&EPA GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER EPA-560-F-10-215 July 2010 Jekyll Island, GA TBA and Section 128(a) State and Tribal Grants Former Power Plant Gets New Energy from Marine Wildlife ADDRESS: 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, GA 3 1527 PROPERTY SIZE: 0.41 acres FORMER USE: Power Plant CURRENT USE: Georgia Sea Turtle Center EPA GRANT RECIPIENT: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources utilized $200,000 in EPA Brownfields Section 128(a) State & Tribal funding to conduct cleanup activities. In addition, EPA provided $81,000 in Targeted Brownfields Assessment funding. PROJECT PARTNERS: Robert W. Woodruff Foundation; Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Coastal Resources Division, Environmental Protection Division, and State Wildlife Division); Georgia State Legislature for Historic District Improvements; Jekyll Island Authority; Jekyll Island Foundation; and numerous other organizations and individuals. For additional data and geographic information for this and other Brownfields Grants, please visit EPA's Cleanups in My Community: http://iaspub.epa.gov/Cleanups/ PROJECT BACKGROUND: The Jekyll Island Historical Power Plant was once the power source for the entire Jekyll Island Club, a private resort retreat for many of America's wealthiest families including the Rockefellers, Morgans, Macys, Vanderbilts, and Goodyears during the late 1800s through the 1940s. But with the onset of the Great Depression and World War II, the Club began to decline and ultimately shut down resulting in the purchase of the entire island by the State of Georgia on October 7, 1947. The Jekyll Island Foundation was eventually established in 2000 to assist with the preservation of the historical buildings on the Island, including the asbestos and lead contaminated Jekyll Island Historical Power Plant, the latest of 28 structures in Jekyll Island's National Historic Landmark District to undergo cleanup and renovation. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Assessed, cleaned up, and redeveloped the historic site into a state-of-the-art sea turtle rehabilitation center. • Cleaned up asbestos and lead that were contaminating the historic structure. • Leveraged $2.6 million toward cleanup and redevelopment efforts. • Leveraged 9 full-time positions, 8 part-time positions, 20 interns (4 months per internship), and 50 - 100 volunteers. OUTCOME: Aerial view of The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, after renovation. Cleanup of the Jekyll Island Historical Power Plant was completed in August 2006. After cleanup, the Power Plant was outfitted with the most recent technology, special architectural features, and advanced exhibit design techniques to create a thoroughly modern and inviting facility for sea turtle rehabilitation. The state-of-the-art Georgia Sea Turtle Center opened in the spring of 2007 and is dedicated to the rehabilitation of ill and injured sea turtles rescued off the coast of Georgia and surrounding states, sea turtle research, and education of the public. The Center features educational exhibits; artistic murals depicting the turtles' journey; hands-on, interactive exhibits and activities for children and adults; state-of- the-art rehabilitation, medical, x-ray, and surgical areas; an information center; and a gift shop. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the EPA Brownfields Web site at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ or call EPA Region 4 at (404) 562-8866 ------- |