RETURN TO USE INITIATIVE 2011 Demonstration Project ABEX CORPORATION: Portsmouth, Virginia THE SITE: For 50 years, the Abex Corporation/ Brass Products Group operated a brass and bronze foundry in one of the oldest urban neighborhoods of Portsmouth, Virginia, iess than a mile from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, The plant produced recycled railroad journal bearings through melting and recasting the metal from worn bearings. Operations at the Abex Corporation site (the Site) ceased in 1978, butemissions from the smelting furnaces and the improper disposal of 3,500 cubic yards of waste sands from the casting operations resulted in contaminated soil at the former foundry and surrounding area. In addition, furnace waste sands had been inappropriately used as fill material for residential and commercial development at properties near the foundry, resulting in contamination of soils in residential yards, a housing complex, a small playground and a rehabilitation center. Contaminants of concern included lead, other heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. In 1990, EPA added the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL). In 1992, investigations determined that lead levels in site soils presented a health threat. Contamination at the Site is being addressed in two operable units (OUs): OU1 addresses contamination within a 700- foot radius of the former foundry and OU2 addresses contamination beyond the OU1 area. The Site's remedy, selected in 1992, includes excavation, removal and off-site disposal of waste material, and backfilling of excavated areas with clean fill. Foundry buildings on OU1 were demolished to allow for soil excavation work to address soil beneath the footprint of the buildings as well as the surrounding area. OU1 cleanup activities were completed in 2009 and institutional controls are in place to prevent future exposure. Cleanup activities and investigation continue for OU2. EPA is also investigating the source of ground water contamination discovered at the Site in 2010. PICTURED: Remedial construction activities on the Site, (source: EPA) BARRIER: Postponement of remedial activities to address public health concerns. SOLUTION: Collaboration among multiple stakeholders to ensure land reuse that is protective of human health and the environment. PICTURED: The new Portsmouth Community Health Center, (source: EPA) BEFORE: Contaminated soils presented public health concerns. AFTER: Protective remediation of the Site has addressed public health concerns and improved quality of life by providing needed medical care facilities and emergency response services. These new amenities have helped revitalize this community and attracted new businesses to the area. SEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Redevelopment Initiative December 2011 1 ------- THE OPPORTUNITY: The Abex Corp. site is located in a historically African American district with a low income population that is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) due to shortages of primary medical and dental care providers. The City of Portsmouth was interested in bringing additional services to the Southside Portsmouth area, and the Site provided appealing redevelopment opportunities, particularly since developable land is in high demand in the area. In addition, strengthening area infrastructure could help to overcome stigma and promote the productive use of under-utilized land parcels by attracting businesses. In this way, the City's initial redevelopment could spur a cycle of redevelopment to help revitalize the local economy with jobs and an increased tax base. THE BARRIERS: Although EPAhad selected a site cleanup plan in 1992 with remediation activities scheduled and cleanup underway on portions of the Site, remedial activities had to be postponed due to public health concerns. THE SOLUTION: Opportunities for community input were included throughout the decision-making process for the Site's cleanup and redevelopment. Multiple stakeholders worked collaboratively to address the public health concerns and transition the property to appropriate land use that is protective of human health and the environment. In addition, the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority secured grants and funding to help make the transition successful. THE SITE NOW: The Site's reuse has played a significant role in the success of Portsmouth's urban revitalization, which has become a model for similar redevelopment efforts. There are three public service facilities at the Site: Fire Station 1, the Hampton Roads Community Health Center and the Charles A. Fisher Memorial Academy. Fire Station 1 serves as an anchor for redevelopment with its central location on the Site and improved response time for fire and medical emergencies. The not-for-profit Hampton Roads Community Health Center (formerly the Portsmouth Community Health Center) is a Federally Qualified Health Center, providing primary health care and dental care to the local community and adjusting charges based on ability to pay. The Health Center also provides laboratory services; pharmaceutical services; behavioral health and preventive care health services; and education, translation and transportation services that promote access to healthcare. Outreach activities, including off-site health fairs, provide screening services to local residents at no cost. The Charles A. Fisher Memorial Academy is part of the Portsmouth Sherriff's Office and provides law enforcement and correctional curricula training for staff at federal, state and local agencies in the southeastern portion of the state. The Portsmouth Mounted Police Stables are located adjacent to the academy and the police unit regularly patrols the Portsmouth streets. Commercial redevelopment at the Site includes a coffee distribution facility and a shopping center and a revitalized park has added green space to the community. Returning the Site to beneficial reuse has improved the aesthetic appeal of the local landscape, attracted new businesses with anticipated further redevelopment, and provided needed community services to improve the local quality of life for Portsmouth residents. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Christopher Thomas, Region 3 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at thomas.christopher@epa.aov or (215) 814-5555 or Fred MacMillan, Remedial Project Manager, at macmillan.fred@epa.aov or (215) 814-3201. &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Redevelopment Initiative December 2011 2 ------- |