US. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION 5
ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO, WISCONSIN AND 35 TRIBES
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TARGETED BROWNEIELDS ASSESSMENT
GENERAL SERVICES BUILDING MADISON STREET
REUSE/REVITALIZATION
The anticipated future land use of the property is a
community art center with professional office space.
Prior to rehabilitation of the building, U.S. EPA advises
that an asbestos and lead-abatement plan be prepared.
In addition, the Agency recommends a system be
installed to eliminate possible future vapor intrusion.
DETAILS OF U.S. EPA'S SITE ACTIVITIES
The TBA involved conducting environmental investigations
at the site including a Phase I Environmental Site
Assessment, or ESA, completed in Aug. 2016 and a Phase
II ESA done in Dec. 2016, which included a hazardous
materials survey. Phase I ESA activities included reviewing
property records and historical documents, conducting site
inspections, and completing an inventory of containers on
the site. Phase II involved sampling of soil and groundwater
and assessing the site for potential vapor intrusion. The
hazardou s materials survey consisted of U.S. EPA inspection
of the building materials, excluding roofing, for asbestos-
containing materials and lead-based paint.
CONTACT US
Brad Stimple
TBA Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 5 Brownfields
stimple.brad@epa.gov
440-250-1717
REPORT/INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
Findings of the Phase I ESA identified evidence of
underground and above ground storage tanks on several
nearby properties as well as drums containing unknown
contents, oil products and anti freeze on the site. Phase II
ESA activities found contaminated sub-slab vapors at the
site indicating the potential for vapor intrusion. However,
contamination found in the soil was not above Indiana
Department of Environmental Management, or IDEM,
levels requiring cleanup. The groundwater was found to
contain elevated levels of contaminants. Asbestos-containing
material and lead-based paint was also found in the building.
What is a Targeted Brownfields Assessment?
U.S. EPAs TBA program provides technical assistance
to states, communities and non-profit organizations,
to minimize the uncertainties of contamination on
brownfield sites. U.S. EPA, at no charge to the community,
will characterize a brownfield to determine the nature
and extent of contamination. For more information
on TBAs or to request a TBA go to: https://www.epa.
gov/brownfields/brownfields-and-land-revitalization-
illinois-indiana-michigan-minnesota-ohio-and
Gary, Indiana	December 2017
The United States Environmental Protection Agency's Targeted Brownfields Assessment, or TBA, Program assisted the city of Gary
by completing a TBA for a property known as General Services Building and is located at 900 Madison St. in Gary, Ind. Completion
of the TBA will help pave the way for the development
of the property as a community art center and office
space. The property was originally developed as office
space for the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. in
1926 and was occupied until 1956. The city of Gary
used the building for administrative offices from
sometime between 1965-1970 until the mid-2000s. The
site has remained vacant since. At the time of the TBA,
the property consisted of a vacant three-story office
building on 0.53 acres of land.
General Services Building.

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