vermilion county brownfield assessment grant

Vermilion County Brownfield Assessment

Grant

Overview

• Brownfield Basics• USEPA Brownfield Assessment Grant• Vermilion County Assessment Grant• Site Selection Criteria• Phase I Environmental Site Assessment• Phase II Environmental Site Assessment• Remedial Action Plans• Questions/Answers

What is a Brownfield?

Brownfields are abandoned or under-utilized industrial or commercial properties, or a portion of such properties, that have actual or perceived contamination and could be an active potential site for redevelopment.

Brownfield Facts

• Estimated 450,000 to 1 million sites in the U.S.

• 5 million acres of abandoned industrial sites in U.S cities – roughly the same amount of land occupied by 60 of the largest U.S. cities

Note: US Department of Housing and Urban Development

Common misconceptions:

• All brownfields are “vacant” or “abandoned” properties

• Parcels must conform to certain “size” restrictions

• Parcels are grossly contaminated • Redevelopment must be

retail/industrial/commercial in nature

How Do Cleaning Up and Redeveloping Brownfields Benefit the Community?

• Removes eyesores• Reduces public service demands • Increases local employment opportunities • Increases local tax revenues • Revitalizes business districts/neighborhoods• Protects public health and the environment• Improves quality of life for residents

Success Story in Lacon, IL

USEPA Funding

• United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)• Brownfield Assessment Grant – Up to $400,000 with

options for Community-Wide or Site-Specific and Hazardous Materials or Petroleum Products

• Cleanup Grants – Up to $200,000 per a site• Revolving Loan Fund – Up to $1,000,000 for Cleanup

2010 Funding Disbursements

• Total Funding - $78.9 Million• 188 - Assessment Grants• 17 - Revolving Loan Fund• 99 - Cleanup Grants

Vermilion County USEPA Brownfield Assessment Grants

In 2010 Vermilion County was awarded grants

Potential Brownfield properties will be investigated County-wide

Vermilion County will select specific properties to utilize grant monies

An Inventory Database will be established

USEPA Assessment Grants

Provides Funding for• Data Research and Analysis• Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments• Community Outreach• Develop a plan for future remediation and

redevelopment (Remedial Action Plan)

Benefit of Assessment Grant

• Allows residents and local agencies to develop an inventory of Brownfields for their community

• Brownfield locations can be tied into community's GIS system

• Allows community to begin long range planning for Brownfield cleanup and redevelopment

Brownfield Assessment Process

Compile potential Brownfield Property Inventory Database

Vermilion County Awarded USEPA Brownfield Assessment Grant

Complete Phase I ESAs

FILTER

Complete Phase II ESAs

Prepare and Submit RAPs

Sites not chosen for Initial Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) will remain in the

Inventory Database for possible selection later

Sites not chosen for Phase II ESAs will remain in queue for possible selection later

Sites not chosen for Remedial Action Plan (RAP) submittal will remain in queue for

possible selection later

FILTER

FILTER

Community Involvement

• Conduct Community Involvement:• Inform and Engage Community• On-going throughout the assessment process• Opportunity for grant applicant to capture funds

to offset costs to local governments

Site Selection Criteria

Potentially Responsible Parties Adjacent Properties with contamination Environmental Severity or Impact Property Location and Redevelopment Potential Cleanup Costs Property Ownership Delinquent Taxes

Brownfield EligibilityInformation Sources

Public Meetings and Press Conferences Vermilion County Resident Questionnaires Vermilion Advantage Vermilion County Government Chamber of Commerce Known former dumpsites IEPA & USEPA databases

Identifying Potential Brownfields

• Data Research and Analysis includes:• Inventory Sites:

• Compile a listing of sites with documented contamination (IEPA, EPA, State Fire Marshal, etc.)

• Meet with local officials to identify sites not on

data bases• Identify underutilized properties• Identify surface and subsurface mines

Identifying Potential Brownfields, continued

• Characterize Sites:• Working with the client,

establish priorities

• Identify past uses• Identify sites with delinquent

property taxes and federal/state tax liens• Landfills and historic dumpsites

Site Characterization

• Characterize Sites:• Water resources with contaminated sediments• Identify properties where the current use is not

compliant with long-term planning goals• Identify sites near sensitive resources, (municipal

wells, surface water resources, schools, parks, and areas where the public may have direct contact with contaminated media)

Environmental Site Assessments

All eligible properties will be given a score Properties with the highest score are selected Phase I ESAs will be performed at ~40 sites Phase II ESAs will be performed at ~10 sites

Phase I Site Assessments

• Detailed Site Investigation (Phase I)• Identify sites to do further site review• Conduct more detailed records review• Conduct onsite visit (no sampling at this point)• Conduct more interviews with current and past

owners of the property in question

Phase II Site Assessments

• Assess Sites (Phase II)• Identify sites to conduct

Phase II investigations• Determine existing

contamination• Perform Subsurface

Investigations• Soil• Groundwater• Soil vapor

Remedial Action Plans (RAPs)

RAPs will be completed and submitted to USEPA for ~8 sites

Preparation of RAPs includes cleanup and redevelopment planning

RAPs continued

• Conduct Cleanup and Redevelopment Planning:• Scope and Plan Process • Prioritize sites with the greatest likelihood of

redevelopment• Plan for end uses of properties (end use may determine

type and degree of cleanup)• Begin planning for subsequent grant applications to assist

in funding cleanups

Questions/Answers

For Additional Information:Tammy Bennett

Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC

1610 Broadmoor Drive

Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217-353-7336

Email: tammy.bennett@foth.com

Or visit the official project website at:http://clientunsecured.foth.com/Foth/VermilionCountyBrownfield/default.aspx