and whether the county could impose limits. Staff noted there is another route out of the mine that would require the operator to rehabilitate a bridge, and said operators will select the least costly option. Staff also cautioned that enforcement by the state’s commercial vehicle unit would require cooperation from state police, which they said have limited resources.
Staff said they would continue outreach to the mine operator and to local school and law-enforcement contacts to address safety concerns where truck movements pass near school property. The county did not set any regulatory restrictions at the meeting and said further follow-up would be required before formal action.
The discussion occurred during a staff update to the commissioners; staff said the matter is complex, involves roads outside Allegany County proper and will take additional time to resolve.
