RETURN TO USE INITIATIVE
2012 Demonstration Project
CALHOUN PARK AREA:
Charleston, South Carolina
THE SITE: The approximately 18-acre Calhoun Park
Area site (the Site) is located on the eastern side of
the Charleston peninsula, bordering the Cooper River,
in Charleston, South Carolina. In the 1800s, a wood
treating facility began operations at the Site. In 1855,
a manufactured gas plant at the Site began producing
and storing gas for area homes and businesses to use
for heating, lighting and cooking. The heating process
used to separate the flammable gas from coal or oil
produced waste by-products, including liquid coal tar.
In 1991, EPA and the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) identified
contamination from the manufactured gas plant operation
in soil, sediment and ground water at the Site. Remedial
activities began in 2004 and the remedy included the
removal of contaminated soil and the treatment of
contaminated ground water. The remedy also addressed
contaminated sediment in the Cooper River. EPA,
SCDHEC and the Site's potentially responsible party,
South Carolina Electric and Gas (SCE&G), worked
together to perform cleanup activities that would support
redevelopment and reuse of the Site.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The remediation of the Site
provided the opportunity for the redevelopment of several
waterfront properties along the eastern side of the
Charleston peninsula. Early on in the cleanup process,
the South Carolina Aquarium had expressed interest in
reusing a portion of the site property for a new, state-
of-the-art aquarium facility and the City of Charleston
also wanted to improve availability of parking to support
additional development in the area. EPA scheduled a
phased site cleanup that would allow these particular
parcels to be cleaned up first and made available for
reuse earlier than other parcels. The new aquarium
opened in 2000 and has been a popular attraction for
tourists and locals. With an increase in the number of
visitors to the area, the Site posed the opportunity to
support additional amenities, such as shops, recreational
space and restaurants.
PICTURED: A historical photograph of industrial facilities on
the Site. (Source: EPA)
BARRIER: Contamination affected properties not accessible
for remediation in an area popularly visited for tourism,
recreation and shopping.
SOLUTION: Site stakeholders developed an innovative
plan for SCE&G to perform remedial activities that would allow
future reuse with minimal disruption to new area businesses.
PICTURED: An aerial view of the Site showing the waterfront
South Carolina Aquarium, commercial businesses and
community green space. (Source: EPA)
BEFORE: An industrial property contaminated by liquid coal
tar.
AFTER: A 1,100-space parking garage, the South Carolina
Aquarium, a shopping center, the ferry terminal to Fort Sumter
and open green space used for various community events such
as festivals.
United States
Environmental Protection	Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
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BARRIERS: With new and growing businesses on the Site, site stakeholders needed to coordinate
the remaining remedial phases with reuse plans for the Site. Cleanup had to be completed in a way that
would allow future development of the Site and also cause minimal disruption to the site reuse already
underway such as the South Carolina Aquarium, local businesses and other growing tourist attractions.
The location of much of the source contamination, liquid coal tar, posed another obstacle. The
contaminant was located in areas not accessible for remediation due to existing high voltage electrical
equipment, streets and structures. Because the SCE&G electrical substation supplies electricity to the
entire Charleston Peninsula and major outlying areas, it was critical that this substation remain in service
during the remediation. This meant that workers could not remove the source material with conventional
excavation techniques.
THE SOLUTION: Prior to beginning the remedy in 2004, EPA, SCDHEC and SCE&G developed a
plan for SCE&G to perform remedial activities without disrupting existing reuse. SCE&G used innovative
techniques to remove contamination from ground water and conduct necessary remedial activities. The
remedial design included installing a perimeter collection and recovery trench with over 50 contamination
source recovery wells to remove contamination from areas covered by existing buildings or structures.
SCE&G also worked with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to implement a bioremediation
treatment at the Site. Trees planted at the Site take up an estimated 105,000 gallons of contaminated
ground water over an 8-month growing season. In addition, SCE&G constructed an esthetically pleasing
yet secure cap over the contaminated sediment in the Cooper River. Completed in 2006, the sediment
cap created a potential shellfish habitat area and provides additional protection against erosion.
THE SITE NOW: SCE&G has been able to conduct removal activities, as well as continue use of
the recovery wells, with virtually no adverse impact on surrounding businesses and tourist activities.
Remediation at the Site has spurred redevelopment on the surrounding properties and along the shoreline
including ecological, cultural, tourist and community venues.
Today, the Site includes a 1,100-space parking garage, the South Carolina Aquarium, a shopping center, a
ferry terminal to Fort Sumter and open green space used for various community events such as festivals.
SCE&G also owns and continues to operate an electrical substation at the Site. A private developer has
begun construction of a condominium complex on a fully-remediated portion of the Site and the City of
Charleston is working closely with remedial contractors to complete a new park on the Site. The Charlotte
Street Park will include an observation deck extending over the Cooper River, providing wonderful views of
the Charleston Harbor. The South Carolina Aquarium and the Calhoun Park Area won the Phoenix Award
at the 2002 National Brownfield Association Conference in recognition of the transformation achieved
at this site. Future development plans for the site include a museum and other amenities to support the
growing local economy around the Site. The Calhoun Park Area site demonstrates how integrating site
remediation and redevelopment activities can create a wide-range of opportunities for the local community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Ken Mallary, Remedial Project Manager,
at mallarv.ken@epa.aov or (404) 562-8937; or Bill Denman, Region 4 Superfund Redevelopment
Coordinator, at denman.bill@epa.gov or (404) 562-8939.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
October 2012 2

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