United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA 500-F-97-009
May 1997
National Brownfields
Assessment Pilot
Chicopee, MA
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower States, communities, and other
stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and
sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and
an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. Between 1995 and 1996, EPA funded 76 National and Regional Brownfields
Assessment Pilots, at up to $200,000 each, to support creative two-year explorations and demonstrations of brownfields
solutions. EPAis funding morethan 27 Pilots in 1997. The Pilots are intended to provide EPA, States, Tribes, municipalities,
and communities with useful information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified
approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment.
BACKGROUND
EPA has selected the City of Chicopee for a
Brownfields Pilot. Chicopee's (population 56,600)
downtown industry is prevented from expanding by
contaminated industrial properties. One particular
site (the former Bay State Wire Company) will be the
target of the Pilot. The Bay State Wire Building was
destroyed by fire in 1993, eliminating 40 jobs and
over $80,000 in tax revenues. The State has removed
hazardous materials from the surface (drums,
asbestos), but contaminated soils are suspected.
Abutting industries cannot expand due to
environmental contamination at the site. At least
three other brownfields also will be assessed based on
experience gained from the Bay State Wire site. Most
of Chicopee's former industrial sites lie in the poor
and disadvantaged section of the City.
OBJECTIVES
Chicopee's brownfields focus is to restore the former
Bay State Wire site. A prospective purchaser already
has expressed interest in redeveloping the Bay State
Wire site. The Chicopee Brownfield Task Force has
established the following objectives: 1) minimize
administrative costs for brownfields revitalization
projects; 2) maximize the use of funding for site
assessment, remediation, and monitoring; 3) create a
PILOT SNAPSHOT
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Date of Award:
September 1996
Amount: $59,000
Site Profile: The Pilot
targets the 1.85-acre
former site of the Bay
State Wire Company
building, which is abutted
by small industries and a
dense residential
neighborhood.
Contacts:
Thomas Haberlin
Chicopee Office of
Community Development
(413)594-4711
Dianne Kelley
U.S. EPA-Region 1
(617)573-9672
kelley.dianne@
epamail.epa.gov
Visit the EPA Brownfields Website at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields
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working model for future brownfields cleanup and
reuse; 4) develop a database and criteria for best use
of public and private funding; and 5) educate the
community on brownfields issues.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
The Pilot has:
• Conducted a neighborhood meeting in November
1996 as part of the planned educational program for
the Willimansett neighborhood;
• Coordinated the first brownfields public information
session on February 20, 1997 at a local hall. This
meeting included residents, representatives from an
abutting industry interested in expansion, and Health
Department officials;
• Finalized plans and specifications for the removal of
hazardous materials at the site; and
• Distributed the second Brownfields Newsletter to
City residents and other interested parties in June
1997.
The Pilot is:
• Continuing discussions with abutting industries
which show interest in redevelopment of the
Brownfields Pilot area; and
• Documenting the brownfields process into a
replicable model for future brownfields cleanup and
reuse projects will take place during the summer.
LEVERAGING OTHER ACTIVITIES
Experience with the Chicopee Pilothas been acatalyst
for related activities including the following.
• Began the assessment of the nature and extent of
contamination at the former Bay State Wire site.
The Chicopee Brownfields Pilot award was for
$59,000. The balance of the expenses for the site
assessment and other activities are provided from
other City resources. A Phase I report forthe site the
environmental conditions of the building and site
has been completed, and areas of concern have been
identified. Cleanup of the site will begin in May
1997.
National Brownfields Assessment Pilot Chicopee, Massachusetts
May 1997 EPA 500-F-97-009
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