State and Tribal Response
Program Highlights
EPA Funding Provided to States and Tribes to Address Contaminated Land in their Communities
REGION I
RHODE ISLAND - A 20-acre former industrial area was
redeveloped into the Woonsocket Middle School Campus, the
largest middle school campus in New England. With the support
of EPA and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental
Management (RIDEM), the City of Woonsocket successfully
implemented a proactive public outreach strategy to address the
school siting and environmental justice concerns in a forthright and
transparent manner. RIDEM used Section 128(a) Response Program
funding to assist with the characterization of the property. The EPA,
Rl Economic Development Corporation and RIDEM brownfield
programs provided almost $2 million in brownfields grant funding for
the assessment and cleanup of the property, as well as oversight
and feedback. Results of the environmental assessment activities
revealed that substantial contamination was present throughout the
property. Cleanup costs to ensure that the school was safe totaled
approximately $6 million. The project schedule was met while staying
under budget and the campus opened for occupancy in January 2010.
Opening Day ceremonies at the Woonsocket Middle School Campus.
VIRGIN ISLANDS - The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is using
Section 128(a) Response Program funding to establish a Voluntary
Cleanup Program (VCP). On July 20, 2010, USVI Department of
Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) issued a notice of intent
to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the Brownfield
Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2008 for the
establishment of a VCP. Hearings on the proposed VCP Rules and
Regulations were held in August 2010 on all three islands (St. Croix,
St. John and St. Thomas). The VCP Rules and Regulations are for
the purpose of establishing cleanup standards that are protective of
human health and the environment for voluntary cleanup activities
conducted under the Virgin Islands VCP. The Rules and Regulations
will also provide procedures pertaining to the eligibility, enrollment,
reporting, public notice, and termination criteria for the program.
REGION 3
VIRGINIA - The City of Lynchburg is continuing its work at the
former Allen Morrison facility. The property has a long history of
contamination and was abandoned in 1998. The city enrolled the
property in the Virginia Brownfields and Voluntary Remediation
Program and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
(DEO) used Section 128(a) Response Program funding to conduct
assessment activities. Demolition and deconstruction activities
including asbestos abatement are now being conducted at the
property. The city plans to transform the property into a recreational
facility and will provide opportunities for public input into the
development of the master revitalization plan. The city is filming the
project work and community meetings for a documentary on the
project. The documentary, titled Brownfields to Green Fields: The
Allen Morrison Project, is available on the city's website at: www.
lynchburgva.gov.
REGION 4
ALABAMA - Located one block west of downtown Anniston,
the 22-acre Chalkline, Inc. mill began operation as the Anniston
Manufacturing Company in 1888 and closed in 1994. After the facility
closed, the property was sold and the buildings were deconstructed,
creating a significant scar of debris and rubble on the landscape.
The city bought the property and the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management (ADEM) used Section 128(a) Response
Program funds to conduct assessment activities at the property.
The city was then awarded an EPA Brownfields Cleanup grant and
an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant. With remedial
activities slated to be complete in September 2010, construction
Artist rendition of the redevelopment area.
CERCLA Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program Fundin
July/August 2010
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is planned for a new Department of Human Resources building. In
addition, a section of Snow Creek near the south end of property
that has been channeled for over 100 years will be restored to a free
flowing stream. The 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail, built on abandoned
railway rights-of-way, will be extended six miles from the Town of
Weaver to the former mill property. And, a new federal courthouse
is slated for construction at the former auto parts repair property
adjacent to the Chalkline property. Local officials believe that these
brownfields projects will spur other public and private revitalization
efforts in the downtown Anniston area.
REGION 5
WISCONSIN - For over 100 years, ships traveling Lake Michigan
were guided into Milwaukee by the North Point Lighthouse. However,
over the decades, lead paint chips contaminated the soil around
the now-retired structure. The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) used Section 128(a) Response Program funding
to reach out to communities and encourage local governments to
make use of brownfields redevelopment tools. To make the retired
lighthouse available to tourists, the U.S. Coast Guard partnered with
Wisconsin DNR staff to voluntarily clean up the property, so it can be
sold to a nonprofit organization and opened as a museum.
