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Tree Removal in Schuylkill County Troubles Residents

SAINT CLAIR — People in Schuylkill County are trying to find out why trees along Route 61 in St. Clair were cut down. It seems crews have been cutting dow...
schyl trees

SAINT CLAIR -- People in Schuylkill County are trying to find out why trees along Route 61 in St. Clair were cut down.

It seems crews have been cutting down the trees for weeks, and people say it's created an eyesore.

But the crew that's been cutting down the trees apparently did not notify anyone. Officials in St. Clair have no record of a permit requests, and neither does the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Some people are upset because of all the trees cut down along a mountainside near Route 61 in St. Clair.

"Everybody that came in here, I would ask them, do they know what's going on? They tell me no, they haven't the slightest idea," said Mike Longenberger of Gilberton.

"It's the biggest mystery in town!" added St. Clair Borough Secretary Roland Price. "So many people have been asking questions about it."

Price says the borough had no idea a project like this was going on.

Now there are complaints that the owners of the property cut down the trees and, as a result, created an eyesore in front of a popular plaza.

Many people come to the Coal Creek Commerce Center and eat outside. They had a nice view of the mountain before, but now their view has changed and there is no real answer behind it.

"So many people go up there over the weekend. They sit at these great restaurants they have. They are going to look up over the hill and see this blighted area now," said Price.

"This was brought to our attention," said DEP official Colleen Connolly.  "We contacted the Schuylkill County Conservation District, and we are working in conjunction with them to find out how many trees were cut down, what's the purpose of the project, and most importantly what, if any, permits they needed for the project."

The DEP says that even though this property is privately owned by the Reading Anthracite, anyone disturbing more than one acre of land needs a permit from the state.

We tried reaching out to Reading Anthracite but our calls haven't been returned.

DEP has been in contact with the property owners, but still does not have answers regarding what the company is working on and why they cut these trees down. If DEP determines they were working without the proper permits, the company could be fined.

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