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| Brownfields Weekly |
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February 21, 2002 THIS WEEK:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Click here to visit Brownfields.com's Items of Interest page for published and ongoing brownfields studies, industry white papers, and complete information on the Congressional Brownfields legislation just signed into law. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA Teams With Habitat For Humanity to Build on Former Brownfields WASHINGTON, D.C. - EPA Administrator Christie Whitman signed a memorandum-of-understanding with Habitat for Humanity International that will begin a partnership to build energy efficient housing on former brownfields properties. The agreement outlines each organization's pledge to work together to bring this goal to completion. "EPA is proud to be joining Habitat as partners in the effort to make the dream of home ownership come true for families across the country," said Whitman. "This is an excellent opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity to encourage affordable and energy efficient housing on cleaned up brownfields properties." EPA has worked cooperatively with Habitat for Humanity International's affiliates in the cities of Wellston, Mo., and Minneapolis, Minn., to construct homes on former brownfields properties. The new agreement pledges EPA to expand its work with Habitat to five additional cities. EPA will use brownfields dollars to perform environmental assessments at community identified brownfields properties so that Habitat can locate safe, affordable building lots. Also, EPA through its new authority in the recently passed brownfields legislation may offer cleanup grants to non-profits such as Habitat to provide cleanup funds if the properties are found to be contaminated. According to an independent study conducted by the Council for Urban Economic Development, the revitalization of brownfields has created over 22,000 permanent jobs, and leveraged $2.48 in private investment for every $1 spent by federal, state, or local governments. In a recent study done by George Washington University, it was found that for every 1 acre of brownfields reused, 4.5 acres of greenspace is saved.
British Columbia Amends Rules for Toxic Site Cleanup VANCOUVER, British Columbia (EcoLog Week) - Amendments to British Columbia's contaminated sites regulations will improve the province's process for cleaning up contaminated sites and update human health standards based on the best available science. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (WLAP) says the changes will make it simpler and faster for landowners and other responsible parties to clean up contaminated sites, while ensuring that strict environmental standards are met. The changes require that:
The amendments follow the completion of a mandatory three-year review of the 1997 contaminated sites regulation to determine what, if any, changes were needed, based on advances in science, law and the management of contaminated sites. Stakeholders representing business and industry, environmental groups, public health, local governments and academia worked with the Ministry on reviewing and improving the regulation. More information on this regulation is available on the WLAP Web site: http://www.gov.bc.ca/wlap For worldwide brownfields
news and information, visit our International Partners: aboutREMEDIATION.com
in Canada;
Register Now for the "Brownfields Revitalization 2002" Seminar Presented by Rivkin Radler, LLP, this breakfast seminar will provide the real estate professional, property developer, small business owner and corporation with the tools to turn contaminated properties into productive assets. Speakers from Rivkin Radler, LLP, Long Island's largest firm, Sustainable Long Island, AIG Environmental, Frenkel Environmental Risk Services and Breitstone & Co. Ltd. will guide attendees on the new era of redevelopment spurred on by the Small Business Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Speakers will address the changes to statutory defenses, policies designed to reduce risk, contractual risk transfers, case studies and the identification of sites using GIS technologies. For more information and to
register for this seminar, contact: Cape Cod Groundwater Cleanup Challenges Managers BOSTON, Massachusetts (ENS) - Science developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is helping to clean up contaminated groundwater in the Cape Cod aquifer. Since 1911, activities by numerous occupants at what is now known as the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) have contaminated billions of gallons of ground water in the Cape Cod aquifer with fuels, solvents, treated sewage, landfill leachate and explosive compounds from ordinance. Groundwater is the only source of drinking water for the residents of Cape Cod. "The long history, variety of compounds, permeable soils, and sheer size of the problem have made this an ideal field laboratory for learning about the transport of contaminants and how to clean them up," said LeBlanc. "What we learned at the MMR has been successfully applied at cleanup sites around the world, in some cases by scientists not involved in the work at the MMR." Defense Department contractors and the USGS have done intensive drilling and sampling of the site since 1978, discovering more than 15 contaminant plumes, some moving as fast as several feet per day. The investigation and cleanup of the plumes by the military will cost more than $1 billion when completed. "A project of this scope, complexity, cost, and importance to the public requires action based on sound scientific information," said LeBlanc. "Reliable and unbiased information on the hydrogeology of the Cape Cod aquifer has been essential to the development and implementation of a successful, publicly acceptable cleanup strategy." Armed with information on the location, size and rate of movement for the plumes, the scientists were able to construct computer models and design a strategy to contain and clean up the contamination. The plan minimizes changes in water levels that could harm the environment. At the end of 2001, treatment systems at eight plumes were pumping almost 12 million gallons per day and returning the treated water to the aquifer. The USGS's Cape Cod work is part of the USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, which provides scientific information on the behavior of toxic substances in the nation's water environments. The information is used to improve characterization and management of contaminated sites, to protect human and environmental health, and to reduce potential future contamination problems. Click here for more information on the Toxics Program.
Vibrant Southwestern Town Tackles Brownfields Today, Silver City, New Mexico, population 12,064, is marked by an active tourism industry, a vibrant arts community, an annual bicycle race, rodeos, conferences, music festivals, and a growing retiree and "telecommuter" community. But even in a town like Silver City, there are brownfields problems remaining to be solved. Situated on the east slope of the Continental Divide in southwestern part of the state, Silver City was established in 1870 when silver was found in the area. In contrast to other mining communities which eventually became ghost towns, Silver City continued to thrive by expanding its economy to include copper mining, cattle ranching, and lumber milling. Industry, and the people it brought with it, contributed to Silver City's four targeted brownfields: Beacon Hill, a 462-acre parcel that was one of the first areas to be mined near Silver City; the old town landfill, a 50-acre closed and capped landfill adjacent to the city golf course; and two mill sites. In May of 2000, the EPA selected Silver City as a Brownfields Pilot Project. The city also received additional greenspace funding for assessments at brownfields properties. The Pilot has integrated planning activities for Boston Hill with greenspace planning for other target sites, such as additional ballfields at the Old Landfill and a trail/riparian corridor along San Vicente Arroyo and Pinos Altos Creek to include the Mill Sites and a landfill borrow pit. The City plans to preserve open space through the identification of trail corridors and other activities, improve air quality, promote groundwater recharge, preserve distinctive view and natural features, buffer neighborhoods, and provide a contrast to urban development. Silver City's aim in redevelopment is to stimulate more investment in the community and promote a future based on economically sustainable development and adequate environmental health. The town seeks to promote brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, preservation of open space, and increased recreational and economic opportunities that are compatible with the town's western small-town atmosphere and rich cultural heritage.
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