United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response(5101)
EPA500-F-99-119
June 1999
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
SEPA
Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilot
Seneca Nation, NY
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. EPA is funding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded
up to $200,000 over two years), to assess brownfields sites and to test cleanup and redevelopment models;job training
pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affected
by brownfieldstofacilitatecleanupofbrownfieldssites and preparetrainees for future employmentintheenvironmental
field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund programs (each funded up to $500,000 over five years) to capitalize loan funds
to make loans for the environmental cleanup of brownfields. These pilot programs 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 has selected the Seneca Nation of Indians for a
Brownfields Pilot. The Seneca Nation (population
6,899) is part of a larger confederacy of Indian
Nations who occupy land in New York. They hold
title to three distinct territories in the southwest region
of the state. The project site is located in the City of
Salamanca (population 6,566), which is located in the
Allegany Territory. The Nation operates a gasoline
station and convenience store on the Allegany
Territory, which is also home to a national Indian
museum and campground facilities. This territory is
a prime highway and railroad transportation corridor
for the state.
The Pilot targets a long and narrow 100-acre rail yard
in the City of Salamanca. The city has a long history
with railroad operations, dating back to the 1800s.
The site is owned by the SenecaNation and, beginning
in 1963, the railroad lines were leased by various rail
operators, until all use was discontinued in the 1980s.
An initial Phase I assessment indicated groundwater
contamination at the rail yard. The rail yard site is
located over a primary water supply aquifer in a
residential and commercial area of the city. Due to
the geology of the land—characterized by highly
permeable outwash sands and gravels—the potential
PILOTSNAPSHOT
Seneca Nation, New York
Contacts:
Seneca Nation of Indians
(716)532-4900
Dateof Announcement:
June 1999
Amount: $200,000
Profile: The Pilot targets
a 100-acre rail yard located
near the Allegany River in
southwestern New York.
Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA - Region 2
(212)637-4314
Visit the EPA Region 2 Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/r02earth/superfnd/brownfld/bfmainpg.htm
For further information, including specific Pilot contacts,
additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and
publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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for the contamination to migrate to nearby residences,
water supply wells, and the Allegany River watershed
is high. Additionally, this site is a large tract of
underused land in the city center that is mostly
blighted and overgrown, except for one remaining on-
site building, the historic Erie Depot.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the SenecaNation of Indians
is to protect land and resources for present and future
generations. The threat to their water supply is of
paramount concern to the Seneca Nation. The
Nation accepts its role in protecting the Seneca land
base and also recognizes the need and opportunity to
enhance the health and diversity of its local economy.
The Nation owns the entire rail yard property, and
could use the Erie Depot building for business offices,
retail or speciality stores, restaurants, an arts and
crafts center, or an expansion of the Salamanca Rail
Museum. The actual rail yards could be used for
parking, bike or walking paths, or space for additional
buildings. The Pilot will assess the environmental
conditions at the rail yard site and develop a
comprehensive redevelopment plan that protects and
sustains the Seneca land base.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANDACTIVITIES
Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:
• Conducting initial and expanded Phase II
assessments on the rail yard property;
• Developing site-specific cleanup alternatives and
cost plans for redevelopment;
• Identifying a redevelopment plan that is consistent
with the overall cultural and economic goals of the
SenecaNation; and
• Educating both the Seneca community and
Salamancaresidents about environmental conditions,
cleanup alternatives, and redevelopment plans for
the site.
The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated;
therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Seneca Nation, New York
June 1999 EPA500-F-99-119
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