2006 Demonstration Project
Beulah Landfi
Pensacola, Florida
THE SITE: The 101-acre Beulah Landfill was a waste disposal site
from 1966 until 1984. Solid wastes, domestic septage, and wastewater
treatment sludges were disposed of in a former sand borrow pit on the
southern portion of the site; the northern portion of the site received only
solid wastes. The State of Florida ordered a halt to operations at the waste
pits in 1984. The site was listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in
1990 and EPA issued a Record of Decision in 1993. The selected remedy
included implementing institutional controls to limit future development
at the site, taking steps to prevent trespassers from accessing the site,
and completing a landfill closure according to Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP) standards (these included capping the
landfill area). Aside from implementing these institutional controls and
monitoring the ground water, no further action was deemed necessary to
ensure the protection of human health and the environment. The site was
deleted from the NPL in 1998. Ground water monitoring continues on the
site.
THE OPPORTUNITY: Although cleanup of the property finished in
1993, the site remained vacant and unutilized. A local Academy of Model
Aeronautics (AMA) representative tried to contact EPA and FDEP on
several occasions to inquire about using the site for aeromodeling, but
he found it difficult to establish appropriate connections. Meanwhile,
Escambia County (the site's owner) was working to develop low-impact
reuse strategies that would not threaten the long-term integrity of the
landfill cover, particularly on the southern half, where an engineered
landfill cap is present. The County's objectives were based on its desire
to improve open-space recreational opportunities for its citizens; in doing
so, they could also make use of property that was otherwise unavailable.
THE BARRIER: Despite the documented protectiveness of the remedy,
signs on the site's perimeter fence warned trespassers not to enter the
site or disturb the soil. Such signs gave the impression that accessing or
using the site was dangerous. Communication barriers also existed among
FDEP, EPA, AMA, and Escambia County. AMA was at first unable to
identify the appropriate party to contact about using the site. EPA, FDEP,
and Escambia County had never considered an aeromodeling use for the
site but were willing to look into the feasibility of the proposal.
Barriers:
Overprotective signs and fencing;
uncertainty about whether
aeromodeling was an appropriate
site use
Solution:
Gate key given to authorized site
users; active dialogue among EPA,
state agency, county officials, and
local aeromodeling club
Before:
Cleaned up, vacant landfill site
with ongoing ground water
monitoring
After:
Model airplane flying field, used
daily by aeromodelers
urmea btates
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated June
~ZUU9
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THE SOLUTION: Ultimately, persistence paid off. Once the right people at EPA, FDEP, and Escambia County
became aware of the AMA club's interest and determined that aeromodeling was a suitable use, the AMA club
began to move forward with site planning. AMA members had established a good reputation in the community
by conducting model airplane flying lessons for middle school students, high school students, Boy Scouts, and
organizations such as Toys for Tots. The club also visited neighborhoods near the site, distributed brochures, and
spoke with residents to reassure them that aeromodeling would not cause noise pollution or other disturbances.
The stakeholders formed a solid partnership and reached a consensus on the implementation of AMA's proposal
for aeromodeling reuse.
THE SITE NOW: The northern part of the Beulah Landfill, now known as Fritz Field, is a successful model
airplane park that has received high praise from local news media. Warning signs on the site fence were removed,
but the fence remains in place to keep out trespassers. The AMA club has a key to the gated entrance; the sign
on the gate reads, "Park is AVAILABLE when gates are OPEN." Any money generated from the use of the site
cannot be used for individual profit, but rather must be invested in site improvements and maintenance. AMA
members have devoted time, energy, and money to improvements and maintenance on the site to make it more
compatible with modeling use, including laying down sod, mowing the grass, installing trash cans, and installing
fencing at the parking lot. Escambia County also funded a runway for plane take-off and landing (pictured
below). Local astronomers have recently expressed interest in establishing an observatory at the site and an on-
site drainage pond may soon be used to operate model boats. The park is currently open seven days a week, from
7:30 A.M. until dusk.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Bill Denman, Region 4 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator,
at (404) 562-8939 or denman.bill@epa.gov.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated June 200.
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