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| Brownfields Weekly |
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October 25, 2001 THIS WEEK:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have a complete or in-progress brownfields site "success story," we'd like to hear about it. Send a brief synopsis of your project to: Editors@Brownfields.com Visit BrownfieldSites.com, our new international partner and Europe's first point of reference for brownfields redevelopment: http://www.BrownfieldSites.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EPA Appoints Two New Regional Administrators WASHINGTON, D.C. (ENS) - EPA Administrator Christie Whitman appointed new regional administrators for Region 2, based in New York, and Region 4, based in Georgia. Jane Kenny, a senior New Jersey government executive will be the new regional administrator of EPA's Region 2. "In her capacity, first as my Chief of Policy and Planning in New Jersey, then as Commissioner for New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs, Jane has proven herself to be a leader on many issues," said Whitman. "As Region 2's new administrator, Jane will bring a clear understanding of government, policy and the importance of teamwork in getting things done. Her efforts on brownfields redevelopment, urban revitalization, and sustainability have had a tremendous impact in New Jersey." Kenny will be responsible for Agency programs in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. James (Jimmy) Palmer, Jr., will be the new regional administrator in Region 4. "Throughout his career as a lawyer focusing on environmental issues and during his tenure in state government, Jimmy has demonstrated an exceptional knowledge of environmental law and policy that will make him a valued member of our team," said Whitman. Palmer will be responsible for Agency programs in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Prior to his appointment, Palmer practiced law as a member of Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens, and Cannada, PLLC, where he practiced environmental, natural resources and energy law. Prior to that he served for 12 years as the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality through the administrations of two governors. Attend "Contaminated Property Transactions:
Buyers, sellers, lenders and developers of contaminated property across the United States are closing transactions and turning nonperforming real estate into productive residential, commercial and industrial properties. Produced by RTM Communications, "Contaminated Property Transactions" will cover deal flow and the state of the contaminated real estate market, as well as the administrative reforms and risk financing changes needed to promote the further redevelopment of contaminated properties and brownfield sites. The increased acceptability and use of risk-based cleanups and institutional controls in real estate transactions, balanced with creative financing, realistic negotiating and structuring of transactions, are facilitating these real property transactions. It's not too late to come to the "Contaminated Property Transactions" Conference in San Francisco to learn more about structuring, negotiating and closing contaminated property transactions, creative debt and equity financing techniques, environmental insurance, and much more. For more information on the "Contaminated Property Transactions" Conference and to register online, please visit http://www.rtmcomm.com/gold/program.html Click here to visit the Brownfields.com Conference Page for the latest brownfields industry events. PCB Cleanup Complete at Meddybemps,
Maine Quarry BOSTON, Massachusetts - The EPA announced that it has completed a $2.6 million cleanup of PCB-contaminated soil from the Green Hill Quarry site in Meddybemps, Maine. Over the last five months, EPA contractors removed nearly 15,000 tons of PCB-containing soil from the site. "This is a great accomplishment and good news for area residents," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England office. "We worked closely with the Maine DEP throughout the project, which has removed a potential source of PCB contamination from the area." The cleanup began the last week of May and work was completed on October 12, as contractors excavated and removed PCB-contaminated sand and gravel from the Green Hill Quarry site. Over 12,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil were shipped to hazardous waste landfills in New York and Michigan. An additional 2,400 tons of soil with only trace amounts of PCBs, classified as non-hazardous, were shipped to a secure permitted landfill in Norridgewock, Maine. The Maine DEP assisted with the cleanup by helping to oversee work, coordinating analysis of soil samples, and funding disposal of the non-hazardous soil. The town of Baileyville, which owns the property, also assisted with site clearing and preparation. The Green Hill Quarry was contaminated by transformers stored on the site by the owner of Eastern Surplus and Smiths's Junkyard. The property was later purchased by the town of Baileyville for use as a quarry. In 1983, the town took sand and gravel from the quarry and used it to build a road bed in the Woodland section of Baileyville. After PCB contamination was discovered, the town removed the contaminated sand and gravel from the road bed and returned it to the quarry site, where the Maine DEP secured it and monitored it to prevent exposure. Last year the town of Cooper discovered that a local contractor had transported PCB-contaminated sand from the Green Hill Quarry pile to property owned by the town of Cooper, where it was intended to be used by the town for winter road sanding. The town of Cooper and the Maine DEP requested EPA's help in cleaning up Cooper's sand pile and permanently removing the Green Hill Quarry pile to avoid future problems. Last fall, EPA removed 2,400 tons of sand from the Cooper pile. This summer's cleanup removed all PCB contamination from the quarry site. Harbor
Revitalization Initiative Launched in Oregon The Williamette River is an integral feature of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, home to over 500,000 people. The area holds great importance to several tribes as a natural and cultural resource, and the harbor is an international portal for commerce. Dozens of industries located within the site provide economic sustainability to the community. The Lower Willamette is also a popular area for recreation, including fishing and boating, and a critical migratory corridor and rearing habitat for salmon and steelhead, including endangered runs of steelhead and chinook. In early October, the EPA and members of the Lower Willamette Group -- a coalition of companies and public agencies identified as "potentially responsible parties" in the cleanup process -- signed an Administrative Order on Consent. Portland Harbor was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in December 2000. The Williamette River carries heavy marine traffic, supporting a thriving commercial port. A multitude of industrial facilities line the banks on both sides of the river. Private and municipal wastewater outfalls add effluent to Portland Harbor. These same industrial activities have over time degraded the river. Hazardous substances from industrial and municipal waste, petroleum product operations; marine construction; wood treating; agriculture; chemical production; shipping and other transportation-related operations have lead to high levels of hazardous substances in the Willamette River. But with the stroke of several pens, the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) is now underway to discover the nature and extent of contamination in Portland Harbor and the lower reaches of the Willamette River -- a firm and significant first step in returning healthy land and water to the Harbor and river. Prehistoric Earthwork Site Protected
in Ohio COLUMBUS, Ohio - The National Park Service and the Trust for Public Land announced that they have acquired a 122-acre property with prehistoric and archeological sites including part of a Hopewell earthwork west of Chillicothe, Ohio. The site will be added to the Hopewell Culture National Historic Park. Last summer, scientists discovered a mysterious circle buried at a separate Hopewell location and they believe similar features may exist on the acquired land. "Recent work at nearby sites has indicated a need to protect these fragile remains sooner rather than later," said Dean Alexander, superintendent of Hopewell Culture. "We are happy to help the National Park Service preserve this site, which is so important to telling the story of the Hopewell Culture," said Chris Knopf, Director of the Ohio Office of The Trust for Public Land. The Trust is a nationwide organization which conserves land for people. The property involved in the announcement is part of the Seip Earthworks, a portion of which is owned and protected by the Ohio Historical Society. This acquisition preserves the majority of the ancient earthworks outside of the OHS property. Hopewell Culture National Historic Park, composed of five ancient earthwork sites including Seip, is dedicated to preserving structures built more than 1,500 years ago. "Protection of this site is extremely important because we are continuing to discover previously unknown aspects of this culture," added Gary Ness, Executive Director of the Ohio Historical Society. "Without the ability to protect these sites, we risk losing our past." In Ohio, the Trust for Public Land gained widespread public attention two years ago by demolishing the Richfield Coliseum and transferring the property to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. |