Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook

Economic Information Collection Overview

EPA quantifies the beneficial effects of reuse at Superfund sites. Information collected includes the
number of on-site jobs, estimated annual employment income and sales revenue generated by on-site
businesses, on-site property values, local property tax revenues, and other beneficial effects that are
unique to individual sites.

EPA shares these beneficial effects in four primary ways:

1.	National economic information summaries that track the numbers of businesses and on-site
jobs, employment income from jobs, and sales revenue information for many sites in reuse. This
information provides a nationwide overview of the beneficial effects associated with Superfund
site reuse.

2.	Regional economic reports that profile economic and community benefits by EPA Region.

3.	Local beneficial effects case studies that highlight detailed reuse, employment and other
beneficial effects at the site and community level.

4.	In-depth reuse case studies that document additional site-specific economic information.
Sometimes, this additional detailed information is provided by communities during case study
development.

Number of Sites

EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI) tracks hundreds of Superfund sites in planned and active
reuse, as well as Superfund sites in continued use (Table 1). For some of these sites, SRI also collects
economic information associated with businesses operating at these sites. These businesses represent a
subset of the beneficial effects of sites in reuse or continued use nationwide. There are 277 non-federal
facility Superfund sites in reuse or continued use for which EPA does not have business information
(Table 1). Some of those sites are not expected to have uses that support on-site businesses, provide
jobs or generate sales revenue. Not all sites in reuse involve an on-site business or other land use that
would employ people. Many sites in reuse without businesses have beneficial effects that are not easily
quantified, such as properties providing ecological or recreational benefits (parks, wetlands, ecological
habitat, sports fields, open space). Not all sites in reuse are well suited for revenue-generating uses. If a
site is located in an area that cannot support commercial or industrial uses, redevelopment projects that
will support jobs may not be a realistic option. SRI regularly conducts research to identify new sites in
reuse that might support new revenue-generating businesses, and to identify previously unknown
revenue-generating businesses at sites. Examples of these efforts include:

•	Five-Year Review Site Inspections: The site inspection process conducted as part of the Five-Year
Review process offers an opportunity to include an inventory of reuse types and documents
revenue-generating businesses. Economic information for identified businesses is captured as
part of the Annual National Economic Information Update.

•	Annual National Economic Information Update: This annual process systematically reviews sites
in reuse without economic information that may now support revenue-generating businesses.

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

1


-------
•	New Economic Data Source Identification: SRI researches online resources to identify new
sources and databases that could help capture additional economic information. The
ReferenceUSA database, which was added as a new information source in 2016, is one example.

•	SRI Snapshot Updates: SRI snapshot updates often identify sites that support revenue-
generating businesses that were previously unidentified. These updates also often identify new
businesses operating on sites in reuse.

Table 1. Economic Information Availability for Superfund Sites in Reuse as of December 2017

Sites in Reuse

7641

Sites in Reuse with Economic Information

4872

Sites without Economic Information

•	Sites in reuse that may generate economic
activity (in industrial, commercial, residential,
public services, military, and/or federal reuse)

•	Sites in recreational or ecological reuse

277
1753

1024

National Economk In found lion

SRI collects and maintains economic information for a subset of Superfund sites in reuse and continued
use. This subset includes sites where SRI has identified active businesses. Information collected includes
the names of businesses operating at sites, the number of people employed at site businesses, wage
and income information, and annual business sales. This economic information is stored in the
SUperfund REdevelopment (SURE) information library and updated annually. During each update,
referred to as the Annual National Economic Information Update, SRI gathers economic information
from high-quality economic databases online that verify their information before posting. Economic
information also comes from site stakeholders and businesses, local media, and online resources. Wage
values come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
(http://www.bls.gov/cew). Those wage values are used to calculate estimated annual income for each
site business based on North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes.

