vvEPA
www.epa.gov
Growing Toward Tomorrow, Together: Integrating Remedy and Reuse
THE CAMILLA WOOD PRESERVING SUPERFUND SITE IN CAMILLA, GEORGIA
Introduction
The small town of Camilla, Georgia, was wrestling with a
significant challenge. A 40-acre area close to downtown was
contaminated and had been vacant for almost a decade. EPA
had listed the former Camilla Wood Preserving Company wood
treating facility on the Superfund National Priorities List in 1998.
While site investigations were ongoing, the fenced area remained
an eyesore and health concern.
Through the early and sustained engagement of the community,
local and state governments, and EPA, the one-time liability lias
been replaced with productive reuses addressing community
priorities. The City of Camilla and Mitchell County have built
recreational facilities, including several soccer fields, on the
western, 25-acre portion of the site. Plans are also in place to
reuse the remainder of the site following cleanup.
Since the early 2000s, EPA, the Georgia Environmental Protection
Division (EPD), the City of Camilla, and Mitchell County have
been working together in support of a coordinated approach to
the cleanup of the Camilla Wood Preserving Superfund site. The
approach has linked cleanup and redevelopment, with a protective
remedy and land revitalization as overarching goals. In 2002,
EPA selected the site as a Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
pilot project, which led to the development of the community's
reuse plan for the site in 2003. Updated in 2007, the plan laid the
foundation for returning the site to recreational use.
Today, hundreds of area youth and adults participate in soccer
and football leagues on site, addressing a surging need in the
region for recreational fields. Integration of remedy and reuse
also streamlined the Superfund process and provided substantial
cost savings. Original cleanup costs were estimated at over $100
million; they are now $14.4 million. The remedy's components
allow for the community's reuse goals and have enabled cleanup
to take place more rapidly and efficiently and at less cost.
In April 2012, EPA recognized the community's efforts with the
Agency's Excellence in Site Reuse Award. "The City of Camilla
and Mitchell County worked collectively to establish soccer
Camilla Wood/
Preserving Company Site
Camilla
.97.
Mitchell
County
Pelham
The Camilla Wood Preserving site is located in Camilla, a small town (pop.
5,360) in southwestern Georgia, about 60 miles north of Tallahassee.
fields and recreational centers on the site to benefit all the citizens
of Camilla and enhance long-term maintenance of the remedy,"
noted Region 4 Superfund Director Franklin E. Hill at the award
ceremony. In 2010, the community was also recognized by the
Association County Commissioners of Georgia and Georgia
Trend magazine for "improving services for county residents and
enhancing quality of life in Georgia communities."
This case study explores the strategies and working relationships
that led to the successful cleanup and reuse of the Camilla Wood
Preserving site. The following pages trace the evolution of
cleanup and reuse efforts, highlighting local planning efforts and
coordination with site agencies in the 2000s and ongoing cleanup
and reuse activities through 2012. The case study provides
information and lessons learned to parties interested in the
recreational reuse of Superfund sites and how to address remedy
and reuse considerations throughout the Superfund process.
GEORGE v
ID TOMORmf
Use of the site's two sports fields has increased steadily since 2007. Site reuses also include an aerobics classroom and office space for Mitchell County's
Parks & Recreation Department, a concession stand, lights and parking.
1
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative

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Site History, Contamination and Remediation
Wood preserving activities at the site between 1947 and 1991
resulted m the contamination of site soils and ground water
with dioxin, pentachlorophenol, creosote and poh aromatic
hydrocarbons. As these pre-cleanup photographs illustrate,
site facilities included treatment cylinders, also called retorts
(bottom), and pole barns where pressure-treated wood was
placed for drying and storage (right). There were also two
small office buildings on site. Prior to its development, the
area had been a cypress swamp.
EPA performed investigations and short-term cleanups called
removal actions at the site from 1991 through 1997. Activities
included treatment or disposal of on-site surface water,
gathering and storage of drums with spent chemicals from the
treatment process, and removal of equipment and debris off
site. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program's National
Priorities List (NPL) in July 1998.
