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Introduction
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, Lewis and Clark Community College and other
sponsors coordinated an environmental conference,"Partnering for a Healthy Environment:
Government, Business.Teachers & Community," on June 28,2001.
The conference was part of a collaborative effort to educate community members, teachers and
small- to medium-sized businesses in the Metro East region of southwestern Illinois about the
environmental issues affecting their day-to-day lives.
The conference was designed to provide information and networking opportunities aimed at
helping communities improve their quality of life and to encourage collaborative working part-
nerships among participants to address these issues. Additionally, the conference provided infor-
mation and strategies to enhance their ability to work together to improve the environment and
economy of the Metro East region. The conference featured three concurrent tracks:
Track ICommunity members and local governmental officials-gave
community members and local governmental officials practical,"how to" information
on addressing sustainable development and health issues. Many local experiences
were highlighted as examples.The seven Track I sessions provided information on
a range of health and environmental topics, including indoor and outdoor air issues,
asthma, Supplemental Environmental Projects, community involvement in cleaning
up neighborhoods, regional planning for environmental issues, lead and mercury
problems, environmental job training and careers and brownfield redevelopment.
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Track 2K-12 school teachers-offered state-certified continuing education to
K-12 teachers on environmental education.This training was designed to provide
environmental educators with tools and resources to enhance the awareness of air
quality and pollution prevention. Participants learned team participation projects and
hands-on exercises to use in the classroom. They received an age-specific
Environmental Resource Guide and an instructional manual with lesson plans ranging
from simple pencil-and-paper exercises to more elaborate laboratory experiments.
Track 3--Small/medium-sized businesses-was geared to help small- and
medium-sized businesses understand the most common air, waste and water
environmental problems and learn steps to avoid them and comply with regulations.
The three Track 3 sessions provided up-to-date environmental information and
education on a wide range of current issues, including asbestos, air permits, the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, storm water runoff programs and
pollution prevention.
Purpose
Conference organizers felt that Track I provided information valuable enough to preserve
and share with the general population. While Track 2 and Track 3 generated useful
information, they were intended for more specific audiences.
Track I information was compiled into this guide to environmental resources in Metro East.
As is common at conferences, much of the material was presented in a bullet-point format.
That format has been retained in this guide.
This Resource Guide will serve as a reference on sustainable development and health issues for:
community residents and groups
church and civic organizations
business owners
nonprofit organizations
federal, state, county and local governments
industry
educational institutions
U.S. Environmental Protection
Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th
Chicago. IL 60604-3590
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It briefly describes population, environmental, and economic conditions and some special
collaborative action programs in Metro East. The main portion of this guide summarizes the
"how to" information on addressing sustainable development and health issues presented at
the Track I sessions. After each session summary, resources for further information are
listed from conference presenters and other sources. The resources include government,
private, educational and nonprofit institutions and demonstrate the potential range of
partners that can work together for a healthful environment. Organizers hope that this
guide will help government, business, teachers and residents to connect with partners and
share resources to achieve a healthful environment for everyone in Metro East. Additional
resources may be found in libraries and community governments.
Background
For purposes of this project, Metro East, Illinois, is defined as the metropolitan area
east of St. Louis, Missouri, comprising Madison and St. Clair counties. It lies at a hub of
American crossroads, long known as the "gateway to the West," a region connected to the
nation and to the world by major shipping, airport, rail, highway and communication
infrastructure.s For many decades, Metro East has been a major center of transportation,
manufacturing, commerce and education. In this dynamic place, many complex population,
economic and environmental factors have been interacting and leading to changein
positive and negative ways. Many people in governmental, community, educational, nonprofit
and private organizations have recognized that partnering and sharing resources to address
the interrelated health, environmental and economic problems facing Metro East is the best
recipe for success.
The People
In general, the population of Metro East is growing. Madison County increased 3.9 percent
between 1999 and 2000, but the population of St. Clair County declined by
2.6 percent.
The Metro East population density is relatively high. St. Clair County has about 357 people
per square mile; Madison County about 386 people per square mile. These counties have
the fifth and sixth highest acreages of built-up area in the state.
The Economy
Poverty and unemployment in Metro East are moderate, but St. Clair County tends to
have higher levels. In 2000, the unemployment rates in St. Clair and Madison counties were
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5.9 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively. The percentage of the population living below the
poverty level in St. Clair County in 1997 was estimated at 16 percent with 25 percent of
children below the poverty level. In Madison County, about I I percent of the general
population and 17 percent of children were below the poverty level.
The Environment
Because of its location at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, Metro East
encompasses unique natural resources.The nation's largest flyway for migrating birds
stretches over the area. St. Clair County contains the third largest areas of wetlands and
bottomland hardwood forest in the state of Illinois. Madison County ranks 12th in the state
for amount of bottomland hardwood forest. Springs, caverns, bluffs, loess hill prairie and
sinkholes in this area represent unique ecosystem components in the state.
The combination of these wet ecosystems with the dense and growing population of Metro
East has created problems with storm water runoff and flooding. Since 1993, floods have
resulted in the declaration of presidential disaster areas four times in Metro East. Often,
new development in an upstream community has contributed to flooding problems in older
communities downstream.
Traffic patterns and the manufacturing economy of Metro East contribute to environmental
hazards such as poor air quality. The area does not meet health-related air quality standards
for ozone and lead, for example. Older homes, buildings and industrial sites in declining
urban core areas have created environmental problems in Metro East. According to Illinois
Department of Public Health data, more than 1,600 children in the East St. Louis area have
elevated blood lead levels,
second only to Chicago.
Metro East has 52 sites that
are being investigated by
ERA's Superfund or
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act corrective
action programs, plus
numerous brownfields.
Metro East residents have
expressed concern about
illegal dumping, open
burning, and abandoned and
deteriorating houses.
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Special Collaboration Programs
Recognizing that a regional, multifaceted approach is the most efficient way to address the
interrelated challenges facing Metro East, partners from many institutions and organizations
have come together in collaborative action programs. Partners in these programs include
federal, state, regional, county and local governments; educational institutions and teachers;
small businesses and large industries; professional associations; church and civic organizations;
residents and neighborhood groups; social service and economic development groups;
nonprofit organizations; and health services institutions
The Partnering for a Healthy Environment Conference and this Resource Guide were aimed
at providing information to these groups of people to help stimulate resource sharing and
collaborative action in Metro East. Current collaborative action programs in Metro East that
have received federal funds from EPA include:
* Brownfields Showcase Communities Initiative to develop a regional, partnership-
based approach to brownfields revitalization
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking to provide
useful and timely environmental information to communities
Gateway Initiative to focus federal, state and local resources on environmental issues
and community-based programs
Brownfield Worker Training Program
to combine job training, technical
expertise, and social service
resources to meet local employment
needs
Supplemental Environmental Projects
to turn an environmental infraction
into an opportunity to improve the
environment and community relations
Federal Interagency Environmental
Justice Demonstration Pilot to reduce
lead contamination exposures and
protect children's health
Many of these programs are described in the
conference session summaries in this
Resource Guide.
