|
||||
In February 2004 construction hit a snag when crews unearthed vast quantities of acid rock at Skytop Mountain in Centre County. Gary Byron, assistant regional director for the state Department of Environmental Protection said he has never seen a bigger potential for stream damage than the uncovering of this material. "It's the worst I've seen, and I've been here 27 years," he said. "The bottom line is, PennDOT's environmental-impact work for I-99 missed this geologic formation." Between 500,000 and one million cubic yards of acid rock, previously sealed in geologic formations, is now exposed to rainwater that drains into Buffalo Run which is a tributary of Spring Creek. Byron went on to say that the rock "is rare, but it is very wicked in chemical composition." Soda ash briquettes are being used to neutralize the acidic drainage as it washes into the stream. On March 8, the Department of Environmental Protection shut down construction in a half-mile section until a solution could be reached. By August, the run-off had contaminated 19 wells requiring one home to have bottled water to supplant the contaminated liquid coming out of the faucets. Three wells became contaminated during a 90-minute hearing in Harrisburg about the acid rock run-off. [Source: http://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I99.html] The Issue The development of a major highway through Centre County in Pennsylvania has resulted in pollution of drinking water as a result of exposure to acid rock. The issue is how the environmental impact will be resolved so that the highway can be completed and the residents will have clean water. Your task is to investigate the issue from different perspectives and present your views by developing a position paper and participating in a town hall meeting regarding the acid rock issue at Skytop Mountain. The class will work individually and in teams to research the issues surrounding the acid mine drainage into Buffalo Run. The teams will present one aspect of the problem. Your task will be to analyze the Skytop Mountain acid rock problem and draw your own conclusion to the following question: What should be done about the acid rock problem? Remember that there is no right or wrong answer to the problem. The acid mine drainage issue is very complex, involving many different groups of people. You will be assessed on how you support your conclusion, communicate effectively, and collaborate with your peers. The Acid Rock: I-99 Highway WebQuest activities will include examining topography maps, reviewing documents, expressing your perspective in a position paper, and participating in a class debate. The following activity is designed to help you get a handle on the main issues involving solving the acid rock issue. Here's what you will do:
Below are several roles you will be investigating for the WebQuest. When you search for documents on the Internet, be aware of the dates of the articles (to understand the timeline of events) as well as the credibility of the web site providing the information. Ask yourself what their reason is for providing the information and given that, how credible the information is. Feel free to add to your searches with your own key words to narrow your search. Copyright Permissions Audio: Penn State Public Broadcasting, Penn State University, University Park, PA 1. Community Member: You are a community member who lives near the site of the acid mine drainage into Buffalo Run. You have lived in the same house for 25 years and have never had a problem with water pollution until now. How do you feel about the I-99 project?
2. Newspaper Reporter: You are a reporter whose concern is to provide information to the public about the acid rock problem. What is your role in the debate?
3. Government Officials: You represent the people of Centre County and want to help support their interests. How will you help resolve the acid rock issue?
4. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Your interest is in protecting the environment from further pollution of Pennsylvania waterways. What is your perspective on the acid rock issue?
5. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation: Your interest is in completing the I-99 corridor connecting Interstate 80 to the Centre County region. What is your involvement in the project?
You have two tasks for this WebQuest: an individual position paper and a group presentation. Position Paper Each person will develop a position paper reflecting the problem as they understand it in their assigned roles. You will have an opportunity to collaborate and share your findings to prepare for the group presentation (debate) once you have completed your position paper. Each position paper will be submitted as an individual assignment and then shared with the group to prepare for the debate. In your position paper includes the following components:
Group Presentation: Town Hall Debate For the debate you will be working together in a group of 3 to 5 students, with a total of 5 groups per class representing each of the roles (community member, newspaper reporter, government official, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Resources) in the WebQuest.
In this WebQuest you will investigate a complex problem that has many perspectives to be considered in finding a solution. You will learn how to analyze the issues by researching fact and opinion, judging the validity of claims and collaborate with your peers to recommend a solution. In creating a position paper you will clarify the problem, its relevance to the stakeholders and others, and why it is important. The debate provides you with an opportunity to make your findings public and present your knowledge on a real world issue. |