In 2006, EPA Region 4 identified an opportunity to move
forward with the cleanup of the western portion of the site as
a removal action. In total. 10,000 cubic yards of contaminated
soils were excavated and stockpiled on the eastern portion of
the site for later cleanup; an additional 10,000 cubic yards were
disposed of off site. Excavated areas were then backfilled with
clean soil, meeting EPA's recreational use criteria. Remaining
pole barns and contaminated soils lining the drainage ditch
zone on the western half of the site were also removed, with
the ditch backfilled with clean soil, graded and revegetated.
Fencing was installed between the two halves of the site.
In 2009, EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) selecting a final, comprehensive remedy for the site, addressing
soil contamination on the eastern portion of the site and site ground water. Components of the remedy included:
•	On-site stabilization and solidification of contaminated soils.
•	Installation of a below-ground barrier wall to contain ground water contamination.
•	Ground water treatment and monitoring to ensure contamination degrades over time.
•	Land use controls to limit future uses to non-residential uses only, prohibit ground water use for drinking water
purposes, and prohibit soil removal or digging near treated material.
Throughout planning and cleanup activities. EPA and Georgia EPD staff
met regularly with local stakeholders to share information and updates and
to incorporate community feedback into the Superfund process. The selected
remedy was consistent with the community's future land use plans, enabling
the western portion of the site to be reused for recreational purposes. Final
cleanup activities for the western portion of the site began in November 2006;
construction of the remedy was completed in January 2008. Cleanup of the
eastern portion of the site began in May 2012 and is scheduled for completion
in mid-2014.

v WESTERN
J
: AREA
EASTERN
AREA ,
to* ¦
Site boundary
Aerial view of the site prior to cleanup.

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Project History
2002 - 2003
Recognizing Opportunities, Developing Plans
By 2002, EPA and Georgia EPD had been updating the City
of Camilla and Mitchell County regarding site activities for
several years. "We had good communication with the agencies,"
recalled former Camilla City Manager Michael Scott. "We
understood that it was going to be a long-term process."
For EPA On-Scene Coordinator Leo Francendese, learning
about the community's priorities for the site was also essential.
''Without an understanding of how the site might be used in the
future, initial cleanup plans called for digging up and hauling
over 200,000 yards of contaminated soil to a landfill," he said.
"It would have been very expensive." With limited federal
dollars available for Superfund-lead site cleanups, it could also
have been years before funding became available.
The idea of reusing the site elicited a strong, positive reaction
from the community. "Cleaning it up and then fencing it off
and forgetting about it didn't make any sense," recalled former
Camilla Mayor Jay Powell. "Remember, this is a large area
right next to downtown. We saw an opportunity to turn a big
negative into a big plus." Considering reuse offered significant
benefits for site agencies - EPA and Georgia EPD - and the
community. Understanding the site's reasonably anticipated
future use meant EPA could better target site investigations,
saving time and money while still ensuring the protectiveness
of the remedy. For the community, a streamlined cleanup
process meant that site reuses could happen safely and sooner
rather than later.
First, though, the community needed to explore local land use
needs and priorities. EPA site staff encouraged the city and
Detailed community map.
county to apply for pilot project funding from the Agency's
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI) to conduct a
community-based reuse planning process. The funding,
awarded in late 2002, enabled the localities to move forward.
The City of Camilla established and worked with a community-
based Land Use Committee and a consultant team to develop a
conceptual reuse framework plan.
To ensure the plan would be feasible and compatible with
the site's cleanup alternatives, the project team developed
a detailed understanding of site conditions. As draft reuse
scenarios circulated, the project team evaluated how they
might work with different cleanup approaches. To do this, the
project team coordinated closely with EPA's Leo Francendese.
"We [site agencies] were at the table as resources," he recalled.
"The decision-making process belonged to the community."
During the six-month project, the Committee discussed and
defined reuse priorities for the site. Strong initial interest in a
Reuse Planning in Camilla
Camilla City Council formed a Land Use Committee to
represent community perspectives and guide the reuse
planning project. The Committee also provided a forum for
the community to learn about the site.
The reuse planning process included diverse local interests.
Committee members included a city councilor, a farmer,
the city manager, the fire chief, the recreation director,
neighborhood residents and a representative from Mitchell
County.
In addition to committee meetings, the project also included
a public comment period and presentations to Camilla's City
Council.
