Revitalizing Southeastern Communities A Brownfields Toolkit Anaconda, /VIT Gets Help from Jack Nicklaus to Transform Superfund Site into World Class Golf Course After nearly a century's worth of copper processing that released dangerous concentrations of heavy metals into the air, soil, and ground water, the Anaconda Smelter in Montana was listed as a Superfund site in 1983. Through hard work and cooperation between the local community, site owner Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), State and Federal Agencies, and golf legend Jack Nicklaus, this contaminated property has been transformed into an award-winning golf course and hiking trail. This cleanup and redevelopment project has injected the local economy with new revenue, provided the state with additional income and sales taxes, and created 120 permanent, full-time jobs which generate more than $480,000 in total annual income. Nestled in the foothills of Montana's Anaconda-Pintler Mountain range, the Anaconda Smelter first began copper smelting operations in 1884. The 5,000-acre facility quickly rose to national prominence due to its astonishing annual copper production. When it closed its doors in 1980, the smelter left thousands of people unemployed and devastated the local economy. The copper processing operation also left behind an environmental legacy of more than 300 million cubic yards of contaminated tailings, slag (a by-product of the smelting process), flue dust, and soil. In an effort to prevent Anaconda from suffering the economic collapse experienced by so many mining towns, EPA partnered with ARCO (the CERCLA potentially responsible party) and the Anaconda community to develop a cleanup plan that not only protected people and the environment, but also preserved the site's historical significance and allowed for redevelopment. Due to the large size of the property, EPA divided the site into 20 cleanup units. One of the units, the 1,500-acre Old Works/East Anaconda Development Area, became the focus for the construction of a world class golf course and educational nature trail. To implement the cleanup and redevelopment plan, EPA developed an enforcement order with ARCO. Under EPA supervision, ARCO contractors covered the area designated for the golf course with thick clay and limestone cap and 18 to 20 inches of soil to support the golf course's vegetation. A state-of-the-art irrigation system was also installed to ensure that no further contamination occurred on the site. Concerned citizens of Anaconda tracked the cleanup work and EPA's studies through a technical assistance grant from EPA. Anaconda citizens were also involved in the creation of a Comprehensive ------- Master Plan that provided guidance for accommodating future development on and around the Anaconda Smelter site. To design the golf course, ARCO turned to golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who had already designed courses on landfills in Michigan and lava fields in Hawaii. Nicklaus took advantage of the area's spectacular mountain vistas and incorporated many of the unique historic characteristics of the former smelting site, including flue and oven remains. The Old Works course is speckled with ebony bunkers that are filled with more than 14,000 cubic yards of inert smelting slag ground to the texture of sand. From the flowing fairways, golfers are graced with views of the massive, 585-foot smokestack, which stands as a lingering reminder of the area's industrial past. Hikers can enjoy similar views from the historic hiking trail that winds its way around the golf course. The Old Works Golf Course opened to the public in May 1997 and has brought new life to Anaconda. Tourism and recreation now support this once-mining town. The cleanup and redevelopment of the Anaconda Smelter site created 30 temporary and 120 long-term jobs, which have brought about remarkable economic benefits. The golf course, which has been praised by Golf Digest as being "world class," has attracted tourists from across the country. This influx of visitors has had an immediate and positive impact on annual revenue, property values, and local business investments. A $6 million luxury resort is one such venture currently under construction. Likewise, the renewed interest in the area has promoted the continuing restoration of the mine-scarred landscape. For instance, the Old Works golf course features native grasses and more than 600 new trees. Nearby Warm Springs Creek, once utilized as a dumping ground by the smelting operation, now hosts a healthy population of trout. Thanks to a strong partnership between EPA, ARCO, and the local community, what was once an ugly eyesore and Superfund site is now a recreational and natural haven for both local residents and visitors. Contact: Melissa Friedland US EPA 703-603-8864 friedland.melissa@epa.gov ------- Revitalizing Southeastern Communities A Brownfields Toolkit Environmental Threat Becomes Environmental Treasure for New Castle County, DE The Army Creek Landfill was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. An abandoned sand and gravel quarry, the 60-acre property operated as a landfill between I960 and 1968 for the disposal of approximately 2 million cubic yards of municipal and industrial waste. During the rainy seasons, groundwater periodically rose above nearly 30 percent of the buried waste. This inundation leached harmful amounts of organic and inorganic chemicals into the soil and groundwater, contaminating nearby residential wells and Army Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River. Thanks to a unique agreement between the 18 potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and local, state, and federal government agencies, this contaminated property has been transformed into a vibrant wildlife reserve for various native terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species. Groundwater contamination from the Army Creek Landfill was first discovered in 1971 in a residential well located in the adjacent Llangollen Estates housing development. Subsequent investigation of the underlying Upper Potomac aquifer identified a plume of chemicals migrating from the landfill. Harmful levels of organic and inorganic compounds were found in the groundwater. High concentrations of contaminants were also found in the surface water of nearby Army Creek. Further, the Artesian Water Company maintained a public drinking water supply well field only one-half mile from the landfill site. At the time groundwater contamination was discovered, approximately 3,370 people lived within one mile of the landfill site and an additional 130,000 people lived within three miles. The wetland and upland area was also home to a variety of terrestrial and aquatic species. To minimize the immediate threat to human health and the environment, New Castle County, the owner of the blighted property, installed a series of groundwater recovery wells between the landfills and the public water supply wells. The County also financed the extension of Artesian's water supply lines to residents in Llangollen Estates. The final cleanup decision entailed sealing the landfill with a multi-layer cap. To finance the remediation project, EPA entered into a Mixed-funding Consent Decree with 18 PRPs, including BP America, Chrysler, Du Pont, General Motors, ICI Americas, Hercules, and Waste Management. Sevenson Environmental Services, Inc. oversaw the construction of the 60-acre cap, which was completed in late 1993. During this construction period, Sevenson unearthed 52 drums of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. These drums were transported to hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. A water treatment facility was also constructed on the property to treat contaminated ground water pumped from the recovery wells prior to it's discharge to Army Creek. Groundwater recovery activities will continue until the cleanup standards are met at the property boundary. ------- As remediation progressed at the landfill property, EPA began to realize the potential of returning the site to productive use. After discussing options with local natural resources trustees, EPA decided to convert the site into a greatly needed habitat for native plants and wildlife. EPA collaborated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife to create a managed refuge that would provide migratory birds, small animals, and plants with a place in which to live, breed and grow. To attract wildlife back to the Army Creek site, native vegetation was planted and a mowing schedule was created so that birds and terrestrial creatures would have shelter and food throughout the year. EPA addressed flood problems in low lying areas by modifying the on-site discharge locations for the recovered and treated groundwater in order to create standing wetlands. The wetlands prevent erosion and surface water runoff, and provide a habitat for numerous species of plants, animals, and birds. In addition, EPA instructed the County to arrange for the restoration of the 225 acres of emergent wetlands adjacent to Army Creek. This restoration included the removal of invasive phragmites plants, which had choked out much of the native wetland vegetation. Thanks to these efforts by the PRPs and the local, state and federal government agencies, a once- contaminated eyesore is now a sanctuary for Delaware's native plants, animals, and birds. Contact: Melissa Friedland U.S. EPA 703-603-8864 friedland.melissa@epa.gov ------- From RCRA to Residential in Muskegon Heights, Ml For 50 years, the City of Muskegon Heights operated a municipal wastewater treatment plant at the Safety-Kleen facility in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, until 1974, when it was leased to a hazardous waste treatment company that treated electroplating wastes. The original lessee has been acquired by a series of other companies, the latest being Safety-Kleen. Michigan DEQ issued a closure certification for active units in August 1995, but the site was a low priority for State corrective action. In 1999, the site was selected as a RCRA Brownfields Prevention Pilot, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the economic revitalization of the City through the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields. At the present time, the risks to human health and the environment posed by the site are unknown. Muskegon Heights seeks to develop a corrective action strategy between federal, state, and local stakeholders; negotiate a consent agreement for corrective action implementation; and obtain a comfort letter from EPA to help resolve purchaser liability concerns. Michigan is a RCRA-authorized state and has designated a staff person to serve on a RCRA Brownfields Prevention Pilot oversight team. This project will provide one of the first opportunities to apply the voluntary corrective action concepts in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Region 5 and the State of Michigan. Another proposed goal is to create a model for other owners and operators of RCRA facilities on how to voluntarily pursue corrective action. The City has been approached by a developer to purchase the property and construct residential homes and a recreation area. The proposed housing and recreational area are needed to attract middle income families back to this urban community, where the unemployment rate is ten percent and the poverty rate is 33 percent. The City fully supports the redevelopment proposal, and resources for demolition will be leveraged from the state. Contact: Melvin Burns, II Muskegon Heights 231-733-1 175 Ann Wentz EPA Region 5 312-886-8097 ------- |