Landfills and Brownfields - IN.gov · 02/02/2001 · landfills present a community with many of...
8
1 st Quarter 2001, Issue 10 continue on page 2 C hances are if you live in a town of at least 1,000 people, there is a dump within an easy drive that historically met the disposal needs of the com- munity. Though most of these sites are not active today, the evidence re- mains. Many have been abandoned and/or not properly closed, main- tained, or monitored. Finding a caretaker of these abandoned land- fills today may rest upon the cooperative efforts of the state and local community. Ever think of that abandoned landfill as a potential brownfield? Hmm.... The dumps of days gone by were not likely operated with environmen- tal controls by today’s standards. Many operated unattended with ac- cess unrestricted, and open trench burning was a common form of waste reduction. The majority of these early forms of waste manage- ment closed or were abandoned by the late 1980s. This coincides with the onset of rigorous state and feder- al regulations governing landfill design, environmental controls, site operation and waste acceptance cri- teria. Today, many of these abandoned sites, once out of sight and out of mind, are now gaining at- tention due to development knocking on their unlined, eroded and often leaky boundaries. Is this the familiar situation in your community? Could that abandoned landfill qualify as a potential brownfield? Consider this discussion. Abandoned landfills are a grow- ing state-wide environmental concern and present unique environmental problems as many of these sites do not fit into the traditional state clean- up programs (as hazardous sites present more of an imminent threat to human health), but just the same and equally as challenging are the appro- priate reuses of landfills due to issues of differential settlement, erosion, groundwater concerns and landfill gas migration. IDEM has been con- sistently successful in finding innovative and environmentally re- sponsible ways in addressing abandoned landfills. Unfortunately, the numbers of sites in need of atten- tion far outpace the available traditional IDEM resources. So IDEM initiated a pilot known as the ALF (Abandoned Landfill) program dedicated to communicating aban- doned landfill awareness and finding solutions in addressing this statewide environmental problem. The ALF program relies upon the technical skills of inspectors, chem- ists, engineers, geologists, and environmental scientists across the Landfills and Brownfields
Transcript of Landfills and Brownfields - IN.gov · 02/02/2001 · landfills present a community with many of...
1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10
continue on page 2
Chances are if you live in atown of at least 1,000people, there is a dump
within an easy drive that historicallymet the disposal needs of the com-munity. Though most of these sitesare not active today, the evidence re-mains. Many have been abandonedand/or not properly closed, main-tained, or monitored. Finding acaretaker of these abandoned land-fills today may rest upon thecooperative efforts of the state andlocal community. Ever think of thatabandoned landfill as a potentialbrownfield? Hmm....
The dumps of days gone by werenot likely operated with environmen-tal controls by today’s standards.Many operated unattended with ac-cess unrestricted, and open trenchburning was a common form ofwaste reduction. The majority ofthese early forms of waste manage-
ment closed or were abandoned bythe late 1980s. This coincides withthe onset of rigorous state and feder-al regulations governing landfilldesign, environmental controls, siteoperation and waste acceptance cri-teria. Today, many of theseabandoned sites, once out of sightand out of mind, are now gaining at-tention due to development knockingon their unlined, eroded and oftenleaky boundaries. Is this the familiarsituation in your community? Couldthat abandoned landfill qualify as apotential brownfield? Consider thisdiscussion.
Abandoned landfills are a grow-ing state-wide environmental concernand present unique environmentalproblems as many of these sites donot fit into the traditional state clean-up programs (as hazardous sitespresent more of an imminent threat tohuman health), but just the same and
equally as challenging are the appro-priate reuses of landfills due to issuesof differential settlement, erosion,groundwater concerns and landfillgas migration. IDEM has been con-sistently successful in findinginnovative and environmentally re-sponsible ways in addressingabandoned landfills. Unfortunately,the numbers of sites in need of atten-tion far outpace the availabletraditional IDEM resources. SoIDEM initiated a pilot known as theALF (Abandoned Landfill) programdedicated to communicating aban-doned landfill awareness and findingsolutions in addressing this statewideenvironmental problem.
The ALF program relies upon thetechnical skills of inspectors, chem-ists, engineers, geologists, andenvironmental scientists across the
Landfills and Brownfields
Brownfields Bulletin 1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10 Page 2 Contact information on back page
cover story cont.agency. This group plans to seek, lo-cate, evaluate, rank and quantifyabandoned landfills within the state inhope of mitigating environmental im-pacts. Through this process, a betterpicture of the statewide issue ofabandoned landfills can be deter-mined for future resourceconsiderations. As of November2000, a total of 249 sites have beenlocated. These sites will be assessedthrough long term planning and coor-dination. Additional sites are beingdiscovered on a regular basis.
