Steele highlights Springdale Borough residents’ concerns after smokestack demolition
Rep. Mandy Steele June 6, 2023 | 2:18 PM
SPRINGDALE, June 6 – State Rep. Mandy Steele said she shares the concerns expressed by Springdale Borough residents in the days since Friday’s dusty demolition of two towering smokestacks at the decommissioned Cheswick Generating Station.
In a narrow sense, the long-anticipated event went as planned because the structures fell exactly where they were intended to. However, many residents were surprised and dismayed at the copious volume of dust and other unidentified material that blanketed the nearby streets and homes.
“I continue to hear from residents days later about how difficult it is proving to remove this thick layer of dust,” Steele said. “And troubling questions persist about the fluffy white material that was strewn all over. Residents deserve to know what that is and whether it could pose any health hazards.
“I am working with local officials to find out more and would like the state and county officials who evaluated the situation on the ground to let residents know clearly whether they should take any further precautions in the coming weeks.
“It’s certainly not ideal to be dealing with this issue after the fact, but it’s the very least we can do for people in Springdale who have been living with this reality,” Steele said.
She noted that concern reaches beyond the borough’s boundaries. People in communities up and down the Allegheny Valley heard the explosions and saw the cloud of dust after Friday’s demolition.
“This event literally changed the distinctive landscape of our valley and it marks the transition from industry that was not conducive to the health of community members to other future uses that will benefit people, the environment and our entire region,” Steele said. “The site has the potential to be an incredible springboard for revitalization in the area. But first we must deal with the cloud of dust and the lingering questions it brought.”
The issue is personal to Steele, whose district service office on Pittsburgh Street in Cheswick is roughly half a mile away from the site of Friday’s demolition.