To identify new sites that may potentially support revenue-generating businesses, the annual update
includes a review of sites in commercial, industrial, recreational, agricultural and residential reuse, as
well as sites in planned reuse. SRI uses the information gathered during the Annual National Economic
Information Update to track progress in returning sites to beneficial use and to respond to federal and
congressional information requests. At the end of each Annual National Economic Information Update,
SRI compiles all site-level economic information to calculate an estimate of the beneficial effects of site
reuse at the national level (Table 2). In 2017, SRI gathered economic information for 487 sites in reuse;

1	The query included sites of all NPL status as of December 2017. It did not include federal facilities. Reuse status
included reused and in continued use. Reuse type included all types of reuse.

2	2017 SUperfund REdevelopment (SURE) information library economic update summary.

3	This query of December 2017 SURE information library information removed sites with economic information in
the 2017 SURE update. It includes only sites with industrial, commercial, residential, public services, military,
and/or federal reuse types.

4	This query of December 2017 SURE information library information removed sites with economic information in
the 2017 SURE update. It includes only sites with recreational and ecological reuse types.

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

2


-------
6,622 businesses at these sites generated $43.6 billion in estimated annual sales and employed over
156,000 people (Table 2).

Table 2. National Economic Information for Superfund Sites in Reuse Since 20115	



Sites in Reuse





Adjusted
Annual
Sales*



Actual

Adjusted

Year

with

Number of

Actual

Jobs

Annual

Annual

Economic

Businesses

Annual Sales

Employment

Employment



Information







Income

Income*

2011

135

271

$8.8 billion

$9.6 billion

24,308

$1.6 billion

$1.8 billion

2012

276

972

$20.0 billion

$21.3 billion

46,475

$3.3 billion

$3.5 billion

2013

363

2,216

$32.6 billion

$34.3 billion

70,270

$4.9 billion

$5.1 billion

2014

450

3,474

$31.5 billion

$32.6 billion

89,646

$6.0 billion

$6.2 billion

2015

454

3,908

$29.0 billion

$30.0 billion

108,445

$7.8 billion

$8.1 billion

2016

458

4,720

$34.0 billion

$34.7 billion

131,635

$9.2 billion

$9.4 billion

2017

487

6,622

$43.6 billion

$43.6 billion

156,352

$11.2 billion

$11.2 billion

* Adjusted to 2017 USD using the Consumer Price Index (CUUR0000SA0, not seasonally adjusted, U.S.
city annual average).

All economic information undergoes a thorough, multi-step QA/QC review prior to finalization.
Unexpectedly high numbers of employees or sales revenue for businesses are reviewed and removed
from the SURE information library if the figures cannot be verified. Sources for all economic information
are provided in the information library. Copies of economic information obtained from databases are
maintained to support and verify the information and associated calculations.

Looking forward, SRI is focused on tracking the sites that move into reuse each year, updating
information for existing sites as business information and economic factors change over time, and
updating jobs, income and sales information for known businesses at sites on an annual basis.

Regional Economic Information

Regional economic reports provide an opportunity to highlight reuse outcomes in each of the ten EPA
Regions. The reports summarize and synthesize economic information collected for Superfund sites in
each Region. They emphasize the efforts of the Superfund program and share the positive impacts of
reuse and continued use of Superfund sites in each Region. They highlight the impacts of businesses
operating at current and former Superfund sites and changes in property values and property taxes
associated with sites that have been cleaned up and returned to use. The reports help document reuse
outcomes for EPA Regions and identify success stories to highlight for SRI anniversaries. SRI updates
these reports periodically (Table 3).

5 This information is available in the SURE information library and posted on SRI's Redevelopment Economics at
Superfund Sites webpage.

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

3


-------
Table 3. Regional Economic Reports6

Region

Current Report

Planned Update

Region 1

September 2017

2018

Region 2

August 20177

2018

Region 3

August 2016

2018

Region 4

August 2017

2018

Region 5

September 2017

2018

Region 6

August 2017

2018

Region 7

June 2016

2018

Region 8

June 2016

2018

Region 9

August 2016

2018

Region 10

July 2016

2018

Methodology

To develop these reports, SRI extracts, analyzes, reviews and updates details in the SURE information
library. SRI also reviews recent local beneficial effects case studies and in-depth case studies for
additional information. Property values for each Region are evaluated and updated. QA/QC procedures
ensure that all aggregated information is well integrated and presented accurately. In some cases, sites
highlighted in a regional economic report may not have extensive prior documentation. In these cases,
SRI conducts additional research and develops new highlight content for the report.