Marked-up site map identifying key cleanup and reuse considerations.
Close coordination with EPA and Georgia EPD site staff ensured the
project's draft reuse scenarios accurately reflected site conditions and
cleanup considerations.
Downtown-
	T 1
District
Camilla Wood Preserving
Company Superfund Site
lainbridge
Miles
(W///
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Bennett
(existing)
Camilla
RV Park
(approx 2.4 acres)
Camilla Community Park
(approx. 20 acres)
Fire and Rescue
Training Area
(approx. 7.3 acres)
Stormwater Management Area
(approx. 2.6 acres)
imitej
1 Mile Cross v.
Country Course
Powell Street
iwmuui|,|ll,TT1
Corridor
¦ Tree Rows
Indoor Recreation &
Community Facilities
Path and Railroad
Footbridge Crossing to
Existing Athletic Fields
^Remnant Wood Treatment
Cylinder remains as Marker
of Site's History
Centennial
Stadium
The community's 2003 reuse plan for the site.
fire and rescue training area expanded to include a community
park and trails serving local residents and visitors. Other
priorities included a small caravan/RV park and a stormwater
management area for parts of the site prone to flooding.
Committee members also emphasized the importance of
reconnecting the site with the rest of Camilla and recognizing
the site's history as part of the community's heritage.
The Committee presented the project's final reuse plan
to Camilla City Council in June 2003, which approved it
and submitted it to EPA in late 2003. "The process was
straightforward and productive," said Michael Scott, who also
served on the Committee. ''The Committee identified public-
sector land uses as a community priority, and the site was large
enough to be able to accommodate several of these uses." EPA
and Georgia EPD staff indicated that the reuse plan would be
compatible with a range of likely cleanup approaches at the
site.
2004 - 2007
Making the Most of Opportunities
Between 2004 and 2006, targeted site investigations informed
by the community's reuse plans continued. Interim cleanup
steps included the removal of contaminated drums and the
solidification of a former wastewater pond on site. Next steps
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for the site's reuse were on hold, pending the selection of
the site's final remedy. In the community, several parks and
recreation departments in the area consolidated into a single
department operated by Mitchell County.
In 2006, these activities were overshadowed by a sudden
opportunity. EPA Region 4 identified a way to move forward
with the cleanup of the western portion of the site as a removal
action. "We proposed cleaning up contaminated soils to
recreational standards, in line with the community's anticipated
uses for the site," said EPA's current site Project Manager Scott
Miller. "That meant replacing soils with clean fill and cleaning
up sediments in several drainage ditches."
SRI provided additional resources so that the community could
work with Region 4 to update the 2003 reuse plan. The reason -
local conditions had changed. Afire and rescue training facility
had been built in a nearby community. Meantime, a regional
need for new soccer fields had grown rapidly. The Land Use
Committee determined that the site would be an ideal location
for a soccer complex, given its close proximity to major
access roads, athletic fields, Mitchell-Baker High School and
residential neighborhoods.
"In 2003, there were no soccer fields in the area," recalled
current City Manager Bennett Adams, who was previously
Mitchell County's long-time County Administrator. "Then,
demand took off. Parents were driving their kids out of the
county to play. We needed fields badly." Following several
public meetings, the Committee also identified the need
for basketball courts and a flexible open space area. The
Committee also retained the small RV park in the revised plan.
and proposed the adaptive reuse of the remaining building on
site as office and storage space for Mitchell County's Parks and
Recreation Department.
"The reuse implications of the removal action were
straightforward," said EPA's Scott Miller. "The cleanup action
would place a foot of clean fill on the western part of the
site. That depth of fill would need to be maintained moving
forward. The community could pave or grade the area or plant
vegetation, as long as the fill remained 12 inches deep."
Other next steps, however were less clear. Proceeding with
acquiring contaminated property, for example, was new ground
for the community. "The site property had been abandoned
and both the city and county were owed back taxes that were
greater than the land's market value," said former city attorney
Michael Bankston. "It was unlikely that the bank holding a lien
on the property or any other party was going to be interested
in it. But we also needed to make sure that acquiring the site
would not expose the city to any liability."
