Second implosion canceled at old Cheswick power plant for now - WTAE Pittsburgh

Cheswick power plant second implosion canceled

Second implosion canceled at old Cheswick power plant for now

The planned implosion of a former power station in Allegheny County on Friday is canceled for now.

During a hearing Wednesday, a judge dismissed the defense's motion to dissolve a preliminary injunction. The defense said in court that since the injunction was not dissolved by 5 p.m. Wednesday, the planned implosion of the Cheswick Power Station will not be going forward.

Multiple witnesses were questioned during the four-hour-long hearing. John Kane, with Savinis, Kane and Gallucci, is representing members of the Springdale community. He said he feels positive after Wednesday's hearing.

"I feel good about today. I thought we got a lot of new information out. I think our clients were happy, and the people of Springdale should be happy. We got a lot more information today than we did yesterday," he said.

The scheduled implosion, set for Friday, was the source of concern and consternation at a Springdale Borough Council meeting Tuesday night.

"I'm here to ask council if there's anything that you can do as representatives for our community to protect us from yet another catastrophe that is about to occur on Sept. 22," said Brittni Bair, whose house is near the plant.

Bair is one of several people in the area to join a lawsuit seeking to compel Charah Solutions, Controlled Demolition Inc., and Grant Mackay Co. to halt their plans for Friday.

The impending implosion comes three months after the aforementioned entities carried out a demolition of the plant's smokestacks.

A news release detailing Friday's event stated the boiler house will be imploded. It warned that "the implosion of the building is larger than the implosion of the stacks," thus necessitating a larger exclusion zone.

In the days after the first implosion in June, residents complained about homes and businesses with damaged windows and dust and debris spreading farther than had been anticipated.

"Being out on the front line the day of the implosion, it was devastating," Daniel Copeland, a Springdale councilmember, after the meeting Tuesday. "So it is a concern for the residents."

Copeland told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that the borough's "hands are tied" and that the council has no power to intervene. He shares his constituents' concerns.

"It's very frustrating as a public official and as a resident," Copeland said.

Lawyers for both Charah and Grand Mackay attended Tuesday night's meeting, but declined to speak to reporters or provide answers to residents' questions, as they cited ongoing litigation.

"I'd love to comment," said Laura Veith, an attorney representing Charah. "But there's nothing I can say tonight that is going to make any of you feel any better."

Springdale police Chief Derek Dayoub announced Tuesday night that the borough will open its gymnasium on School Street for any residents who need a place to go during the implosion. He told residents to bring all necessary medical supplies with them. No pets are allowed inside the gym, he said, but they will be allowed outside the borough building.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a new date has not been set for a second implosion at the plant.

The hearing is scheduled to continue Thursday at 1 p.m.