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Summary of Conference Resource
Information
Plenary Session
John Baracevic, chairman, St. Clair County Board
David Ullrich, acting regional administrator, EPA Region 5
Richard Mark, CEO and president. St. Mary's Hospital
J. R. Behnken, former member, St. Clair County Board
Debra Powell, mayor, East St. Louis
Speakers welcomed conference participants and set the collaborative tone of the
conference. Baracevic cited the construction of MidAmerica Airport as an example of a
project where collaboration benefitted the environment. EPA, Illinois EPA, Sierra Club and
other environmental groups participated in the planning and, as a result, 700 acres of forest
in St. Clair County were preserved and procedures were implemented to safeguard air and
water resources. Ullrich cited the conference as a powerful way of bringing people together
and making contacts to make real progress in improving The Metro East environment
through such programs as brownfields cleanup, lead poisoning prevention and job training.
Mark highlighted collaborative programs in Metro East to identify causes of and solutions to
upper respiratory problems in children and to implement broad-scale screening for and
prevention of children's lead exposure. Behnken described the interrelated environment/
economic development cycle
in Metro East that results in
economic decline in older
city areas, people migrating
out of these areas, new
development in the areas
surrounding the community,
new environmental problems
such as flooding, and further
economic decline in the older
community areas. He
highlighted several recent,
positive collaborative
development or
redevelopment projects in
the region, including the
Casino Queen, State Street
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Center, Metro Link, Parsons Place, and American Water Company. Powell stressed that the
participation of a range of people in collaborative partnerships helps to maintain the focus of
the solution on the real, human impacts of the situation.
The speakers provided many valuable insights, such as:
* no single person or organization has all the resources needed to solve complex
problems alone
one plus one equals more than two in collaborative partnerships, which combine and
multiply the creative solutions, finances, energy and support of individuals
it is important to begin communications and make direct contact with key partners
early in the collaboration process
all collaborative partners who come to the table have different constituencies and points of
view, and this diversity of ideas can be an asset
people's health is directly linked to their environment, and the quality of their
environment is directly linked to the status of the economy
collaborative partnerships can create opportunities from problems, like the mythical
phoenix rising from the ashes
positive changes are coming to Metro East, thanks to the work of collaborative partnerships
TRACK I SESSION SUMMARIES
Healthy Homes / Healthy
Lives
Denise McClearey, solid waste coordinator,
Madison County Building, Zoning and Environment
Department
Greg James, environmental health scientist, St. Clair
County Health Department
Dr.Tipu Sultan, physician, Environmental Health and
Allergy Center, Florissant, Mo.
The presenters detailed the legal framework of
solid waste management, examined factors that
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affect indoor air quality, and focused on how persons can recognize signs of environmental
sensitivity based on exposure to chemicals in daily living. All three identified conditions that can
affect quality of life and recommended actions to reduce exposure to contaminants.
Counties are responsible for helping to enforce state laws regarding burning, dumping and
illegal landfilling and local laws addressing weed control, burning and property standards.
Burning: In Illinois, it is generally permissible to burn landscape waste generated on site,
such as fall leaves. However, many local jurisdictions prohibit or restrict landscape waste
burning within their boundaries. For example, leaf burning is prohibited in Edwardsville
and restricted in Glen Carbon. Burning of trash, such as paper, construction and
demolition debris or tires, is seldom allowed in the state.The only exception to this rule
is for incineration facilities certified and monitored by EPA.
Dumping: Illegal dumping, known as open dumping or fly dumping, is a crime
against property. If someone dumps trash on another person's property, the
property owner or resident can be held responsible for causing or allowing the
dumping. Responsibility will shift to the dumper if that person can be identified.To
encourage residents to report illegal dumping and to discourage illegal dumpers,
two programs have been implemented in Madison County:
$ a reward program that encourages residents to report incidents of illegal dumping
by providing $ 100 for tips that lead to arrest.
fines and a confiscation program that allows authorities to impound vehicles used in
illegal dumping activities.
Managing solid waste from the home
Residential recycling programs reduce the amount of material sent to landfills. Special
collection days allow residents to dispose of household hazardous waste and other
materials not suitable for normal landfill waste treatment. Special household hazardous
waste collections are funded through collaborative partnerships.
Indoor air contaminants
Most people spend 70 to 90 percent of their time indoors with 50 to 60 percent of that
time strictly within the home. A number of typical household appliances, building products
and common household products can influence indoor air quality. Local health departments
do not have the resources to routinely test residences for air contaminants, but they can
provide referrals to private companies and laboratories that provide such services.
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Air contaminants include:
^ gases produced from appliances and activities, such as:
O nitrogen dioxide from gas, wood and coal burning stoves
O carbon monoxide from gas, wood and coal burning stoves; automobile exhaust
O formaldehyde from building materials, furniture upholstery, adhesives and
cigarette smoke
O radon from soil or rock under the foundation of a home or building
9 fibers, such as asbestos from roofing, insulation and heating equipment that become a
problem when airborne biological pollutants, such as
O fungi
O molds
O bacteria
O dust mites
O animal hair
toxic chemicals
potassium hydroxide, used in oven cleaners, lye and fertilizers
Preventive measures to help maintain indoor air quality
ฎ maintain appliances and furnaces in good operating condition
seal exposed asbestos material with plastic and tape until professional removal
regularly clean and disinfect household furniture and surfaces, especially appliances such
as air conditioners, humidifiers and dehumidifiers
eliminate exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke by quitting smoking, smoking
outside or exhausting one room to the outside.
have a certified professional test residences for radon
avoid using toxic cleaning chemicals, especially in a sprayed form
* do not operate cars, trucks or vans in closed garage
never use ovens or ranges as a source of heat
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The environment and health
Our health and well-being reflect the conditions we live in and choices we make with
respect to nutrition, medicine and lifestyle. It is important to recognize the number of
potential environmental contaminants people are in contact with in their homes and from
their food, as well as the air, water and soil. Increasing amounts of chemical pollutants, some
50 percent of them invented by people, are in the environment. There are more than 60,000
commercial products containing many chemical compounds. A factor aggravating indoor
health problems is airtight buildings designed to conserve energy, which concentrate pollutants if
proper air exchange is not achieved. Another issue is the tendency of many health care
providers to prescribe drug treatments rather than identifying and attacking potential
environmental and behavioral problems underlying health problems. It is important for
people to educate themselves on health issues and to question their health care providers.
Signals of sensitivity to environmental conditions include sneezing, headaches, nausea,
vomiting, burning, watering eyes, dizziness, skin irritation and fatigue.
