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 ------- 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 ------- |