To do this, the city coordinated closely with EPA Region's
4's legal staff and hired an enviromnental law firm to review
different acquisition options. In fall 2006, the city determined
that involuntary acquisition, covered under an explicit liability
exemption under CERCLA, would provide the best liability
protection. "EPA was instrumental in advising us how to do
this," recalled Michael Bankston. "We needed their guidance
to feel comfortable moving forward."
To foreclose on the property, the city selected an administrative
proceeding as the best approach. An administrative proceeding
Timeline of Events
1947 - 1991 Wood preserving activities contaminate site
soils
1991 - 1997 EPA conducts series of short-term cleanups
(removal actions)
July 1998 EPA lists site on the NPL
2002 - 2003 City of Camilla requests SRI assistance;
community-based reuse planning process
underway
Fall 2003 City of Camilla finalizes first site reuse plan
2005	County-wide Parks & Recreation
Department created
Nov. 2006 EPA begins time-critical removal action to
address contaminated soils on western half
of the site
Fall 2006 - Community updates site reuse plan
Spring 2007
Aug. 2007 City of Camilla acquires site property and
transfers ownership to Mitchell County
Sept. 2007 Mitchell County Recreation Complex opens
Jan. 2008 EPA completes time-critical removal action
2010	Community receives Association County
Commissioners of Georgia Award for
excellence in community planning/visioning
May 2012 EPA begins cleanup of eastern portion of the
site
2012	City of Camilla and Mitchell County
awarded EPA Region 4's Excellence in Site
Reuse award
2014	Scheduled completion date for cleanup of
eastern portion of the site
2014+	Planned recreational reuse of eastern portion
of the site
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Woodland Dr.
Wooded Pfcnic Area
and Pedestrian Trailhead
Rpnnett St
Recreational
Facility Office
A) Parking Area
for Courts
and Fields
Pedestrian fE
Trail
Flexible Open (r
k Space
Stormwater Retention Basin
Flexible Open
Space
Centennial
Stadium
t
Basketball
Courts
Adult and
Youth League
Soccer and
Football Fields

Powel^t__—Ma


The community's revised 2007 reuse plan for the western portion of the site.
CERCLA
The Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) is the law
passed by Congress on December 11,1980, that is commonly
known as Superfund.
would provide the city with title to the property immediately,
but the property would be subject to redeemable interests for a
12-month period prior to the planned opening of the community
park. In contrast, judicial action would provide the city with
unhindered title to the property, but the lengthy legal process
would likely have meant delaying the planned opening of the
park - targeted for September 2007. Cooperation between the
city and Mitchell County was also critical to the foreclosure
process. After surveys, subdivision and the 12-month
redemption period, the city would be able to take clear title to
the western 25 acres of the site in August 2007.
In the meantime, the community was completing the second
phase of the reuse planning process and EPA initiated the
removal action in late 2006. It was time to move from planning
to implementation.
6
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2007-2012
Partnering to Get the Job Done...
Beginning in 2007, the cleanup and reuse of the western portion
of the site relied on close and extended collaboration among
EPA, the City of Camilla and Mitchell County.
•	The city and county agreed to be responsible for taking
care of the property - mowing and maintaining the grass
cover - over the long term. EPA remains responsible for
ongoing cleanup activities such as ground water sampling.
•	The city's Electric Department coordinated with EPA to
extend utilities on site. Utilities were placed in a trench
with a protective barrier adjacent to the on-site road
built during earlier cleanup activities. EPA's contractor
completed all digging and burial activities in accordance
with the remedy. Utilities included water, wastewater and
electric systems, sprinkler systems and lighting.
•	Once the removal action was completed. EPA and Mitchell
County worked together to purchase and place sod over
the clean soil. Work crews also cleaned and refurbished
the remaining building.
•	Once the City of Camilla acquired the site property
in August 2007, it transferred ownership to Mitchell
County, given the county's responsibility for local public
recreation resources. Both localities worked together to
pay for, build and install the site's parking lot, concession
stand and lights. An in-state business also donated piping
for the park's irrigation system, saving the city and county
approximately $9,000.
"With everyone working together, it was like a turnkey project,"
said Mitchell County Parks & Recreation Department Director
Ike McCook. "There was a lot to do and it all got done."
