United States
                       Environmental
                       Protection Agency
                       Washington, D.C. 20460
  Solid Waste
  and Emergency
  Response (5101)
EPA500-F-97-122
April 1997

                       National  Brownfields
                       Assessment  Pilot
                                                                  Elmira,  NY
  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.
OVERVIEW

EPA has selected the City of Elmira as a Brownfields
Pilot.  Since 1970, Elmira has lost more than 10,000
manufacturing jobs as industrial employers abandoned
urban brownfields sites. Thesejob losseshave resulted
in a decreased population, increased neighborhood
disinvestment and visual blight, increased numbers of
vacant sites, and a growing percentage of tax-exempt
property. Although the city has implemented economic
recovery measures, little redevelopment ofbrownfields
has occurred. Environmental assessment and cleanup
are required before new jobs can be created at under-
used or vacant sites.

Elmira has acquired a number of industrial properties,
totaling about 50 acres, through abandonment and
foreclosure. Eight of these properties, which range in
size from 2.4 to 19 acres, have been selected for
consideration as potential brownfields redevelopment
sites for the pilot. Past land use of the pilot properties
(including railway, dry cleaning, and foundry
operations) indicate the potential for contamination.
Redevelopment efforts are expected to be facilitated
by tax and non-tax incentives and other innovative
financing tools offered through the city's status as a
state Economic Development Zone. For example,
Elmira will examine the feasibility of funding a stop-
loss insurance program to cover private remediation
costs in excess of cleanup estimates.
  PILOT SNAPSHOT
    Elmira, New York
Contacts:

Cheryl Schneider
Dept. of Business &
Housing Development
(607) 737-5691
                     Date of Award:
                     April 1997

                     Amount: $200,000

                     Site Profile: The pilot will
                     target potentially
                     contaminated industrial or
                     commercial sites.
 Larry D'Andrea
 U.S. EPA-Region 2
 (212)637-4314
 dandrea.larry@
 epamail.epa.gov
        Visit the EPA Brownfields Website at:
        http://www.epa.gov/brownfields

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OBJECTIVES

Elmira's objective is to assess, plan for cleanup, and
redevelop brownfields sites within the city. Successful
revitalization of brownfields sites is anticipated to
result in increased employment, restored property tax
revenues, and improved quality of life in affected
neighborhoods.   Objectives  for  the  pilot are to
complete preliminary site assessments at up to six
sites and detailed  assessments at up to four sites.

ACTIVITIES

Activities planned as part of this pilot include:

• Selecting a focused number of brownfields sites by
 a  technical advisory  team composed  of
 representatives  of the Chemung County Health
 Department, local and state  environmental  and
 economic  development agencies, and potential
 development firms;

• Conducting preliminary environmental assessments
 at the selected brownfields;

• Obtaining technical advice from environmental and
 legal consultants, as needed; and

• Planning for cleanup under the State Voluntary
 Cleanup Program.

The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this  fact
sheet are subject to change.
 National Brownfields Assessment Pilot                                                   Elmira, New York
 April 1997                                                                        EPA 500-F-97-122

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