Practical steps to maintaining a healthful environment include:
reducing exposure to contaminants by improving indoor air quality
ซ avoiding the standard American diet high in fat and chemical preservatives
drinking more water
quitting smoking
ซ preventing exposure to chemicals in the home, school and workplace by using
alternatives to chemical cleaning and personal hygiene products
Resources
For landscape waste burning restrictions, contact your local government
Report illegal dumping or trash burning local to your law enforcement agency, with violator's
license plate and location information.
Other contacts:
Madison County illegal dumping hotline -
(618)692-4433
Madison County Sheriff- (618) 692-6087
St. Clair County Office of Environmental
Health-(618) 233-7769
I I
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St. Clair County Sheriff environmental crime Asbestos:
in progress hotline: (618) 277-3500
To leave an anonymous message:
(800) 640-DIME
Household hazardous waste and
special collections
East-West Gateway Coordinating Council
10 Stadium Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 421 -4220 or (618) 274-2750
http://www.ewgateway.org/susreg/hhw/
hhw.htm#guide
Illinois EPA Bureau of Land Waste
Reduction Unit- (217) 785-8604
Indoor air quality:
EPA free publications - (800) 490-9198
http://www.epa.gov/iaq
Recycling programs
Local governments
Madison County Planning and
Development Department,
Recycling Program Division
I57N. Main St., Suite 254
Edwardsville,IL62025
(618)692-7040, ext6664
recycle@co.madison.il.us
St. Clair County -
(618)277-6600
R. Kent Cook
Asbestos Abatement Section
Illinois Department of Public Health
525 West Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62761
(217)782-3517
Radon:
Mike Moomey
Environmental Toxicology
Illinois Department of Public Health
525 West Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62761
(217)782-5830
MarjorieWalle
Radon Programs and OES Quality Assurance
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
1301 Knotts St.
Springfield, IL 62703
(800) 325-1245 (Illinois residents only)
(217)786-6398
Healthful eating:
National Research Council of the National
Academy of Sciences Recommended Daily
Allowances -
(202) 334-2000
http://wvw.nal.usda.gov/fnidDietary/rda.html
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Asthma control
Your health care provider
American Lung
Association of Illinois
3000 Kelly Lane
Springfield, IL 62707
Phone:(217)787-5864;
or (800) LUNG-USA
info@lungil.org
http://lungusa.org/
St. Clair County Health Department
19 Public Square,Suite ISO
Belleville, IL 62220
(618)233-7703
Chemical exposure and
environmentally safe products
American Health Foundation
(800) 428-2343
The Ecology Box
(800)735-1371
Madison County Health Department
(618) 692-8954
SEPs: How Your City Can Benefit
Debra Klassman, ERA
James Morgan, Office of the Illinois Attorney General
Don Ridenhower, Solutia, Sauget, III.
The presenters defined Supplemental Environmental Projects, discussed aspects of planning a
SEP and described an example of a successful SEP.
What are Supplemental Environmental Projects?
A Supplemental Environmental Projector SER is an environmental project "above and beyond the call
of duty" that a company (or institution) volunteers to perform as part of a legal settlement to an
environmental law violation. A SEP must be an action, not just a monetary donation, that improves,
protects or reduces risks to public health or the environment. There also has to be a
relationship between the SEP and the environmental law broken. For example, if air quality
standards are not met, the SEP should address some aspect of air quality. The SEP must be a
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new, voluntary project, not something the company would be required to do anyway. A SEP
is not an alternative to compliance with environmental law.
SEPs may include:
addressing public health
changing company operations to prevent pollution by reducing or eliminating the source
restoring or protecting the environment
planning or preparing for emergencies
assessing/auditing company environmental impacts beyond what standard business
practices require
helping other companies reduce pollution and comply with environmental laws
After proving that an environmental violation has occurred, EPA begins confidential
settlement discussions where it may be determined that a SEP is appropriate. A prosecuting
authority, such as the state EPA or state attorney general may also be involved in these
discussions. A SEP that matches the situation may be identified from an "idea bank." Anyone
may submit suggestions to these
idea banks. The SEP conditions are
developed on a case-by-case basis.
What works in one situation may
not be appropriate for another.
ERA reviews the acceptability of
proposed SEPs and verifies their
completion, but does not become
directly involved in their
implementation. The SEP must be
entirely planned and managed by
the company.
Not all SEPs will directly affect the
community, but for those that do,
community involvement in the SEP
is encouraged. Community
involvement guidelines include:
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identifying a known local interest
making sure everyone understands the process and has realistic expectations
* keeping the community informed through such means as public meetings or
newsletters
In some cases, the proposed SEP may be put up for public comment before a final, legal
agreement is reached.
For community-based SEPs, it is important to build cooperation and involvement. The Illinois
Attorney General's office is working to strengthen contacts with local agencies to help
identify violations and to develop ideas of local needs that could be addressed through SEPs.
What benefits do SEPS provide?
For the company that violated environmental law, fines may be reduced. The SEP offers
more flexibility. In addition, a good-faith effort to improve the environment and reach out
to the community may improve the company's image. Communities may receive expertise,
equipment and other assistance to make environmental improvements they could not
accomplish on their ownreal needs can be met. The extra energy the company puts into
the SEP will help to create and maintain a safer, healthier environment for everyone.
SEPs in action
An example of a successful SEP began when a rail car overturned and was punctured,
highlighting the community's need for emergency response capabilities. In this community,
which is a hub of rail and road transportation near water, the local fire department did not
have money or resources for a hazardous materials response. It would have been too
expensive for the community to start such a program on its own.
The SEP, which took 2000 hours of volunteer work to execute, began with a drive to bring
ideas, experienced people, donations, loans and corporate support to the effort. The project
was completed in one year with a budget of $ I million.
Planning highlights of the SEP included:
$ public education and communication plan with a monthly newsletter and media
coverage
* technical input from experienced people
* drills and critiques to improve team response
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cooperation with fire chiefs association and state fire marshal's office
addressing industry concerns about legal issues
The results of the SEP provided:
emergency plans for addressing numerous hazardous materials incidents, including
transportation spills, special rescues, illegal drug labs and terrorism
nationally recognized training for volunteers, response leaders and rescuers with
technical training and practice working as a team
team organization chart with communications linked through 91 I system
specialized equipment that is checked monthly
mission to save lives and protect property with a focus on quick response
community-wide and regional response capabilities
increased sense of community and pride among the volunteers
Supplemental Environmental Project Resources
To submit ideas for SEPs or for more information:
-,"ป
Don de Blasio
Gateway Team Member
EPA Region 5 (P-19J)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312)886-4360
deblasio.don@epa.gov
Janet Haff
Gateway Team Member
EPA Region 5 (WPTD)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 353-7923
haff.janet@epa.gov
Debra Klassman
EPA Region 5 (C-I4J)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 886-6742
klassman.deborah@epa.gov
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John Justice
Illinois EPA
2009 Mall St.
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618)346-5120
Jim Morgan
Illinois Attorney General's Office
500 S. 2nd St.
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 524-7506
Eyesores in Your Community: How
to Clean Them Up
Kim Hobley, East St. Louis Community Action Network
LaTonyaWebb, Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center
Kathleen O'Keefe, Neighborhood Law Office in East St Louis
Mike Jones, executive director, St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone
The presenters discussed collaborative community cleanup programs in the Metro East area
and the importance of economic development in sustaining and improving communities.