As September 2007 approached, it became clear that the
Mitchell County Recreation Complex would open as planned.
Even so, local officials were not entirely sure how the
community would respond. "I was a little skeptical," recalled
The Bigger Picture: EPA and Reuse
Efforts to address future land use considerations at the
Camilla Wood Preserving site fit in well with emerging
nationwide interest in the revitalization of contaminated
areas, including Superfund sites. With the creation of EPA's
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative in 1999 and its Land
Revitalization Agenda in 2003, EPA's Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response launched a new EPA initiative
focusing on promoting land reuse and revitalization at
contaminated sites.
In 2002, the Small Business Liability and Brownfields
Revitalization Act also became law. The Act was designed
to make the acquisition and redevelopment of contaminated
properties like Superfund sites easier by addressing the
liability concerns associated with these sites. EPA's Office
of Site Remediation Enforcement lias a team devoted to
facilitating and implementing these liability protections. See
the Resources section for more information.
City Manager Bennett Adams. "I thought some people might
still be thinking about the past. I said to Ike McCook, 'I hope
we have someone show up.'"
In the end, there was no cause for concern. More than 400
people attended the opening of the Mitchell County Recreation
Complex. Since then, the use of the facility has steadily
increased; it is now the area's most heavily used public
recreation resource. In 2011, 576 children and adults played in
soccer and football leagues at the recreation complex, more than
tripling initial usage of the fields in 2008. "In the beginning,
you could hear people at soccer games talking about how [the
complex] was built on a Superfund site," said Ike McCook.
"Now, you don't hear anything. It's part of daily life."
...Looking Back, Looking Forward
The cleanup and reuse of the Camilla Wood Preserving
Superfund site has provided sparkling results - a streamlined
cleanup process that has saved time and millions of dollars of
taxpayers' money. "Early involvement from the city and county
Cleanup activities on the western portion of the site in 2007.
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Recreation Statistics for the Mitchell County Recreation Complex
Number of Participants*
Fall Youth	Winter Soccer	Fall Football	Adult Soccer League
Year	Soccer League	League	(flag and taclde)	(year-round)
200	8	95	71	NA	NA	
200	9	124	93	NA	NA	
2010	148	111	215	125
*Data provided by Mitchell Co unty Parks & Recreation Department in July 2012.
was key," said Georgia EPD Project Manager Penny Gaynor.
"Without the community's interest and feedback, the cleanup
probably wouldn't have happened so fast. Knowing there is an
end user [at a Superfund site] really helps EPA and the state
agencies."
Not all parts of the site's reuse have gone according to plan.
The seven-space RV park was partially built before work was
halted; the area is needed for planned upgrades to the site's
stonnwater retention basin. Resource limitations have delayed
the installation of planned trails. Overall, however, site agencies
and the community remain very pleased with how the site's
cleanup and reuse has worked out.
"In 2002, people were resigned to the fact that nothing would
ever be done with the site," recalled former City Manager
Michael Scott. "Afterward, people were coming up to me
saying, 'you really took care of an eyesore that we didn't think
we ever would see anything done with in our lifetimes.' I hope
the next phase is as successful for the community."
Looking forward, EPA kicked off cleanup for the eastern
portion of the site in May 2012. The city and county are once
again collaborating with site agencies to integrate remedy
and reuse considerations, including access points, utility
connections and grading. "It continues to be a pleasure to work
with the community," said EPA Project Manager Scott Miller.
"I'm optimistic that the city and county will be able to optimize
an appropriate mix of recreational uses on the eastern side of
the site."
The city and county have drawn up initial plans to
accommodate remaining priority recreational uses identified
by the community, including basketball courts, baseball fields,
batting cages, a playground, picnic tables and a volleyball
court. Walking and biking trails could also be extended across
the entire site and connect to downtown Camilla following
cleanup. "The second phase of the cleanup project is underway
and we're hoping every tiling will work out as planned,"
said City Manager Bennett Adams. "We're taking a flexible
approach in case any obstacles come up,"
At the end of the process in 2014, site agencies and the
community will work together on a final step - implementation
of institutional controls in the fonn of a restrictive covenant to
ensure the long-term protectiveness of the entire site remedy.
