Return to Use Initiative
2004 Demonstration Project
Sharon StGGll Midvale,UT
THE SITE: The 470-acre Sharon Steel Superfund Site in Midvale, Utah
consists of two Operable Units (OUs). OU1 is considered to be the
source of the contamination, which remains on site; OU2 comprises
the residential and commercial properties to which contamination
spread by blowing wind. While the properties in OU2 returned to use
immediately after cleanup, the capped and vegetated 260 acres of
OU1 has remained vacant in Midvale since the cleanup of the former
smelting and milling facility.
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Barrier: Superfund site stigma
THE OPPORTUNITY: A development group (consisting of the property
owners, and Midvale officials) is considering a redevelopment plan for
a mixed land-use community that would include commercial, office,
business park, industrial, and residential uses, as well as parks, open
spaces,and a neighborhood town center.
THE BARRIER: Midvale is home to two large Superfund sites, and the
city's long history of dealing with these sites in all stages of the remedial
process has made city officials wary. As at other Superfund sites in the
area, stigma associated with the Sharon Steel property poses a barrier
to its reuse. In the past, EPA had issued "clean letters" stating that the
cleanup was successful and the site was no longer hazardous. However,
these letters were not enough to offset the skepticism and stigma
surrounding the site.
Solution: A tripartite effort:
•	Midvale City: implemented and
maintained institutional control
program to allow for redevelop-
ment;
•	Developers: provided creative
redevelopment plans, demon-
strated willingness to collabo-
rate with federal, state, and local
agencies;
•	U.S. EPA: issued RfR Determina-
tion
THE SOLUTION: In July 2004 an Explanation of Significant Differences
was written to address the change in use at the site. EPA deleted the
site from the National Priorities List on September 24,2004. In order to
further combat the community's negative associations with the site,
EPA issued a Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determination.Signed on September
30,2004, this Ready for Reuse Determination is an environmental status
report that says the Sharon Steel site is ready for mixed uses, such
as residential and commercial. After EPA issued the document, the
directorof the Department of Community and Economic Development
in Midvale said that the RfR Determination was key to keeping reuse
discussions moving forward. Also in 2004, the Site Modification Plan for
redevelopment was approved by EPA, the State, and Midvale City and
was subsequently issued by the Sharon Steel development group. In
order to ensure the success of the redevelopment project, EPA, the state,
and local stakeholders will continue to work together to overcome any
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y--ry-
Before: Cleaned up smelting and
milling facility; 260 vacant acres;
capped in 1996, the property
loomed over Midvale City like a
large,flat-topped hill
After: Planned mixed land-use
community
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated December 2005

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future obstacles that might arise as the redevelopment plan for the Sharon Steel site becomes a reality.
THE MIXED USE COMMUNITY: The planned community will have a range of land uses, including a 2,500-
unit residential development. Because the redevelopment plan for the Sharon Steel site involves construction
activities on a capped tailings pile, State operation and maintenance activities and institutional controls
developed during the Midvale City zoning and land-use planning processes will need to be followed and
enforced to ensure that the remedy remains protective during and after redevelopment. The Institutional
Control Process Plan,which was developed to facilitate reuse of the site in compliance with the 2004 Explanation
of Significant Differences, will provide guidelines for adhering to institutional controls requirements at
Operable Unit 1 of the site. In 2005, the developer at the site delivered a draft geotechnical report for the site.
Installation of utilities and roads is scheduled to begin in 2006. At present, the developer continues to bring
fill to the site to achieve the required 8 to 22 feet of required fill depth and to surcharge some of the areas for
development.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Rebecca Thomas, Region 8 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at
thomas.rebecca@epa.aov or (303) 312-6552.
Aerial view of Operable Unit 7 of the Sharon Steel site, looking south.
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
2
updated December 200b

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