An example of a collaborative community cleanup program
The University of Illinois developed a program to teach grassroots organizations how to
address problems in their cities.The East St. Louis Community Action Network ,or ESL
CAN, was started in 1990 as a collaboration between Ul and a coalition of neighborhood
groups.The purpose of this collaboration was to combat deterioration, lessen the burden on
the government, defend human and civil rights, work for relief of poverty, identify resources
for self-help and develop civic partnerships.
In the fall of 1995, ESL CAN conducted a survey to determine what people thought were
the biggest problems in their neighborhoods. The top issues were debris-filled lots, weeds,
derelict buildings and abandoned cars. Planners determined that because these were code
enforcement violations that the city was responsible for, it would be important to develop a
way to identify and deter violations.Through a collaborative partnership of ESL CAN,
Neighborhood Law Office, New Spirit Neighborhood Organizing and Neighborhood
Technical Assistance Center, organizers set up a code enforcement hot line to document
sanitation violations.
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In addition to identifying code violations, ESL CAN worked to improve communication
within the city. Actions included:
developing a process to get the community to do its job, such as keeping a master
log of code violations
targeting community officials and pressuring them into addressing the problems, such
as by picketing, appearing everywhere the community officials went, filing large
numbers of complaints, following up with officials on every complaint filed and
making sure that fines collected were used to solve community eyesores
identifying residential concerns about properties
identifying owners of problem properties and finding less costly ways of getting this
information
A strategy was developed to deal with neighborhood eyesores:
0 send a written notification to community council members detailing expectations, codes
and dates and, if there is no response, visiting the council members
* hold a block meeting after a formal request is made to develop a strategy of needed
actions and who will take each role
$ pressure owners to clean up their property by advertising a "derelict owner of the
month" in newspapers, signs on the property and news conferences
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identify other interested partners, such as insurance agencies and schools
educate community members about community codes and legal remedies
An example of a collaborative community action program:
The Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center
NTAC helps provide equipment, tools, and proposal and planning assistance to address neighborhood
problems. Easy and inexpensive access to information is a big issue for communities. NTAC provides
information services including user-friendly software such as Geographic Information Systems and
organization and distribution of information such as through mapping.
NTAC also teaches residents to use this information in planning projects to clean up their
neighborhoods. Planning steps include identifying problems, developing alternatives and
seeking funds and other assistance.
NTAC helped to assess problems in the Lansdowne neighborhood in northern East St. Louis,
where some 50 percent of the buildings were vacant. Students were sent into the neighborhood
to perform an assessment of conditions. Then major property owners were identified. Another
issue the NTAC helped to address in this neighborhood was Kill Creek, which was engineered to
run underground and which contributed to flooding and trash buildup.
Using the law for community cleanup
The Neighborhood Law Office in East St. Louis is a not-for-profit agency that helps eliminate
community eyesores and derelict buildings. Some issues the Neighborhood Law Office addresses are:
finding unknown or deceased property owners
lack of money to demolish derelict structures
the limits of lawsuits and how much time they take
If a property is determined to be dangerous, it is easier to move to action because the
community is responsible for the health and safety of its residents. While the city of East St.
Louis is poor, it does have funding sources in place to assist with demolition. The city must
hold property owners accountable and enforce codes. If it does, it will be repaid for its
efforts through increased tax rolls.
The city of East St. Louis has the power to collect property cleanup fees, but this is rarely
used because of the low rate of return. One solution is to place a lien against the property
19
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for the cleanup costs. This lien comes before any liens on equity debt. Properties could be
seized based on delinquency. Quick seizure is best because it creates pressure to act.
The importance of economic development in sustainable community cleanup
A growth strategy and market-based community plans are key to maintaining and stabilizing
a neighborhood and community. In the past there have been many cycles of gathering ideas,
drawing up plans and estimating expenses, but nothing getting done because it's too
expensive. The range of possible solutions needs to be based on what people will spend
money on. Depressed areas need new money and new people; they need to attract outside
capital debt and investment. To help attract this investment, a community could assemble
land and prepare sites that would attract businesses. To develop an effective economic
development plan, one needs to:
^ anticipate where opportunities are going to be
0 think about projects that will result from the first
project
think beyond your neighborhood
$ analyze the situation
* organize the information
ซ make a decision based on the facts
An economic development project in inner city areas
should:
ป consider local businesses that could supply
services
attract money and people from the outside
create jobs with a living wage without a high cost
of entry
Key points to keep in mind include:
capital goes where invited and stays where
welcome
it's harder to do business where there are fewer
businesses
9 one economic development project should set up
the next five
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economic growth will remove community eyesores
there is great value in grassroots work, law, collaboration and economic
development partnerships
What development incentives are available for Illinois communities?
Empowerment Zone programs can provide some startup assistance for documented ideas
with a chance for success. Authority for tax-exempt bonds have a high impact on real estate
development, but are hard to use due to employment requirements. Federal grant programs
are available for
it community development, housing, public infrastructure and parks;
* assistance in keeping existing businesses and developing new ones;
workforce development, including high-end training for marketable and portable
skills; and
industrial and commercial site development.
The federal Mississippi River Corridor Brownfields Initiative is helping to develop riverfront
plans and market-based feasibility studies for East St. Louis. Other brownfield programs can
provide assistance to restore properties to useable condition.
What can residents do to help clean up eyesores and promote economic development in their
communities?
Some actions that residents can take to work on improving their communities are:
$ report illegal dumping to local law enforcement agencies
ซ report suspected hazardous waste to Illinois EPA
contact EPA, the Illinois attorney general or Illinois EPA with ideas for supplemental
environmental projects
ซ look at the limited resources in the city budget, evaluate your priorities, determine
what you are willing to give up and talk to your government
find ways to make local governments accountable in areas with low economic
development
0 support local business owners and ask them to keep their business there
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Resources
For information or technical assistance on community improvement programs in Alorton,
Brooklyn, Centreville, East St. Louis and Washington Park or the East St. Louis Community
Action Network:
Neighborhood Technical
Assistance Center
348RCollinsvilleAve.