During the first year of the ALFprogram, 12 abandoned landfillswere chosen for a pilot group to as-sess for environmental impacts andgeneral stability. Each of the 12 siteshad a team of environmental profes-sionals that visited the site, collectedenvironmental samples, and evaluat-ed the results. As expected, each sitewas in need of some sort of atten-tion, ranging from recommendationsof total excavation of a small opendump in Orange County to an esti-mated $5.7 million dollar closurecost for an abandoned landfill inLake County. For the year 2001, thegroup will continue to rank and eval-uate abandoned sites across Indiana.
Gathering information on the sitesis done not only through traditionalmeans, but also by digitally storingmaps, site locations, points of con-cern and chemical results to enhancethe practical use of the informationgathered. The information is gatheredthrough the use of Global PositioningSystem (GPS) units and can be dis-played in various ways usingGeographic Information Systems(GIS) computer technology. The use
of GIS and GPS technology will en-hance the ability of IDEM toinventory, track and quantify aban-doned landfill sites across the state.
So what does all of this informa-tion regarding the ALF program atIDEM have to do with that aban-doned landfill in your community as apotential brownfield? Abandonedlandfills present a community withmany of the same issues as the “tra-ditional” brownfield project. Thenegatives are present: a) potential forsubstantial ongoing environmental im-pacts, b) liability issues, and c) if leftunattended, a deterrence to land re-use and development. The positivesare there as well: a) an opportunity tomitigate a site impacting the environ-ment, b) an opportunity forcommunity awareness and involve-ment, and c) land reuse anddevelopment opportunities. Fundsnecessary to correctly and responsi-bly close and monitor an abandonedlandfill can quickly add up and ex-haust most community budgetsquickly. Grant assistance and otherfunding mechanisms available throughthe Brownfields Program may assista community in assessing site con-cerns. Not every site will qualify forassistance, but it is certainly worth aninquiry.
IDEM may not be able to pro-vide all the answers your communitymay have regarding a site, but byworking together an environmentallyprotective and viable reuse may befeasible. At IDEM, Jim Sullivanwould be a good place to start withyour questions. Jim is the ALF pro-gram contact and can be reached at(317) 233-2415, or by e-mail [email protected].
Site Highlight
The Art of Brownfields
St. Francis University in Ft.Wayne, Ind. has a new arts buildingthat was once a part of an aban-doned bulk petroleum distributionand refinery facility.
In partnership with the city ofFort Wayne, the university purchaseda portion of the abandoned propertyand received an Indiana BrownfieldsSite Assessment Grant in March1999 to complete a Phase II Envi-ronmental Assessment of theproperty.
Based on the findings of thePhase II, the university entered thisproperty into IDEM’s Voluntary Re-mediation Program (VRP). Whilecleaning up this property, the univer-sity proceeded with redevelopmentof the site. Brownfields Program andVRP staff conducted an on-site visitto find what was once an abandonedsite is now a vibrant facility withclassrooms and exhibition halls. VRPwill monitor the active remediation ofthis site, and the Brownfields Pro-gram will continue to assist theuniversity in its funding needs. Forfurther information, please contactMichele Oertel or Kris Buckles fromthe VRP at (317) 232-8875.
Brownfields Bulletin 1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10 Page 3 Contact information on back page
Brownfields Bulletin 1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10 Page 4 Contact information on back page
Brownfields Bulletin 1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10 Page 5 Contact information on back page
February 2, 2001 - NextIndiana Brownfields SiteAssessment GrantDeadline.
In Brief
Brownfields on the Boardwalk
On October 11-13, the national,annual conference entitled Brown-fields 2000 Research &Regionalism: Revitalizing the Amer-ican Community was held in AtlanticCity, New Jersey. This research-based conference was co-sponsoredby the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency and the Engineers’ Society ofWestern Pennsylvania.
The conference encouraged andpromoted the exchange of informa-tion, procedures and techniquesrelated to the assessment, cleanup andredevelopment of brownfield sitesthrough its program and exhibits. Theconference was organized having dif-ferent tracks with numerousconcurrent sessions. The six tracks in-cluded Brownfields Fundamentals;The Three E’s: Economics, Environ-ment and Equity; Creating Value andthe Future Use; Former Uses andManaging Liability and Risk; Market-place of Ideas; and Lessons from theField.
As an exhibitor at the conference,the Indiana’s Brownfields Programhighlighted not only Indiana’s Brown-fields resources and successes,but theVoluntary Remediation Program(VRP) as well. These programs workcooperatively with each other to assistcommunities in remediating and rede-veloping brownfields. This provided anexcellent opportunity for two success-ful IDEM programs to receive
national exposure. Indiana was one ofthe few states, and the only Midweststate, represented at the conferenceexhibit center. Having state represen-tation was well received, andnetworking with various stakeholderswas invaluable in receiving an over-arching education about other stateand federal programs.
