EPA
 WHAT IS
 PROJECT XL?
 SUM MARY OF
 THE ATLANTIC
 STEEL PROJECT
SUPERIOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE
                       United States
                       Environmental Protection
                      Aoencv	
                               Off ice of the
                               Administrator
                               [Mail Code 18021
EPA-100-F-99-026
August 1999
f http://www.epa.aov1
Project XL:
The Atlantic  Steel
Redevelopment
                                                                               * _f^*
                                                                               vrhrl Q
  Project XL, which stands for "excellence and Leadership," is a national
  initiative that tests innovative ways of achieving better and more cost-effective
  public health and environmental protection. The information and lessons
  learned from Project XL will be used to assist EPA in redesigning its current
  regulatory and policy-setting approaches. Project XL encourages testing of
  cleaner, cheaper, and smarter ways to attain environmental results superior to
  those achieved under current regulations and policies, in conjunction with
  greater accountability to stakeholders. It is vital that each project tests new
  ideas with the potential for wide application and broad environmental benefits.
  As of August 1999, fourteen pilot experiments are being  implemented and 25
  additional projects are currently in negotiation.

  On September 7, 1999, EPA and Jacoby Development signed a Final  Project
  XL Agreement which will remove barriers to construction of an urban
  redevelopment project in Atlanta. This redevelopment project will explore new
  ways to meet community, environmental and economic interests.

  Jacoby proposed a mixed-use (residential, retail, office, and entertainment)
  redevelopment of a 138-acre site in midtown Atlanta that was formerly the
  home of Atlantic Steel. An essential component of the Atlantic Steel
  redevelopment project is construction  of a bridge which  would cross an
  Interstate highway adjacent to the site  and link the site and the surrounding
  community with a nearby rapid transit station.

  The Atlanta metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing regions in the
  country.  In part due to its rapid growth, Atlanta has failed to meet federal air
  pollution  standards and as a result is barred from building certain types of road
  projects.  The prohibition on new road  projects also applies to the bridge  linking
  the Atlantic Steel site with the rapid transit station.  However, projects that will
  reduce air emissions can be approved as Transportation Control Measures
  (TCMs).  EPA has never evaluated a project of this size  and complexity as a
  TCM. Through Project XL, EPA is using an innovative approach to approving
  the entire Atlantic Steel redevelopment project as a TCM.

  Improving access to the Atlantic Steel  site is essential for completion of the
  redevelopment. Construction of interchanges and a bridge across the
  interstate for cars, pedestrians, bicycles, and public transportation will improve
  access to the site. The bridge would serve as a vital link between the Atlantic
  Steel redevelopment site, the west side of midtown Atlanta and the
  Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Arts Center station.

  The Atlanta region will continue to grow. If the Atlantic Steel site is not
  redeveloped, the growth it represents would locate at other sites in the Atlanta
  region. EPA and Jacoby believe that construction of the bridge and
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  FLEXIBILITY
 APPROACHES TO
 BE TESTED
 STAKEHOLDER
 INVOLVEMENT
  CONTACTS
redevelopment of the Atlantic Steel site will produce less air pollution than an
equivalent amount of development at other likely sites in the region.  The
combination of the site's location, design elements and connection to the
public transportation system are expected to work together to reduce growth of
auto traffic in the Atlanta region. The project will also accelerate the clean-up
of an underused former industrial site in midtown Atlanta.

Because Atlanta cannot currently get federal approval for new road  projects,
the proposed bridge cannot be built without the flexibility being provided by EPA
under Project XL. There are two components to the flexibility. First, EPA will
view Atlantic Steel's location, transit linkage, site design, and other elements
together as a Transportation Control Measure. The second component of the
flexibility is an innovative approach to evaluating the air quality benefits of the
project.  EPA analyzed Atlantic Steel's expected air quality benefit compared to
an equivalent amount of development at other likely sites in the region.  Based
on the EPA analysis, redevelopment of the Atlantic Steel site will produce
significantly less air pollution than an equivalent quantity of development at
other sites in the region and can therefore be approved as a Transportation
Control Measure.

      Will the combination of location, linkage to transit, and design
      characteristics of a development project result in significant,
      measurable emissions reductions?
      Can the application of "smart growth" site design principles (pedestrian
      friendliness, mix of uses, etc.) make a  difference in travel patterns,
      even in  Atlanta - where people drive more per capita than any other
      city in the country?

EPA and Jacoby participated in a number of public stakeholder meetings to
discuss the project and the Final XL Agreement. EPA and Jacoby have also
participated in meetings with an Environmental Justice Focus Group and
several meetings regarding the proposed  bridge at the invitation of the City of
Atlanta and/or the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Atlanta
Regional Commission. EPA received valuable feedback on the Project
Agreement from national and local environmental and transportation groups
and other interested organizations and individuals. A Stakeholder Participation
Plan, minutes from  public meetings, and public comments and responses are
posted on the Project XL web site at: http://www.epa.gov/projectxl.
                       EPA Region 4:
                       EPA HQ:
                       City of Atlanta:
                       Project Sponsor:
                    Michelle Glenn, Region 4, 404-562-8674
                    Tim Torma, 202-260-5180
                    Dan Cohen, 404-330-6899
                    Brian Leary, 770-622-7797
More information about Project XL is available on the Internet at
http://www.epa.gov/ProjectXL or via the Project XL information line at 202-260-
5754.
FOR ELECTRONIC
INFORMATION
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