State and Tribal Response
Program Highlights
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protec
Agency
EPA Funding Provided to States and Tribes to Address Contaminated Land in their Communities
REGION I
CONNECTICUT -As part of the Connecticut Department of Energy
and Environmental Protection's (DEEP) efforts to transform and
enhance its cleanup program for brownfields and other contaminated
properties, DEEP is using Section 128(a) Response Program funding
to draft regulatory guidance documents. In February 2014, DEEP
released its most recent draft of the Technical Impracticability (Tl)
Variance Guidance Document and Fact Sheet and announced
an upcoming public meeting in April 2014 for the opportunity for
public comment. Tl Variance is a remedial option provided under
Connecticut Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs) and the
guidance document provides clarification on the conditions for which
Tl Variance would be applicable and appropriate. For additional
information on Connecticut DEEP's draft regulatory guidance
documents and Tl Variance, please visit: http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/
view.asp?a=2715&q=534920&deepNav_GID=1626.
REGION 2
NEW JERSEY-An abandoned brownfield in downtown Jersey
City was redeveloped into a mixed-income residential complex.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection provided
oversight during assessment and cleanup of the 6-acre property.
Environmental assessments revealed contaminated historic fill,
VOC-impacted groundwater, two abandoned underground storage
tanks, and chromate ore processing residue. In addition, there were
site redevelopment issues related to buried debris, vapor intrusion
and localized organic deposits. Cleanup activities, which addressed
the environmental and geotechnical redevelopment issues, included:
soil reuse to minimize off-site disposal costs; vapor protection and
monitoring; and the design of a cost-effective site cap. Lafayette
Village, a 124-unit, mixed-income residential complex, uses a
compact mixture of garden, row and semi-detached townhouses to
create a community that encourages resident interaction, promotes
walkability and maintains affordability. The redeveloped property
also includes internal courtyards, multiple playgrounds, a community
center, and sidewalks. Traditional design features embrace the
historic character of the neighborhood as well.
The completed Lafayette Village, a mixed-income residential complex.
VIRGINIA- The former Stillwater Textile Plant in Goshen ceased
operations nearly 10 years ago and sat idle and heavily vandalized
for years afterward, with a number of environmental concerns. The
property spans over 146 acres, much of which was open space
not used for plant operations. In 2009, EPA's Superfund Technical
Assessment and Response Team conducted an environmental
investigation, determining that property conditions did not warrant an
emergency removal action. The results allowed a local businessman
to move forward with further evaluation of the property for potential
purchase in order to expand his timber milling operations. Rockbridge
County provided significant support for the reuse of this property
and applied for a Virginia Brownfields Assistance Fund Grant
in order to further evaluate the property prior to redevelopment.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Regional and
Brownfields staff held several meetings with the potential purchaser
and representatives of the former owners to discuss environmental
concerns. The property is now enrolled in the state's Voluntary
Remediation Program in order to complete cleanup of the textile mill
area of the property.
CERCLA Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program Fundin
January/February 2014
-------
REGION 4
REGION 5
GEORGIA- Georgia State University (GSU), located in downtown
Atlanta, was a "commuter school" for most of its history. Conversion
of the Olympic Athletes' Village built for the 1996 Atlanta Summer
Games gave GSU its first opportunity to provide dormitory-style
student housing. Georgia's Section 128(a) Brownfields Program
gave the urban university an opportunity to design and build modern
apartment-style student housing more closely integrated with the
main campus. The GSU Foundation purchased a 4.2-acre urban
brownfield block, historically used as a gas station, a dry cleaner, and
a car dealership. The property had sustained environmental impacts
from all of these former uses. Under oversight from Georgia's
Brownfields Program, 8,000 tons of contaminated soil was removed
from the property. The property was subsequently developed into
an apartment complex to house students adjacent to campus in the
heart of downtown Atlanta. The complex includes four apartment
buildings ranging from 8 to 15 stories, and houses approximately
2,000 GSU students. The $168 million project brought a dramatic
change to downtown Atlanta. Long a city with an empty center,
the area is now home to young, vibrant, full-time residents. The
economic impact on downtown led Central Atlanta Progress, Inc.
to name University Commons the 2007 winner of its annual Atlanta
Downtown Design Excellence Award for residential development. In
2011, the GSU Commons won recognition from CampusSplash.com
as the "Best Overall Dorm in the Country."
The award-winning University Commons at Georgia State University.
INDIANA- The Indiana Brownfields Program used Section
128(a) Response Program funding to provide technical oversight
for environmental assessment and remediation activities at the
2.86-acre former National Malleable Castings Company Works in
Indianapolis. The property began as the Indianapolis Malleable Iron
Works Company, with foundry operations beginning in 1875 and
continuing until 1962 when the facility closed. The iron works foundry
buildings were demolished in 1963, but the foundations and footings
from these buildings remained. The central portions of the property
were elevated approximately five to six feet above the original
ground surface by fill material deposited at the property since 1963.