Fourteen CommunitiesReceive Grants
Fourteen communities received anIndiana Brownfields Site AssessmentGrant in the Fall of 2000 totaling$328,932. The grant can be used toconduct Phase I and Phase II envi-ronmental site assessment activities.Following is a complete listing of thecommunities and their respectivegrant amounts:
Gary ----------------------------------- $29,521
Indianapolis -------------------------- $39,299
Kewanna ------------------------------ $26,946
Logansport --------------------------- $14,995
Richmond ---------------------------- $19,167
Shelby County ---------------------- $32,492
South Bend -------------------------- $35,382
New Albany -------------------------- $4,760
Howard County—
Solid Waste District ----------------- $17,974
Connersville -------------------------- $27,000
Plymouth ----------------------------- $18,251
Greentown --------------------------- $19,495
Brazil ----------------------------------- $21,900
LaPorte ------------------------------- $21,750
For an application, please visit theIDFA or IDEM web sites, or contactCalvin Kelly or Gabriele Hauer.
Issues
RCRA and Brownfields
These two programs are not ex-actly oil and water, but not exactly alikely partnership either! Nevertheless,during the September 2000 U.S. Envi-ronmental Protection Agency (EPA)Region 5 Annual All States meeting,identifying opportunities for brownfieldswithin the Resource Conservation andRecovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) pro-gram proved to be a big issue, both atthe national and state levels.
RCRA established a regulatorysystem to manage hazardous wastesfrom the time they are generated totheir final disposal – cradle to grave asit is commonly referred to. It is de-signed to prevent the creation of newhazardous waste sites by authorizingEPA to take actions against facilityowners and operators who do not com-ply with RCRA requirements.
In contrast to the RCRA program,the Brownfields Program is not regula-tory, but voluntary. In the past, policiesand philosophies have clashed. Recent-ly, however, the RCRA program hasidentified the need to assist stakehold-ers with overcoming RCRA regulatorybarriers to brownfields redevelopment.For example, it has made great stridesin recognizing state voluntary cleanupprograms, which work in conjunction orcooperation with state brownfields pro-grams. However, liability exemptionscontinue to be especially challengingfor brownfield sites.
Some Region 5 states have hadsuccess with liability documents, suchas No Further Interest (NFI) Lettersand Prospective Purchaser Agree-ments (PPAs). Memoranda ofUnderstanding (MOUs) with EPA ex-ist for some Region 5 states, andIndiana is currently exploring this op-tion. IDEM will continue to pursueinventive solutions to RCRA problemsfacing brownfields.
Brownfields Bulletin 1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10 Page 6 Contact information on back page
The Indiana BrownfieldsAdvisory Team (IBAT), a subgroup ofthe Interagency Brownfields TaskForce, was one of the Housing andUrban Development (HUD) FY 2000Local “Best Practices” awardrecipients. The “Best Practices”designation identifies leaders thatmake a significant difference in thelives of the people in the communitiesthey serve. A certificate and awardwere presented to the IBAT by theHUD Task Force representative.
Current Activities
Partnering for Livable Environments – Agency Priority
IDEM has identified projects thatwe want to pursue to make Indiana’senvironment better. The goal of oneof these initiatives, “Partnering forLivable Environments” is to get com-munities involved, educated, andexcited about their environmental fu-ture. IDEM is working with two pilotcommunities as part of this priority,and brownfields redevelopment isamong the top issues of interest.
On September 6 and December6, 2000, IDEM Brownfields Pro-gram staff participated in the“kick-off ” for the agency’s partner-ship with the town of New Harmonyand the city of Aurora, respectively.
The New Harmony event washeld in Murphy Park, with IDEM’sCommissioner, Lori Kaplan, as thekeynote speaker. The town council,president Rodney Stockment, is ex-tremely dedicated to his town andwas a gracious host for this “openhouse,” which provided an opportu-nity for IDEM staff to discusscommunity concerns with residentsand answer questions. IDEM repre-sentatives were available to discussthe following topics: brownfields, en-vironmental education, watershedmanagement/regional sewer districts,asbestos, pollution prevention, well-head protection, wetlands, andwastewater. The successful turnoutspeaks volumes about the communityand its leaders.
Aurora Mayor Richard Ullrich’senthusiasm and dedication to thecommunity was evident in the after-
noon “open house”. Mayor Ullrichprovided a warm and casual atmo-sphere allowing community membersto meet IDEM staff, ask questions,and gather information. Mayor Ull-rich of Aurora identified the followingenvironmental issues that his commu-nity faces, all of which were repre-sented at this event: sewer issues,open burning, healthy homes/ kids’health issues, recycling/pollution pre-vention, erosion control, and last butnot least, brownfields.
The Brownfields Program willcontinue to work with these two pilotproject communities as part of anagency priority.