REGION 6
EIGHT NORTHERN INDIAN PUEBLO COUNCIL - The Eight
Northern Indian Pueblo Council (ENIPC) is the newest recipient of
Section 128(a) Response Program funding in Region 6. ENIPC is
establishing a Brownfields Tribal Response Program that will assist
22 Pueblos and Tribes in New Mexico and West Texas promote the
enhancement of environmental resources and environmental health,
and protect tribal lands from environmental hazards. The ENIPC
convenes regularly with the Pueblos' and Tribes' environmental
project directors and staff to improve and maintain communication,
network, and identify key environmental issues of concern. This
group, known as the Intertribal Resource Advisory Committee
(IRAC), has identified brownfields as a priority issue in relation to
the health of its people and lands, as well as the importance of
understanding the direct correlation between the need to clean up
contaminated properties, protect environmental health, and increase
economic development capabilities.
REGIO
SAC & FOX NATION OF MISSOURI - On June 7, 2010, the Sac
and Fox Nation Brownfields and Tribal Response Program (TRP)
coordinator responded to a reported fuel leak at the Sac and Fox
Truck Stop. The coordinator visited the scene to determine the
extent of the spill and alerted the appropriate federal, state and local
responders. The spill was the result of damage to a fuel line during
construction activities. The coordinator and the Kickapoo Nation Fire
Department remained onsite while the damaged line was repaired
and the spill was properly cleaned up by the tribe. Incidents such as
these are being used to develop the framework for a TRP response
plan to assist Tribal Officials in making decisions and taking
appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of the community
when a spill or contaminated property is discovered. This response
plan is being developed using Section 128(a) Response Program
funding.
REGION 8
UTAH - The Utah Department of Environmental Quality/Division
of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) used
Section 128(a) Response Program funding to oversee soil cleanup
activities at an 18-acre property in preparation for redevelopment
by Target Corporation. Located just south of Salt Lake City's
Gateway redevelopment area, the former commercial property was
contaminated by chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons,
and a small amount of PCBs. After the contamination was removed
and properly disposed of, development moved forward during
Spring/Summer 2010 and Target plans to open doors on the
136,000-square foot store in October 2010. Based on similar store
data, it is estimated that the new Target store will create 175-200
jobs; additional jobs will be created through the completion of other
retail and business spaces on the property.
New Target store located just south of Salt Lake City's Gateway redevelopment area.
CERCLA Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program Fundin
July/August 2010
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REGION 9
REGION I
ARIZONA - Due to unprecedented growth, the City of Show
Low developed a plan to expand city facilities and infrastructure.
Included in the plan was the construction of a new library. The
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) used
Section 128(a) Response Program funding to conduct Phase I and
Phase II environmental site assessments (ESA) at the new library
location. The results of the Phase II ESA revealed petroleum-related
contamination on the property. After the removal of contaminated
soil, construction began near the end of 2009 and the new library
opened in August 2010. The 20,000-square foot library offers a 50%
increase in capacity with a second phase designed to accommodate
future expansion. Its form reflects the tradition of lodge construction
in the White Mountains with an environmentally conscious approach.
A 150-foot clerestory window brings daylight deep into the main hall
while other sustainable features include the use of low-VOC and
recycled-content finishes, high-efficiency plumbing and mechanical
equipment, and regional materials, such as Arizona stone. In
addition, the library's former location will be transformed into a new
City Hall building.
KUSKOKWIM RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL - On her visit to
Alaska in July 2010, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson spent time
with Joey Billy, the Brownfields Coordinator for the Kuskokwim
River Watershed Council (KRWC) Tribal Response Program (TRP).
KWRC is one of the 14 current TRPs in Alaska. Although KRWC is a
new Section 128(a) Response Program grantee, it is in the planning
stages for both Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Brownfields Assessments (DBA) and EPA's Targeted Brownfield
Assessments (TBA) for the Kuskokwim River Watershed villages.
Mr. Billy and Administrator Jackson discussed the hardship that
Alaska TRPs face in trying to clean up brownfield properties without
eligibility for the competitive Brownfields grants. The Alaska TRPs
are networking and researching other available funding sources to
help them address brownfield properties.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Joey Billy, the KRWC Brownfields Coordinator.
The new City of Show Low public library.
United States
Environmental Protection
CERCLA Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program Funding
July/August 2010
EPA-560-F-IO-004
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