The covenant will limit future land use to nonresidential uses
only, prohibit ground water use on the property for drinking,
and prohibit soil removal or digging within the boundary of the
treated material.
Looking back, the project has been guided and spurred by a
spirit of collaboration and imiovation, coordination among
local, state and federal partners, and local government and
community leadership. The outcome is the successful cleanup
and recreational reuse of the Camilla Wood Preserving
Superfund site.
8
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I he Camilla Wood Preserving Site
The Story in Pictures
From Planning...
To Cleanup...
To Reuse...

9
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Lessons Learned
Participants agree that a combination of significant factors have
contributed to the project's successful outcomes.
•	The site's proximity to residential areas and downtown
Camilla and the need for public recreation facilities
meant that cleanup and redevelopment were high
priorities.
•	The City of Camilla and Mitchell County energetically
pursued the site's cleanup and redevelopment over the
long term.
•	EPA provided two phases of reuse planning assistance
that supported the community's efforts to develop reuse
plans and update them over time as local priorities
changed.
•	EPA and Georgia EPD understood the community's
redevelopment priorities in the context of the site's
remedy, enabling decision documents and a cleanup that
reflected remedy and reuse considerations.
•	Coordination of utility and sod installation with
cleanup activities saved time and money and helped the
community open the recreation complex on schedule in
September 2007.
•	EPA had selected a remedy for the site that would be
consistent with the site's reasonably anticipated future
land use.
•	All parties involved were patient and flexible,
recognizing that cleanup and redevelopment are complex
processes reliant on available resources, multiple parties,
site contamination and other factors.
The Bigger Picture
While these site-specific conditions created an ideal climate
for successful reuse outcomes, there are also a range of
broader lessons learned that can help guide similar projects at
contaminated lands across the country.
EPA works closely with communities, site owners and other
stakeholders to support reuse outcomes that are compatible
with site cleanups.
The Agency places a high priority on supporting the return of
contaminated sites to productive andbeneficialuses. In Camilla,
the community was able to work with EPA and Georgia EPD
to develop site reuse plans that reflected site conditions and
cleanup plans. In turn, the community's reuse plans were able
to inform EPA's selected remedy for the site.
While EPA provides tools and resources to support
Superfund reuse, communities and public- and private-
sector organizations make it happen.
EPA's mission is to protect human health and the enviromnent.
EPA relies on engaged community stakeholders to bring their
future land use goals and priorities to the table so that this
information can be incorporated into the remedial process,
linking cleanup and redevelopment. In Camilla, the city and
county shepherded the site's redevelopment from the outset
and acquired part of the site in 2007 to make it happen. The
city and county's coordinated long-term effort to transform the
site into a community asset was essential to the site's successful
reuse.
Local governments can play a unique leadership role in
cleanup and redevelopment projects.
As the organizations responsible for their communities' general
welfare, local governments are particularly well positioned
to host redevelopment projects, bring together diverse
stakeholders to discuss site cleanup and reuse opportunities,
and use planning tools and incentives to foster positive site
outcomes.
Effective reuse planning projects are inclusive, information-
based and focused on targeted outcomes.
Community-based reuse planning processes can be most
effective when they engage diverse stakeholders, including
site owners and prospective purchasers, are based on detailed
site and community information, and lead to implementable
strategies and next steps. Community engagement was a central
component of the City of Camilla's reuse planning process for
the site.
The design of site remedies can reflect and incorporate
plans for a site's reasonably anticipated future land use.
The community's reuse plan and EPA's remedial planning for
the site were able to directly inform each other in Camilla.
EPA's site information and remedial considerations guided the
types and locations of land uses that would ensure the protection
of human health and the enviromnent and the site's long-term
stewardship. In turn, the community's reuse priorities informed
EPA's consideration of the site's remedy components in the
2006 removal action and the site's 2009 Record of Decision.
Reuse plans and cleanup approaches can both change
over time. Such changes provide further opportunities to
integrate remedy and reuse considerations.
In Camilla, the community's recreational needs changed
significantly between 2003 and 2006. The second phase of SRI-
supported reuse planning enabled the community to update and
align its plans with EPA's removal action.
