Knowing Your that Make Your Garden Stronger 2_6a... · • An EPA Toxicologist reviews results and...
Transcript of Knowing Your that Make Your Garden Stronger 2_6a... · • An EPA Toxicologist reviews results and...
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Ted LanzanoBrownfields Project Manager, EPA Region 8
Presented at the Western Brownfields Workshop
EPA Region 8
September 29, 2016
Knowing Your Soil: Partnerships that Make Your Garden Stronger
Denver Urban Gardens (DUG)
• DUG manages over 150 gardens throughout Denver.• Production exceeds 540 tons of produce per year.• The gardens beautify urban neighborhoods, improve soils,
strengthen communities and generate fresh produce for people who need it most.
• DUG supports the entire process of developing a community garden including design, technical assistance, training and managing the produce.
DUG and EPA’s Partnership
• Through the Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) program, EPA tests DUG’s new or expanded gardens for contaminants.
• An EPA Toxicologist reviews results and provides an interpretation on the suitability of the site as a garden
• So far, all 16 properties that have been tested have received the “green light” for gardening.
Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
• EPA provides environmental assessment services free of charge to communities through the TBA program.
• TBAs typically consist of Phase I and II assessments and cleanup planning
• Assessments conducted by an EPA contractor. • Ongoing application process• Easy application and quick turnaround time• Available nationwide • States also provide TBAs
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Steps before gardening on a vacant lot
• Meet with the community garden group or school to discuss project goals and data needs
• Identify previous uses• Review future garden design • Develop sampling and analysis plan• Perform sampling, interpret
results, provide report and debrief to garden group
• Cleanup, if necessary• Implement Best Management Practices • Begin gardening!
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Top soil, compost and other soil amendments from certified sources.
• Alternative methods that do not involve growing plants directly in the ground such as raised beds, container gardening and greenhouses.
• Cover existing soil, walkways and other areas that did not receive amendments with mulch and landscape fabric.
• Hedges and fencing to reduce road and other windblown contamination.
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Incremental Sampling
• Type of sampling that provides a representative or average concentration of the contaminant levels.
• Involves identifying a discrete area of a property called a “decision unit” and taking composite samples within the decision unit at varying depths.
• Typical depth profiles for garden sites: • 1‐2”• 2‐6” • 6‐12” • 12‐18”
• Samples from each decision unit and depth are mixed and sent to lab. • Cost effective• Consistent and reproducible data
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Asia Pacific Development Center (APDC)
Scrap yard/ auto repair
Former gas station
Dry cleaner with known release Auto
repairHeavy traffic
Asia Pacific Development Center (APDC)
• Phase II assessment tested for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticides, petroleum, metals and soil pH.
• Results came back clean, which helped facilitate a new garden.
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Triangle Park
• Contamination concerns from former gas station, heavy traffic and unknown historic uses.
• The park had also become a haven for drug deals and was featured on Drugs, Inc.
• Denver Parks and Recreation closed Triangle Park and partnered with DUG and EPA to test the soil so it could be reused as a community garden.
Triangle Park
• Phase II assessment tested for diesel and gas range organics (DRO/GRO), VOCs and metals.
• Results came back clean and park construction began.
• Impressive transformation of a former drug haven into a thriving community garden!
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Brownfields to food co‐ops, farmer’s markets and greenhouses
Burns Street Nutrition Center, Missoula, Montana
Community Garden Cautionary Tale? Sacramento, California
• Garden for over 30 years • Tested, found lead, PAHs,
pesticides• 1,900 yd3 soil, 24‐48 inches
removed • $423,000 leveraged for
cleanup/ garden
13US EPA, Office of Brownfield and Land Revitalization
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Brownfields and Urban Ag web page
• Accessed from EPA’s main Brownfields page: www.epa.gov/brownfields
• Urban Farm Business Plan Handbook• Brownfields and Urban Agriculture:
Interim Guidelines for Safe Gardening Practices
• Excellent source of information from other federal agencies, states and non‐profits from around the country.
Thank you!
Feel free to contact me with questions • Ted Lanzano• (303) 312‐6596• [email protected]
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EPA’s national urban garden coordinator:• Ann Carroll• (202) 566‐2748• [email protected]