United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5101) EPA 500-F-97-006 May 1997 National Brownfields Assessment Pilot Burlington, VT 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 selected the City of Burlington for a Brownfields Pilot. Burlington (population 39,127) is one of the poorest cities in Vermont and recently received a Federal Enterprise Community (EC) designation. Seventeen polluted commercial and industrial sites comprising about 40 acres within athree-mile radius of downtown Burlington are creating amaj or obstacle to growth and land use within the City. Only one unpolluted site is available for development. The largest brownfield is preventing highway construction needed by private developers to connect the City with the waterfront. Nine ofthe brownfield sites are located in the EC community, and most are located in or adjacent to disadvantaged neighborhoods. OBJECTIVES Burlington plans to develop a comprehensive brownfields plan, redevelop the City's brownfields with a high degree of citizen participation and support, and provide a redevelopment model that could be duplicated in small cities across the country. The City is taking an integrated approach that incorporates ecological zoning strategies, pollution prevention, and sustainable development to encourage environmentally friendly economic growth. PILOT SNAPSHOT Date of Award: September 1996 Amount: $200,000 Site Profile: The Pilot targets 40 acres of land located within a 3-mile radius of Burlington's central business district. Burlington, Vermont Contacts: Nick Warner Community and Economic Development Office (802)865-7144 John Podgurski U.S. EPA-Region 1 (617)573-9681 podgurski.john@ epamail.epa.gov Visit the EPA Brownfields Website at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- AND The Pilot has: * Participated in a brownficlds workshop in November 1996 sponsored by U.S. Senator James Jeffords. The Pilot is: • Conducting public tours of brownfields properties in the targeted site area; * Compiling and disseminating information about the Brownfields Pilot program, setting up outreach programs, coordinating an advisory council, and facilitating communication between the community and local agencies; * Engaging neighborhoods in the brownfields process through newsletters, information packages, town meetings, public forums, site visits, and technical support/training for area residents, developers, and employees affected by brownfields; * Conducting site investigations to determine the level of contamination in the targeted brownfields area; and * Planning to identify suitable uses for targeted brownfields to attract viable businessesto reclaimed site. Experience with the Burlington Pilot has been a catalyst for related activities including the following. * Examining brownfields issues in the Riverside Eco- Park, a 430-acre eco-industrial park. This park will provide a model of sustainable development and job creation for the region. * Developing a model for the cleanup of brownfield sites that can be used bv other small cities. National Brownfields Assessment Pilot Burlington, Vermont May 1997 EPA 500-F-97-006 ------- |