10
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Build on past experience.
Parties at the Camilla Wood Preserving site charted new territory
in addressing stigma and other site issues. Today, thanks to the
changes to CERCLA when the bona fide prospective purchase
(BFPP) provisions of the 2002 Brownfields Revitalization Act
were added, the availability of environmental insurance, and
EPA tools such as Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determinations,
resources for redevelopment are more widely available.
Prospective purchasers can contact EPA site teams to learn
more, or see the Resources section on the next page for
additional information.
EPA and Reuse: Lessons Learned
Since the inception of the Superfund program, EPA has been
building on its expertise in conducting site characterization
and remediation to ensure that contamination is not a barrier
to the reuse of property. Today, consideration of future use is
an integral part of EPA's cleanup programs, from initial site
investigations and remedy selection through to the design,
implementation and operation and maintenance of a site's
remedy.
"At older sites, EPA did not focus on taking reuse
considerations into account early in the cleanup process,"
reflected EPA's Matthew Mankowski, a former project
manager at Superfund sites. "Today, that has changed.
Superfund cleanups can be very creative and flexible in
allowing for future site uses, but that information needs to be
plugged in early to be as effective as possible."
Parties at the Camilla Wood Preserving site charted new
territory in addressing stigma and other site issues. Today,
thanks to the changes to CERCLA when the bona fide
prospective purchase (BFPP) provisions of the 2002
Brownfields Revitalization Act were added, the availability
of environmental insurance, and EPA tools such as Ready for
Reuse (RfR) Determinations, resources for redevelopment
are more widely available. Prospective purchasers can
contact EPA site teams to learn more, or see the Resources
section on the next page for additional information,
EPA also works with site stakeholders to consider how future
land use considerations can inform the implementation and
long-term stewardship of site remedies as well as cleanup
planning. In Camilla, coordination of utility installation and
sod installation with cleanup activities saved time and money
and helped the community open the recreation complex on
schedule in September 2007. Similar coordination is now
ongoing during the cleanup of the eastern portion of the site.
At other sites, reuse considerations can inform the future
location of ground water monitoring wells and other operation
and maintenance equipment that might inadvertently hinder
redevelopment efforts.
Conclusion
Events at the Camilla Wood Preserving Superfund site illustrate
how remedy and reuse can come together to provide significant
benefits - the protection of human health and the environment
and community revitalization. Integration of remedy and reuse
streamlined the Superfund process and provided substantial
cost savings. Without the discussion of reuse, the remedy being
considered at the site could have potentially compromised
the community's reuse goals. Once reuse came into play, the
remedy was no longer the end goal; it was an integral step
toward the site's next use.
In Camilla, Georgia, local governments have led a complex
redevelopment project that has brought the community
together with site agency partners. In turn, the project has
led to a new, increasingly popular recreation complex that
provides community-wide benefits, providing one of the
leading examples of recreational Superfund redevelopment in
the nation.
CAMILLA. GA.
May 2012 ceremony in Camilla recognizing the community with EPA
Region 4's Excellence in Site Reuse Award.
11
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Growing Toward Tomorrow, Together: Integrating Remedy and Reuse
THE CAMILLA WOOD PRESERVING SUPERFUND SITE IN CAMILLA, GEORGIA
Sources and Resources

Sources

Images and maps for this case study were obtained from EPA Region 4, Georgia EPD, the City of Camilla, Mitchell County
and site visits.
Resources

EPA CERCLIS site profile, including site decision
documents:
http://cfipub.epa.eov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.
cfm?id=0401395
2002 Brownfields Revitalization Act and BFPP
information:
http://www.epa.eov/brownfields/aai/aaicerclafs.pdf
EPA Superfund Redevelopment Initiative:
http://www.epa.eov/superfund/proerams/recvcle
CERCLA Liability and Local Government Acquisitions:
http://www.epa.eov/oecaertli/resources/publications/
cleanup/brownfields/local-eov-liab-acq-fs-rev.pdf
Environmental insurance information:
http://www.epa.eov/brownfields/insurance
City of Camilla Web page:
http://www.camillaea.net
Mitchell County Web page:
http ://www. mitchellcountv ea.net
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960
April 2013
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