East St. Louis, IL 62201
(618)271-9605
Neighborhood Law Office
programs :
Kathleen O'Keefe
Neighborhood Law Office
705 Summit Ave.
East St. Louis, IL 62201
(618)271-0821
Empowerment Zones in the
Greater St. Louis area:
Greater St. Louis Regional
Empowerment Zone
Management Corporation
61 I Olive St., Suite 1641
St. Louis, MO 63101
http://focus-stl.org/zone/
Kathryn Carr
kcarr@stlouis.missouri.org
(314) 622-3400, ext. 669
LeaAnne DeRigne
lderigne@stlouis.missouri.org
(314) 622-3400, ext. 670
Environmentally sound economic
development strategies:
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
1313 Fifth St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612)379-3815
http://www.ilsr.org/
Keep Illinois Beautiful
(312) 984-0448
http://www.kab.org
Make East St. Louis Beautiful
Geraldine Jenkins, Executive Director
(618)482-6621
Proud Partners, Inc. (Belleville)
Louis Teiemann, Coordinator
(618)236-2606
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Regional Environmental Issues: How
Your City Fits In
Penni Livingston, attorney, Livingston Law Office, Fairview Heights
Ed Weilbacher, coordinator, Southwest Illinois Resource Conservation and Development
Ted Shekell, planning director, City of O'Fallon
The presenters talked about development of a county ordinance to address regional storm
water issues, the status of natural resources in Metro East and how a community creates a
healthy environment for its residents.
How is storm water a regional environmental problem?
When more impervious surfaces are constructed, such as buildings and pavement, rain water
can't be absorbed into the ground in these areas and builds up on the surface. When water
channels are diverted, they can erode and begin to fill up. These situations cause water to
build up more quickly, which leads to flooding. In the past, people haven't managed
development for storm water. Generally, the effects of new development on existing
development have not been addressed.
How can regional storm water problems be addressed?
Develop minimal storm water control measures. While EPA has had some involvement, the
participation of local cities and governments is important.
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Key elements of developing storm water control measures include:
ฎ broad effort to involve a wide range of participants through education and outreach
* public involvement and participation, such as through panel groups, meetings, and hearings
identification of a lead agency with expertise and statutory authority
addressing specific problems, such as construction-site storm water runoff and illegal dumping
consensus-building process to improve the control measures and address concerns
ซ providing certification of compliance with the control measures to address lawsuits
In a proposed St. Clair County storm water control ordinance, the lead role was given to the
county Soil and Water Conservation District The district got this role because it had the knowledge
and statutory authority to address soil erosion and land management issues. Additionally, the district
provided a regional influence that would help overcome conflicts between municipalities.
The Home Builders Association was an important participant in the draft ordinance
consensus-building process. In Madison County, efforts are under way to get more community
commitment and participation by local leaders to develop a storm water ordinance development
Status of natural resources in Metro East
St. Clair and Madison counties contain rich and unique natural resources, including wetlands,
bottomland hardwood forests, rest areas for migrating birds along the nation's largest flyway,
sinkhole plains, loess hill prairie, scenic bluffs, freshwater springs, caverns and habitat for
wildlife. However, these ecosystem resources have been degraded over time due to
development. As result:
* wetland, floodplain forest and prairie acreage declined
* many septic systems not meeting state codes for discharge
* many private water wells contaminated with coliform bacteria
* four presidential disaster designations declared since 1993.
* urbanization increasingly causing habitat areas to be fragmented or eliminated with
negative impact on animal species
This decline in Metro East ecosystems is caused by a failure to understand the resources.
People appreciate these resources and want:
open space
9 clean water
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no flooding
healthful ecosystem
forests
41 good quality of life
How can you help protect resources in Metro East?
Residents should participate in protecting community resources. Actions they can take
include:
make an effort to understand resources, especially the natural resources
* develop a local legacy program to inventory the natural, cultural and historic resources
recognize the true cost of development and the loss of community identity
ซ understanding how water
resources flow among
communities in their watershed
* working to reestablish habitat
corridors
educating themselves and others
letting leaders know what is
important to them
ซ initiating regional cooperation
and appeal to communities
upstream
A city's perspective on creating a healthy
community
Cities are responsible for providing many
services to residents, including:
police, fire and other emergency
services
water and sewer systems, roads
and storm drainage
schools and libraries
green, open and civic spaces and
other environmental amenities
planning, building and zoning
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<$ services to assure a safe and stable stock of homes and other buildings and working
toward a sustainable community
When a community grows, there is an accompanying competition for resources that causes
strain on services and finances. Typical resident complaints about growth include:
loss of environmental qualities
$ traffic congestion
* loss of locally owned businesses
expanding schools with an increasing property tax burden
Growth in Metro East communities may be the result of many factors:
national economy and interest rates
ซ regional economy and spill-over from west county St. Louis
great school systems
0 environmental qualities
small-town amenities close to St. Louis
The strains placed on a community by growth and development force policymakers to
address new policy challenges. For example, single-family home developments cost more to
service then the direct economic benefits they provide to the community, and these
developments are often subsidized by commercial developments.
When annexations and developments are considered, decision-makers need to carefully
weigh the development costs with the economic benefits and tax revenues likely to be
generated. For a community to be sustainable in the long term, the community must
consider many new policy questions:
Is there a way for new development to pay for its own infrastructure and services?
How can environmentally sensitive development be encouraged?
How will the impacts on schools be addressed?
Can the community's economic base be diversified?
How can the community cooperate with county and neighboring community
governments?
Is a greater emphasis on urban design and property maintenance laws needed?
* How can reinvestment in the community's older core areas be encouraged?
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Whatever policies are implemented, communities must be careful to follow federal and
other laws when considering development proposals because when a development proposal
is denied, the community is often sued.
Some environmental goals the city of O'Fallon created to help address the challenges of
growth and development include:
ซ adopting an environmental plan
protecting habitat
educating residents about their environment
9 requiring that new development not make storm water runoff problems worse
promoting development policies that maintain as much of the natural environment as
possible
e encouraging non-polluting transportation systems
Resources
Flooding and storm water issues
St. Clair County Soil and Water
Conservation District
2031 Mascoutah Road
Belleville, IL 62220
(618)233-5583
sccswcd@compu-type.net
Madison County Soil and Water
Conservation District
7205 Marine Road
Edwardsville.lL 62025
(618)656-5166
Fax (618) 656-5187
Metro East Watershed Planning Office
535 Edwardsville Road, Suite 210
Troy, IL 62294
Home Builders Association of Greater Southwest
Illinois
100 E.Washington St. Suite 200
Belleville, IL 62220-2206
(618)234-4483
(618) 234-6829 (fax)
info@hbaswil.org
Sierra Club
Piasa Palisades Group
223 Market St.
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 462-6802
(618) 462-0282 (fax)
cfavilla@ezl.com
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Natural resources in Metro East and
Southwestern Illinois RC&D services:
Ed Weilbacher, Coordinator
Southwestern Illinois Resource
Conservation & Development
406 E. Main St.
Mascoutah, IL62258
(618)566-4451
www.swircd.org
Local watershed:
Surf Your Watershed
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mail Code 4503F
401 MSt. SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 260-7444
http://www.epa.gov/surf/
Regional planning information:
Madison County Building, Zoning, and
Environment Department
I57N. Main St. Suite 254
EdwardsvilleJL 62025
(618) 692-7040, ext. 4468
St. Clair County Zoning, Mapping, and
Platting Department
10 Public Square
St. Clair County Courthouse
Belleville, IL 62220
(618)277-6600
Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan Area
Planning Commission
201 West Main
CollinsvilleJL 62234
(618)334-4250
The Silent Epidemic: Lead and
Mercury
Tony Camillo, director, Corporate Health Center, St. Mary's Hospital, East St. Louis
Joan Scharf, CD housing coordinator, St. Clair Intergovernmental Grants Department
Cheryl Jouett, program administrator, Madison County Development Program
Toni Corona, environmental health services manager, Madison County Health Department
Presenters discussed collaborative health initiatives to prevent lead poisoning and the health
risks of mercury and how to address mercury in the home.
Lead and human health
It does not take much lead to exceed healthful limits and cause lead poisoning. Lead can get
into the body by inhalation of dust, ingestion of dust and ingestion of paint chips. Once taken
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in, the body takes up lead as
it does calcium, with lead
going deep into the bones.
Health problems include
hyperactivity, hypertension
and kidney damage. Lead
levels in the body can be
determined by a simple
finger-prick blood test.When
mental and physical
symptoms of lead poisoning
appear, it is too late to prevent permanent damage.
Lead hazard sources include:
ซ hazardous waste sites
former industrial sites, such as an abandoned lead smelter
contaminated biosolids (sludge) disposal areas
contaminated soil around homes
* household paint in older homes (pre-1978)
Programs to address lead problems provided by St. Clair and Madison counties, St. Mary's
Hospital and other collaborative partners include:
screening children for lead exposure
g sharing costs for remediation of rental homes
9 rehabilitating homes to bring them up to code
ซ providing homeowners assistance program to inspect and test homes built before 1978
ซ weatherizing residences of low-income residents while addressing some lead issues
ซ providing emergency shelter grants for families living in lead-contaminated homes
educating and reaching out to families, professionals,and other community members
educating and licensing of construction workers to assure the proper handling of
lead-containing materials.
Collaborative programs to address lead poisoning
When a blood test shows lead exposure, a team of Metro East partners begins an
investigation to determine the source of the lead and attack the problem. The partners
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come together to identify problems, share data and perform tests. Metro East partners in
lead programs for investigation, remediation and education include:
St. Mary's Hospital in East St. Louis
St. Clair County government, including the Health Department
Madison County government, including the Community Development Department
ซ Illinois Department of Public Health
EPA
* U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
ป East Side Health District
East St. Louis Community Action Network
* Head Start programs
* American Red Cross
* churches and neighborhood organizations
* lead contractors
Remediation of residences is important in areas where the buildings are old, such as in parts
of St. Clair and Madison counties. It is important to use only properly trained and licensed
contractors for lead remediation and to make sure that problem areas around windows and
doors are addressed. Lead dust can enter a home through open windows and may be
recirculated through the home when heating and cooling systems are turned on. A follow-up to
cleaning a home for lead includes cleaning carpets, mopping floors and cleaning windowsills.
Mercury and human health
Mercury's physical and chemical properties have made it useful to people and have also made
it a health problem. A liquid at room temperature, mercury expands and contracts uniformly
as its temperature changes, which makes it useful in thermometers. Mercury evaporates
easily, conducts electricity and combines easily with other metals. It kills bacteria and fungi
and collects in higher concentrations in creatures higher up the food chain. Because of these
characteristics, mercury may be found in:
ป food fish raised in contaminated water
ซ thermostats
9 mercury thermometers
alkaline batteries
fluorescent lights
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* lights in some shoes and toys
chemistry sets
latex paint manufactured before 1990
When it is disposed of, mercury is a hazardous waste. It should NOT be poured down sinks,
toilets or flood drains, and it should NOT be vacuumed up. Mercury-containing products in
the home should be disposed of during a household hazardous waste collection day.
Mercury can be inhaled or absorbed into the bloodstream. Young children and fetuses are
most at risk because of the effects on their developing brains. About half of the mercury in
a person's body can be eliminated within 60 days through urine and feces. Elevated mercury
levels can be detected by testing urine, blood or hair samples. Among other problems,
mercury poisoning can cause cerebral palsy, psychomotor disorders and adverse effects on
the kidneys, brain and central nervous system.
How can mercury poisoning be prevented?
To help prevent mercury poisoning:
do not eat fish more than once a week
use thermometers containing alcohol or digital thermometers
use rechargeable batteries instead of alkaline ones
report mercury spills in your home so they may be cleaned properly
properly dispose of materials containing mercury
How should a mercury spill in the home be handled?
A mercury spill in a home can vaporize slowly. Home mercury spills often result from
broken thermometers and thermostats.The most common form of mercury is liquid
metallic. Mercury can enter the body through the skin, but the bigger threat comes from the
vapors of liquid mercury, which are readily absorbed by the lungs and could potentially reach
the brain. Exposure over a long period can cause health problems, so immediate cleanup is
important.
A small mercury spill, one that flattens out to no more than the size of nickel, can be cleaned
up safely by most people if certain precautions are followed. To clean up a mercury spill in
the home:
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Do not let anyone walk through the mercury.
Remove children and pregnant women from the area.
Increase ventilation in the area of the spill.
Do NOT vacuum the area because that will only help vaporize the mercury.
* Pick up the mercury with an eyedropper, playing card or other thin, flexible material
(e.g., business card, pocket calendar) or masking tape.
Triple bag the mercury and any items used to pick it up in plastic bags with zip
closures or twist ties.
Call your local health department for advice on disposal of the mercury and
contaminated items.
Larger spills should be sealed off and reported immediately to your local health department
or fire department.
Resources
Household lead hazard reduction
programs:
Madison County Community Development
Department
IBOHillsboroAve.
Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618)692-8940
St. Clair County Lead Hazard Reduction
Program
19 Public Square, Suite 200
Belleville, IL 62220
(618) 277-6790, ext. 3227
Lead and mercury, and information on
lead screening programs
Youe healthcare provider
St. Mary's Hospital
129 S. 8th St.
East St. Louis, IL 62009
(618)274-1900
http://www.ancilla.org/stmary/
index.html
Madison County Health Department
21 19 Troy Road
Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618)692-8954
St. Clair County Health Department
19 Public Square,Suite ISO
Belleville, IL 62220
(618)233-7703
National Lead Information Center
(800) 424-LEAD(5323)
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Household hazardous waste
collection:
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,
Bureau of Land - (217) 785-8604
Mercury in Illinois fish:
Illinois Department of Natural
Resources publishes two guides,
"Illinois Fish and Your Health" and
"Expectant Mother's Guide to Eating
Illinois Fish."To order publications,
(217) 782-7498. For specific information
regarding DNR's programs, call
(217)782-7454.