Key Findings8
Region 1

Superfund sites across Region 1 are now the locations of office and business parks, retail shopping
centers, single-family homes, condominiums, apartments and a hotel. Others support manufacturing or
public uses, including a building for truck body assembly, a commuter train and bus station, and a
wastewater treatment facility. Many sites continue to host industrial operations, including
manufacturing facilities. Some are now locations for alternative energy projects. Others host soccer
fields, hiking trails, an ice-skating arena and a model airplane flying field. As of September 2017, on-site
businesses and organizations at current and former Region 1 Superfund sites provided an estimated
6,210 jobs and contributed an estimated $355 million in annual employment income. Cleaned-up sites
in use in Region 1 generated $3 million in annual property tax revenues for local governments.

Region 2

Superfund sites across Region 2 are now industrial facilities, shopping centers, hospitals and
neighborhoods. Many sites host large-scale retail centers and department stores. Others are now home
to nature preserves, train lines and recreation facilities. As of August 2017, on-site businesses and
organizations at current and former Region 2 Superfund sites provided an estimated 13,636 jobs and
contributed an estimated $707 million in annual employment income. Cleaned-up sites in use in Region
2 generated $24 million in annual property tax revenues for local governments.

6	Current regional economic reports are available on SRI's Redevelopment Economics at Superfund Sites web page.

7	Document link is not yet available as of January 16, 2018.

8	Regional summaries gathered from regional economic reports accessed on SRI's Redevelopment Economics at
Superfund Sites web page in January 2018.

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

4


-------
Region 3

Superfund sites across Region 3 are now the location of business parks, retail shops and public service
facilities. Many sites continue to host industrial operations such as large-scale manufacturing facilities
and warehouses. Others are now nature preserves, recreational trails and athletic fields. As of August
2016, on-site businesses and organizations at current and former Region 3 Superfund sites provided
nearly 11,000 jobs and contributed an estimated $785 million in annual employment income for
residents. Cleaned-up sites in use generated over $1 million in annual property tax revenues for local
governments.

Region 4

Superfund sites across Region 4 are home to industrial and commercial parks, retail centers,
government offices, and neighborhoods. Many sites continue to host industrial operations such as large-
scale manufacturing facilities. Others are now nature preserves, parks and recreation facilities. As of
August 2017, on-site businesses and organizations at current and former Region 4 Superfund sites
provided an estimated 14,868 jobs and contributed an estimated $848 million in annual employment
income. Cleaned-up sites in use in Region 4 generated $8 million in annual property tax revenues for
local governments.

Region 5

Superfund sites across Region 5 are home to top-tier industrial and commercial parks, retail centers,
condominiums and single -family residences. Many sites continue to host industrial operations, including
large -scale manufacturing facilities. Some are now locations for alternative energy projects. Others have
been transformed into ecological preserves, parks and recreation complexes. As of September 2017, on-
site businesses and organizations at current and former Region 5 Superfund sites provided an estimated
10,237 jobs and contributed an estimated $626 million in annual employment income. Cleaned-up sites
in use in Region 5 generated $ 11 million in annual property tax revenues for local governments.

Region 6

Superfund sites across Region 6 are home to manufacturers, financial service providers, computer
systems specialists, freight transportation logistics companies, restaurants, hotels and a range of other
uses. Public services at current and former Superfund sites in Region 6 offer housing assistance,
recycling services, public health services, sanitation and safety training. A municipal airport is located at
one site. People live in single-family homes and apartments on several sites; one apartment complex is
green building-certified for its sustainability by Enterprise Community Partners, a national non-profit
organization focused on affordable housing. One site is part of an innovative pilot project that converts
landfill gas into liquid fuel and other products. Other sites host ecological preserves, wildlife habitat and
a riverfront walkway. As of August 2017, on-site businesses and organizations at current and former
Region 6 Superfund sites provided an estimated 2,533 jobs and contributed an estimated $112 million in
annual employment income. Cleaned-up sites in use in Region 6 generated $3 million in annual property
tax revenues for local governments.

