United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA 500-F-97-067
May 1997
Regional Brownfields
Assessment Pilot
Provo, UT
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.
BACKGROUND
EPA Region 8 selected the Provo City Ironton Eco-
nomic Redevelopment Project for a Regional
Brownfields Pilot. The Ironton site is a former steel
mill that constitutes the largest tract of undeveloped
and non-utilized property in the City. Preliminary
testing has revealed the presence of poly cyclic aro-
matic hydrocarbons and heavy metals at the site.
Provo City has entered into a cooperative agreement
with USX Steel Corporation, a party potentially re-
sponsible for some of the contamination, for site
characterization and remediation. USX Steel Corpo-
ration has entered into a voluntary agreement with the
Utah Department of Environmental Quality for over-
sight of the project.
Redevelopment of the former steel mill site and
surrounding property has been blocked by the concerns
over contamination and possible environmental
liability. While areas surrounding this site have been
developed, this property remains a blight on the
surrounding community. The City estimated that it
loses property taxes of over $130,000 each year the
site remains abandoned.
PILOT SNAPSHOT
Provo, Utah
Contacts:
Robert West
Provo City, Utah
(801)379-6140
Date of Award:
September 1996
Amount: $200,000
Site Profile: The Pilot
targets the Ironton Site, a
338-acre steel mill
abandoned since 1962.
Preliminary testing
indicates heavy metals
and other contaminants.
U.S. EPA-Region I
(303)312-6019
Visit the EPA Brownfields Website at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfieids
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The objectives of this Pilot are to develop a coopera-
tive approach between Federal, State, and local gov-
ernment, prior property owners, and businesses for
developing the site into a community industrial busi-
ness park. The Provo City Ironton Project is working
to create a clean and environmentally sensitive
development project and address environmental jus-
tice concerns for the surrounding community. The
redevelopment of the Ironton site will provide em-
ployment opportunities for the community's local
residents, increase surrounding property values, and
increase the City's tax base.
AND
Experience with the Provo Pilot has been a catalyst
for related activities including the following.
* Coordinating remediation and redevelopment
activities with other ongoing activities in the area to
leverage additional resources from the State. Federal,
and local level governments, as well as from private
property owners and businesses.
* Initiated preparations for a study regarding the
economic development possibilities of the Ironton
Site. The study will be completed by Brigham
Young University in cooperation with the City.
The Pilot has:
* Submitted a site characterization report to Provo
City and the Utah Department of Environmental
Quality; and
* Completed site investigation and laboratory
analytical reports.
The Pilot is:
* Developing a comprehensive zoning and land use
review;
* Creating a comprehensive base map of the site;
• Developing an inventory of the infrastructure and
other physical resources available at the site;
* Forming oversight and advisory committees of local
community stakeholders and interested parties, to
be chaired by the Mayor's office;
* Seeking community input to the remediation and
redevelopment plans for the site through
neighborhood association meetings and personal
contacts;
• Developing a master plan for redevelopment of the
site, including low-income housing, green space, and
amenities; and
• Providing outreach to all affected parties including
property owners and neighboring communities.
Regional Brownfields Assessment Pilot
May 1997
Provo, Utah
EPA 500-F-97-067
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