Land Revitalization Success Stories | tPA #560-F22-285 December 2022 Planning for Sustainable Brownfield Redevelopment BEATRICE, NEBRASKA - DEMPSTER INDUSTRIES REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT DESCRIPTION • Community: Beatrice, Nebraska • EPA Regional Lead: David Doyle, doyle.david@epa.gov • Site and Use: Environmental review and flood plain analysis to help provide a basis for redevelopment strategy recommendations • Technical Assistance: Site Reuse Assessment PROJECT BACKGROUND The former Dempster Industries site was one of the longest running wind- powered water pump manufacturers in the country. The company produced windmills from 1885 - 2009. After closing, the property was unused and has since fallen into disrepair. Currently, the City of Beatrice owns part of the site. The city is exploring whether to acquire the remainder of the site, which is owned by Dempster Industries, LLC. The city's 2016 strategic plan includes the removal of hazardous sites as a goal, and specifically identifies the Dempster property as a focus for remediation, PROJECT CHALLENGES The city continues to work with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and EPA Region 7 to assess the environmental conditions at the site. The soil and groundwater at the site are contaminated with heavy metals, volatile and semi-volatile organics, A portion of the site which includes remaining manufacturing buildings is in the 100-year floodplain. A cap and cover remedy could be susceptible to degradation from future 100-year flood events, which would increase risk and cost. Importing fill to raise the site out of the floodplain may be unjustified in lieu of the open space and recreational uses considered and the potential for future flood damage risk/loss. EPA'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EPA's Land Revitalization team supported the City of Beatrice by: • Creating analysis diagrams and base maps of the brownfields in order to ensure proper planning for existing property and area, • Working with the city and community stakeholders to incorporate recreational reuses for the site, with two alternative redevelopment concepts developed. • Calculating the volume and cost of import fill required to take the site out of the 100-year flood plain, to protect proposed site improvements and to integrate floodplain fill improvement with proposed cap and cover remedy. • Delivering a final site reuse report that can be used to engage city leaders, community members and other stakeholders. NEXT STEPS FOR CONSIDERATION • Coordinate further remedial efforts with the NDEE to see if a clear path can be established to remediate the site, decommission and demolish the building, and bring the site to regulatory closure. • Hold a development charette for the community and stakeholders; summarize the findings of the site reuse assessment and solicit feedback, opinion, and concepts for site redevelopment. ------- |