Region 7

Superfund sites across Region 7 are now the locations of industrial parks, shopping centers and
neighborhoods. Many sites continue to support industrial, commercial and agricultural operations such
as manufacturing facilities, grain storage facilities and crop cultivation. Others are now home to nature
preserves, parks and recreation facilities. As of June 2016, the on-site businesses and organizations at
current and former Region 7 Superfund sites provided an estimated 6,425 jobs and contributed an
estimated $334 million in annual employment income for Region 7 residents. Cleaned-up sites in use in
Region 7 generated over $1 million in annual property tax revenues for local governments.

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

5


-------
Region 8

Superfund sites across the Rocky Mountain and Plains Region are now the location of industrial parks,
shopping centers, hospitals and neighborhoods. Many sites continue to host industrial operations such
as large-scale manufacturing facilities. Others are now ecological preserves, parks and recreation
complexes. As of June 2016, the on-site businesses and organizations at current and former Region 8
Superfund sites provided an estimated 14,870 jobs and contributed $861 million in annual employment
income for Region 8 residents. Cleaned-up sites in use in Region 8 generated an estimated $33 million in
annual property tax revenues for local governments.

Region 9

Superfund sites across Region 9 are now home to industrial parks, shopping centers, office buildings and
neighborhoods. Many sites continue to host industrial operations such as large-scale manufacturing
facilities. Some sites continue to host active military facilities. Others are now parks and recreation
areas. As of August 2016, on-site businesses and organizations at current and former Region 9
Superfund sites provided an estimated 31,000 jobs and contributed an estimated $3.2 billion in annual
employment income for Region 9 residents. Cleaned-up sites in use generated an estimated $23 million
in annual property tax revenues for local governments.

Region 10

Superfund sites across Region 10 are home to industrial parks, large port operations, resorts, public
service providers and neighborhoods. Many sites continue to host industrial operations such as large-
scale manufacturing facilities as well as military operations. Others are now nature preserves, parks and
recreation facilities. As of July 2016, on-site businesses and organizations at current and former Region
10 Superfund sites provided an estimated 6,456 jobs and contributed an estimated $491 million in
annual employment income for Region 10 residents. Cleaned-up sites in use in Region 10 generated $3.5
million in annual property tax revenues for local governments.

Local Economic Information

SRI's local beneficial effects case studies gather highly detailed information related to reuse,
employment and other beneficial effects at individual sites. SRI also highlights economic information
provided by communities during the development of in-depth reuse case studies. Local beneficial effects
case studies include economic information about companies operating at sites and capture unique
economic benefits provided by particular uses, such as alternative energy facilities. As of December
2017, SRI has published 60 case studies (Table 4); another three case studies are currently in
development (Table 5). Additional case study candidates for development in 2018 and beyond are
currently under consideration.

SRI works with the Regions and EPA site teams to identify contacts, obtain site photos and capture site
details that may not be otherwise available. Time commitments for Regional staff are kept to a
minimum - their involvement with site selection and initial information collection helps ensure that the
case studies are high quality and comprehensive.

Research may include a site visit to more fully document site businesses, interview stakeholders,
research county deed records, photograph site facilities, and facilitate the development of site and
vicinity maps.

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

6


-------
Table 4. Local Beneficial Effects Case Studies Published to Date9

Site

Year

Abex Corporation

2011

Aidex Corporation

2015

Airco Plating

2016

Benfield Industries

2012

BMI-Textron and Trans Circuits, Inc.

2014

Boise Cascade/Onan Corp./Medtronics

2017

Calhoun Park Area

2014

California Gulch

2014

Coalinga Asbestos Mine

2015

Davie Landfill

2014

Del Amo

2013

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. (Newport Pigment Plant Landfill)

2014

Ecosystem Services at Superfund Sites

2017

FMCCorp. (Yakima Pit)

2014

General Mills/Henkel Corp.