Environmental JobTraining and Careers
Matthew D. Robinson, senior vice president, Environmental Operations, Inc.
Jim Monahan, senior project associate,William J. Harrison Education Center, St. Louis
Community College
Chris King, director, Center of Environmental Education and Training, St Louis School of Public Health
Donald Anderson, retired, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The presenters described what environmental careers entail, what it takes to pursue an
environmental career, elements of a successful job training program, and environmental job
training opportunities in the region.
What is an environmental career?
There is no single definition of what an environmental career is because there are so many
different types of work that relate to the environment. Robinson and King described general
categories of environmental careers for laborers, technicians, professionals, and advanced
professionals, including:
field services, which may include collecting data samples, operating heavy machinery,
remediation work or project management
information management, which may include databases and geographic information
systems
laboratory analysis services, which may include analysis of chemical or
microbiological samples
regulatory affairs, which may include policy analysis, litigation service and monitoring
for regulatory compliance for government or industry
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engineering, which includes problem identification, description of the problem's
significance and solution design
research, which may include finding information on a brownfield property
topical expertise, which may include endangered species identification or wetland
evaluation
communication, which may include public affairs and public relations work
The topics that an environmental worker may address include:
air quality management, such as the air pollutant violations in the St. Louis area
natural resources management, such as evaluation of wetlands, endangered species,
geologic formations or archeological significance
pollution prevention technology, which is a relatively new concept of changing processes
to reduce environmental risks
remediation technology, such as brownfields redevelopment or ground water cleanup
occupational safety and health, such as monitoring OSHA requirements or industrial
pollutant emissions
solid and hazardous wastes, such as landfill regulation
water and waste water treatment, such as the storm water, sewage, and drinking
water treatment facilities found in nearly every community
What does it take to pursue an environmental career?
Depending on the level of environmental
career, the education and skills requirements
can vary. Field work may require only a license
or certificate, while laboratory or engineering
work may require an advanced degree. King
described the levels of education that can help
someone get started in an environmental
career.
* certificate course that would provide
training needed to obtain a legally
required license or certification, such
as for asbestos or lead
short course on a specific topic that
would provide information needed to
pass a certification test, such as for
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water treatment plant operation
academic certification or associate degree programs that often provide technician training
ซ bachelor's or advanced degrees
Robinson described what employers look for when hiring an environmental worker:
Relevant education, which may include a certificate or academic degree. While in the
^ past an academic degree was not required for many environmental careers,
employers are increasingly looking for employees with academic degrees.
* Relevant experience. Employers prefer employees with some experience, such as
from a previous environmental job, an internship or hands-on training.
ป Multiple skills. A job candidate with a range of skills is more attractive to an
employer-for example, a field data collector who can repair machinery or a
laboratory technician who can write well.
General job skills, including computer, communication and writing skills. Employers
also look for someone who could help bring in new business and who has the ability
to advance within the company.
What makes an environmental job training program successful?
Monahan described the elements of a successful job training program.The most important
components are:
* clear mission or purpose
* defined recruitment techniques and strategies
method of explaining program expectations to participants
anticipation of retention problems
curriculum targeted to meet the needs of employers
job placement assistance
9 provision of on-the-job training or internships
partnerships to capitalize on multiple strengths
Monahan described the partnerships involved in the St. Louis Community College Harrison
Education Center's Brownfield Worker Training Program that contributed to the program's
success in winning an EPA environmental worker training grant. The center has experience in
designing and implementing job training programs. Saint Louis University's Center for
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Environmental Education and Training brought technical expertise, a curriculum targeted to
the needs of area employers and a service area covering Missouri and Illinois. A network of
other agencies-including New Spirit Neighborhood Organizing,Veterans Advocates, East St.
Louis Fathers Center and Urban Male Resources-provides case management and social
services. Monahan noted that the Brownfield Worker Training Program, offered at no charge
to participants, is always looking for new partner agencies to refer more program
participants.
What job training opportunities are there in the region?
St. Louis Community College Harrison Education Center's Brownfield Worker
Training Program. After receiving life skills/job readiness training from a partnering
agency, participants may enroll in the program and receive certification in OSHA standards
for the construction industry, lead abatement, asbestos abatement and hazardous waste site
worker protection and emergency response.
Saint Louis University. The School of Public Health Center for Environmental Education
and Training offers continuing education for environmental careers. The School of Public
Health also offers a master of public health degree in industrial hygiene and master's and
doctoral degrees in public health in environmental and occupational health and safety. The
College of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor's degrees in environmental geology and
environmental chemistry.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Environmental Resource Training Center
provides training for state certification exams in drinking water and waste water treatment
and includes hands-on training in association with the university's water and waste water
treatment center. Degrees are also offered in environmental engineering and environmental
sciences, including interdisciplinary advanced degrees. Most of the physical science degrees
include environmental options.
Many other environmental job training programs exist in the region and throughout the
country, some of which may be available over the Internet. In any environmental job training
program, hands-on training is essential.
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Resources
Job training programs:
Chris King, Director
Center for Environmental Education
and Training
Saint Louis University School of Public Health
Doris O'Donnell Hall
3663 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108-3342
(314)977-3242
kingcc@slu.edu
Jim Monahan, Senior Project Associate
St. Louis Community College
William J. Harrison Education Center
4666 Natural Bridge
St. Louis, MO 63115
(314)381-1848
jmonahan@stlcc.cc.mo.us
Environmental Resources Training Center
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
P.O.Box 1075
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1075
(618)650-2030
Susan M. Morgan, assistant professor and graduate
director
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Civil Engineering
School of Engineering
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1800
(618) 650-5014 or (618) 650-2533
smorgan@siue.edu
Madison County Employment and Training
Department
(618)692-8942
Ron McAtee
Illinois Department of Human Services
Office of Employment and Training
400 lies Park Place, 2nd floor
Springfield, IL 62762
(217)782-5709
dhsd62lx@dhs.state.il.us
Brownflelds: Barriers to Development
and HowYour Cky Can OvencomeThetn
Keary Cragan, EPA
Tom Miller, Illinois EPA
Deborah Roush, U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District
Cathy Nicholson, formerly with the City of Wood River
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The presenters discussed how EPA encourages brownfield cleanup, brownfields assistance
programs available through Illinois EPA, a brownfield pilot project in the East St. Louis area,
and a community's experience in brownfield redevelopment.