Environmental assessments revealed soil contaminated with semi-
volatile organic compounds and metals. After cleanup the property
was redeveloped into the Lincoln Apartments, a multi-story facility
with a fully furnished, 75-unit apartment building and parking area to
be utilized as transitional housing for homeless veterans on the upper
floors and support services on the ground floor. The facility is located
next to a community health center and approximately one mile from
the Roudebush Veteran Affairs Medical Center. In November 2013,
on the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address,
a dedication ceremony was held for the new Lincoln Apartments that
drew a variety of stakeholders, including officials from the U.S. EPA,
the state, the Mayor's office, and residents of the new facility.
REGION 6
OKLAHOMA- Hobart Public School System in the City of Hobart
is in great need of a safe place for parents to drop-off and pick-up
elementary school students. The elementary school is located on
State Highway Business Route 9 and has no parking or pick-up area
that is safe for the children. Children often have to cross the busy
highway to get to their parents' vehicles. The abandoned Hobart
Middle School, located next door, is the ideal property to create
a safe place for child pick-up and parking; however, it contained
asbestos and the school system did not have the necessary funds for
the abatement. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
(DEO) used Section 128(a) Response Program funding to conduct
an environmental assessment and used the State Fund to complete
asbestos abatement. With abatement complete, the school system is
moving forward to demolish the building and complete the safe pick-
up area for the 2014-2015 school year.
CERCLA Section 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program Fundin
January/February 2014
-------
REGION 7
REGION 9
KANSAS - In 2013, the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment (KDHE) used Section 128(a) Response Program
funding to conduct an assessment on the historic Overbrook Park
Post Office that will be repurposed into a multi-use community arts
center. The assessment revealed that there was no environmental
contamination and that the property is ready for reuse. The
InterUrban ArtHouse (IUAH) will take measures to ensure that the
historic post office building is preserved while transforming the space
into affordable studios, a community arts center, cultural space and
a sculpture garden. The Post Office will remain a tenant in the new
facility, a great step in ensuring the location will remain a vibrant part
of the community. IUAH consulted varied artists and artisans who
contributed to the design of the building. Care has been taken to
preserve or enhance the building's artistry from the beginning of the
project's design—from the building's exterior to the planned sculpture
garden and greenspace.
An artist's rendering of the InterUrban ArtHouse (IUAH).
REGION 8
BLACKFEET - The Blackfeet Tribe's Brownfields Tribal Response
Program hired consultants to complete Phase I and Phase II
assessments and pre-demolition asbestos inspections of 13
commercial and industrial properties located on the Blackfeet Indian
Reservation. Buildings on these properties were determined to be
abandoned, unsecured, structurally unsound and unsafe due to
a variety of potential hazardous substances and conditions. The
Blackfeet Tribe's Brownfields Program provided Tribal oversight for
demolition of the 13 structures, an effort that began in late summer
2013 and was completed in September. This action paved the way
for future redevelopment of the now vacant properties, all located on
prime commercial real estate. The Tribe has already been contacted
by interested developers to open a fast food restaurant on one of
the properties, and the Blackfeet Planning Department is working on
redevelopment marketing for the other areas.
CALIFORNIA- Over the past two years, the California Department
of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the City of Compton have
established a partnership to develop an effective method to address
environmental justice issues that are widespread within the Interstate
710 corridor. The focus of the Compton Pilot Study is to apply a
wide range of tools to bring properties back to productive reuse.
DTSC's Section 128(a) Response Program-funded Targeted Site
Investigation (TSI) program is particularly helpful in facilitating this
collaborative redevelopment process. DTSC worked with Compton
and community representatives to hand-pick projects with the highest
redevelopment potential and community support, and where TSI
services would provide the most value. Over the past year, several
properties were included in a "community-wide" phased assessment
process. One of the properties addressed through this process was
a 14-acre vacant landfill enclosed within a residential neighborhood.
This property was of grave concern to the community, and advocacy
groups worked closely with Compton to redevelop this property for
much needed open space. A TSI was completed, and the final design
plans for a regional park are currently underway. Community groups
are working to establish a weekly farmer's market to increase access
to healthy foods, and launch a "junior ranger" program as a diversion
program for at-risk teens. A 7-acre, former industrial property was
also cleared through the TSI program for redevelopment. The City
of Compton Pilot Study has allowed DTSC to develop an effective
method to address brownfields in EJ communities, and address a
resource gap through greater level of involvement in site-selection,
follow-up, and engagement with the community.
REGIO
OREGON - The Thomas Cully Park property in Portland was a
former sand and gravel mine, then a construction landfill, and is
now in the process of becoming a park. In the summer of 2012 the
Oregon Brownfield State Response Program used Section 128(a)
Response Program funding to complete an assessment at the
property. The 25-acre park will be developed in multiple phases. The
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) announced that it will contribute
$1.25 million towards the first construction phase. This project
will also address the lack of parks and natural areas in the Cully
neighborhood—currently, over 400 families in the Cully neighborhood
do not live within a half-mile of a park or natural area.
United States
Environmental Protection
CERCLA Section I28(a) State and Tribal Response Program Funding January/February 2014
EPA-560-F-I4-008
------- |