2014

Goldisc Recordings, Inc.

2015

Havertown PCP

2017

Highway 71/72 Refinery

2015

Industri-Plex (2014)

2014

Iron Horse Park

2017

Joslyn Manufacturing & Supply Co.

2016

Kansas City Structural Steel

2015

Kearsarge Metallurgical Corp.

2016

Kennecott (South Zone)

2017

Koppers Coke

2012

Lexington County Landfill

2014

Liberty Industrial Finishing

2014

Lindsay Manufacturing Co.

2017

Macalloy Corporation

2012

Midvale Slag

2015

Murray Smelter

2012

Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant (NIROP)/FMC Corp. (Fridley Plant)

2016

North Penn Area 12

2014

Northwest Pipe & Casing/Hall Process Company

2015

Pacific Sound Resources

2013

Peterson/Puritan, Inc.

2014

Phoenix-Goodvear Airport Area

2015

PJP Landfill

2016

PMC Groundwater

2014

9 Reports available on SRI's Redevelopment Economics at Superfund Sites web page as of December 2017.
Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

7


-------
Site

Year

Raymark Industries, Inc.

2016

Reynolds Metals Company

2015

Roebling Steel Company

2016

RSR Corporation

2015

Sherwood Medical Co.

2015

SMS Instruments, Inc.

2014

Sola Optical USA, Inc.

2016

Solitron Microwave

2012

South Andover

2011

South Bav Asbestos Area

2015

South Point Plant

Updated in 2014

Southside Sanitary Landfill

2011

State Marine of Port Arthur/Palmer Barge Line

2017

Strother Field Industrial Park

2015

Tucson International Airport Area

2016

Universal Oil Products (Chemical Division)

2013

Vasquez Boulevard/1-70

Updated in 2017

Vertac, Inc.

2012

Waste Disposal, Inc.

2014

Wells G&H

2011

Welsbach and General Gas Mantle

2015

Table 5. Local Beneficial Effects Case Studies in Development

Site

Development
Year

Status

Bunker Hill Mining & Metallurgical Complex

2017

In development

General Electric Co./Shepherd Farm

2017

In development

Wells G&H

2017

In development

Additional Economic Efforts
General Economic Support

SRI often responds to quick turnaround requests from EPA management and EPA Regions for
information related to the economics of remediating and reusing Superfund sites. These urgent requests
are often related to policy and budget discussions. In addition, general economic support also includes
the collection of additional economic information for sites in reuse and the support of other
opportunities to investigate and share the beneficial effects of Superfund site reuse.

Property Values

SRI collects and maintains property value and tax information for a subset of Superfund sites in reuse
and continued use. The primary information collected includes parcel numbers, acreage, land
use/zoning type, land value, improvement value and annual tax information. The information informs

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)

8


-------
SRI's regional economic reports and local beneficial effects case studies as well as responses to federal
and congressional information requests. Local governments provide the property value and tax
information. SRI uses the information gathered to examine the beneficial effects of returning sites to
productive use. To date, SRI has collected property value information for 280 Superfund sites (Table 7).

Table 7. Property Value Information10	

Region

Information
Date

Sites with Property Value
and/or Property Tax
Information

Total Property
Value

Total Annual
Taxes11

1

September 2017

18

$643 million

$3 million

2

August 201712

39

$822 million

$24 million

3

August 2016

30

$59 million

$1.1 million

4

August 2017

67

$605 million

$8 million

5

September 2017

55

$406 million

$11 million

6

August 2017

12

$334 million

$3 million

7

June 2016

12

$48 million

$1 million

8

June 2016

14

$3.1 billion

$33 million

9

August 2016

18

$1.7 billion

$23 million

10

July 2016

15

$562 million

$3.5 million

10	Property value information gathered from regional reports accessed on SRI's Redevelopment Economics at
Superfund Sites web page in January 2018. These totals do not include data for federal facilities sites.

11	Property tax information was not available for all sites with property value information.

12	Document link is not yet available as of January 16, 2018.

Superfund Redevelopment Economics Notebook (updated in January 2018)	9


-------