Brownfields and barriers to their development
Brownfields are "abandoned or underused industrial and commercial properties with actual or
perceived contamination and an active potential for redevelopment" Barriers to developing brownfields
include fears about environmental contamination, especially high cleanup costs, lengthy and complicated
clean-up processes, potential liability risk and government involvement
Brownfields assistance programs
EPA encourages collaborative approaches to brownfield redevelopment through grant and
loan programs, job training grants and technical assistance. The Illinois EPA Office of
Brownfields Assistance is responsible for administering many of these programs in Illinois.
Underground Storage Tank Fund helps eligible storage tank owners and operators pay
for investigation and cleanup of contamination from certain underground storage tanks.
Illinois Brownfields Redevelopment Grant Program provides municipalities with up
to $120,000 ($240,000 starting in spring 2003) in matching funds to inventory and
investigate brownfields (grant funds cannot be used to fund the cleanup activities).
These grants are not available to those who caused the contamination.
* Illinois Brownfields Redevelopment Loan Program provides low-interest loans of up
to $500,000 to assist with certain brownfield cleanup activities under the voluntary
Site Remediation Program.
The Illinois EPA Office of Brownfields Assistance also provides community representatives who:
* travel to communities to help identify and evaluate sites with brownfield cleanup
potential
assist in identifying funding resources
ซ explain complexities and requirements of the various cleanup programs
<ง assist in grant and loan applications
ซ follow up after grants and loans are issued
To promote brownfields redevelopment, collaborative approaches to flexible, risk-based cleanups are
sought The site conditions, past uses, ground water status and intended future use are considered in
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determining the flexibility of cleanup and engineering standards. If this flexible cleanup option
results in site restrictions, those restrictions are recorded with the property deed.
East St. Louis Brownfield Assessment Pilot
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA and other partners are working together on
Brownfields Showcase Communities under the Mississippi River Corridor Brownfields
Initiative, which promotes the following redevelopment goals:
restore urban property to productive use and increase property value
* increase local jobs and the tax base
mitigate public health and safety concerns
reuse existing infrastructure in a positive way
eliminate neighborhood blight and improve community image
The St. Louis/East St. Louis area was chosen as a Showcase Community to develop a regional
approach to brownfields revitalization, stress regional partnerships to remove the river as a
barrier and establish a process that can be used in other communities.
More than a dozen partners representing federal, state, regional and local governmental
agencies; educational institutions; private companies; and non-profit organizations are
participating in the East St. Louis Brownfield Assessment Pilot. The goals of the project are to:
promote economic growth through planned reuse of abandoned and underused
properties
target areas with the highest potential for redevelopment to meet community needs
in revitalization
identify and promote the use of federal, state and local resources to help
brownfields redevelopment efforts
Some brownfield focus areas in East St. Louis include:
The Central Business District.The reuse plan is being updated and the
partnership is working with a private developer. Challenges include the private
ownership of many properties and poor infrastructure.
The Riverfront. Many existing plans for development in this area are being
considered. Challenges here include multiple private property owners and
infrastructure problems.
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The Hunter Packer Site. This site has minimal contamination and is privately
owned, but it is more of an immediate opportunity than a part of a long-term
redevelopment strategy.
The Light Industrial area. This is the most contaminated and of most
environmental concern, but it has a prime location and open land,giving it high
potential. It is privately owned and has no comprehensive reuse plan. Involvement of
the public and local businesses has begun.
The ALCOA Site. The company is working with EPA and the City of East St. Louis
to resolve legal problems and questions. Ideas to revitalize the area are being
developed.
The pilot showcase project funds are finite, assistance is limited to assessments only, and the
ultimate success of redevelopment efforts is dependent on the goodwill cooperation of
private owners.The project will help set priorities for infrastructure needs, identify
environmental issues, identify property ownership and create maps.
Brownfield program projects need to:
keep sustainability as a goal and maintain a strong focus on the highest and best use
for selected brownfield areas
* expand the program and develop a network of local, state, federal and private
alliances to focus resources on brownfield initiatives
* develop effective communication between developers and owners
An example of successful brownfield development
The City of Wood River is a small town that experienced tremendous growth as a result of
industrial development. However, when the markets changed, the property tax base of the
community decreased and the community began to decline. Tax rates had to increase to
support community services, which became an impediment to further economic
development. The population declined and the community began to lose its identity and
sense of community pride.
However, several regional factors combined to provide the community with an opportunity
to turn itself around with a tourism boom:
national scenic byway program
American River Heritage Initiative
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ป bike trail along the levee
* Alton Belle casino
* Melvin Price Lock and Dam
* Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
1-255 extension
The community had good transportation access, good infrastructure and development
incentives by being in an enterprise zone. Community planners considered all this and
developed potential projects while being realistic about what the market could supportThe
collaborative partners in brownfield redevelopment and their roles, in order of importance,
were:
property owners-commitment to cleanup
regulators-assure safety and compliance
ซ developers/bankers/lawyers
* city redevelopment, including creation of a website to get developers interested
changing zoning codes to make development easier
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Key lessons learned included:
stability in the collaboration team makes developers more comfortable
0 competition for industry and development is intense
underused properties should be redeveloped instead of using green fields
public involvement, with an educated community that knows what to expect and
knows where to go for information, is a must
Resources
Illinois EPA has extensive information
on its "Brownfields Frequently Asked
Questions" site:
http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/
brownfields/faq.html
To request the services of an Illinois
EPA Brownfields representative:
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Bureau of Land, Office of Brownfields
Assistance
1021 N. Grand Ave. East
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
(217)785-9407
EPA brownfields assessment
demonstration pilot grants:
Keary Cragan
EPA Region 5 (SE-4J)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312)353-5669
cragan.keary@epa.gov
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields
Deborah Roush
St. Louis District, USAGE
1222 Spruce St.
St. Louis, MO 63103-2833
(314) 331-8033
Brownfields redevelopment:
The National Brownfield Association
3105-CN. WilkeRoad
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 870-8208, ext. 16
The Brownfields Non-Profits Network
http://www.brownfieldsnet.org/
Brownfields Redevelopment A Guidebook for Local
Governments and Communities (1998)
The Northeast-Midwest Institute
218 D St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-5200
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Planners and organizers of the conference express their gratitude to the following agencies,
organizations and businesses that contributed to a successful project
through encouragement and financial support.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5
Lewis and Clark Community College
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center
BP Amoco
Solutia Inc.
TL Maddox Companies
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District
Waste Management and Research Center
Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, St. Clair Chapter
Southern Illinois Regional Employers Association
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Air and Waste Management Association
Tri-RinseS Inc.
St. Louis Rams
EDM Inc.
Illinois Business Journal, Geotechnology Inc.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agwwy
Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Flew
Chicago. IL 60604-3590
43
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