New EPA UST fields Initiative
On November 2, 2000, the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) announced grants for 10 com-munities in a new initiative to clean upabandoned underground petroleumtanks. Like EPA’s highly successfulBrownfields Program, this new pro-gram, called UST fields, will providegrants to states for community pilotprojects to plan cleanups, stop con-tamination of groundwater, protectpublic health, and allow for futureeconomic development of sites. Pe-troleum contamination is generallyexcluded from cleanup under EPA’sSuperfund and Brownfield Programsdue to the petroleum exemption un-der the Superfund law. As a result,the cleanup and redevelopment ofproperties containing abandoned un-derground storage tanks are eithernot occurring or are delayed. Thisnew program should address this im-pediment to cleanup and redevelop-ment at these properties. The newprogram places special emphasis on
communities with environmentalproblems caused by the fuel additiveMTBE. An additional 40 pilots areexpected to be competitively select-ed in 2001. For more information onthe new USTfields program, visitwww.epa.gov/swerust1/ustfield orcall Steve McNeely at (703)603-7164 or Tim Smith at (703)603-7158.
Brownfields Bulletin 1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10 Page 7 Contact information on back page
Q: Who in the world is Gabriele Hauer?
A: Gabriele is the new Chief ofIDEM’s Brownfields/Site InvestigationSection, replacing Dana Reed Wise whowas named the agency’s Chief of Staff.Gabriele has an MS in Environmental En-gineering from the University of the StateRheinland Pfalz, West Germany and 13years of professional experience as an environmental engineer, advisor,scientist, supervisor, and manager for the governments of West Germanyand the State of Indiana. Gabriele’s new position is a return to theBrownfields program, having served as the Brownfields Coordinator forIDEM in 1995 and 1996. Gabriele served as the Branch Chief of theIDEM Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance, whereshe implemented and promoted the agency’s pollution prevention pro-gram. In addition, Gabriele has served as a Working Group Leader in the
Superfund Program and a Senior EnvironmentalManager in the Defense Environmental Restora-tion Program. We wish Gabriele the best in hernew position.
Community Initiatives
Howard County
The HowardCounty SolidWaste Manage-ment District(SWMD)teamed up withthe HowardCounty Com-
missioners to apply for and receivean Indiana Brownfields Site Assess-ment Grant through the IndianaDevelopment Finance Authority. Thegrant is to be used to determine thelevel and extent, if any, of contamina-tion on a 4.24-acre piece of propertyon Markland Avenue in Kokomo.The grant application received wide-spread support from county anddistrict officials as well as from resi-dents that are involved with thedistrict’s citizens advisory committee.
The site was formerly owned byContinental Steel, and is near, but notpart of, the Continental Steel Super-fund Site. Currently there is adilapidated storage building on siteand numerous junk automobiles,heavy equipment, drums and debrisscattered throughout the property. Itwas used at one time by ContinentalSteel as a semi-truck parking lot.
If the site assessment reveals nocontamination, or low levels that willrequire minimal remediation, then thedistrict plans on building its new of-fices at the site. In addition to thedistrict offices, the plans call for re-cyclable and household hazardouswaste drop-off areas, a swap-shop,a picnic area, a pavillion, and an out-door lab. The lab will include acompost education area, a soil andwater education area, a water pollu-
tion education area, an arboretum,areas of native vegetation, wildflowergardens, and a weather station.
The district hopes to recycle thisotherwise compromised propertyinto something that the community
*IDEM’s Brownfields Program no longer issues No Further Action letters. Site Status lettershave been developed to answer environmental site status questions.
44 Comfort andSite Status Letters issued*
28
85 12Loans approvedGrants awarded
Assessmentscompleted or referred
Brownfields ProgramBrownfields Program Score
Card
Score
Card
will utilize and enjoy for decades tocome. For further information, pleasecontact Keith Fallo of the Howardcounty SWMD at 765-456-2274.
1st Quarter 2001, Issue 10
Indiana Department of Environmental ManagementOffice of Land QualityBrownfields ProgramP.O. Box 6015Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015
Address Service Requested
50-03-3
Printed on recycled paper, 100% post-consumer content.
Brownfields Bulletin is published quarterly by the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management to inform local government officials, business representatives and interest groups
about brownfields redevelopment initiatives and success stories from within and beyond the state.
A brownfield site is an industrial or commercial property that is abandoned,
inactive or underutilized due to actual or perceived environmental contamination.
IDEM’s overall mission is to make Indiana a cleaner, healthier place to live.
IDEM’s brownfields initiative helps communities remove barriers for sustainable
growth.
Comments and ideas are welcome; e-mail Sandy Bardes of the IDEM Brownfields
Program. For address changes or to be added or deleted from the mailing list, call
(800) 451-6027, press 0 and ask for ext. 3-1044, or call
(317) 233-1044 or e-mail [email protected].
Who Can HelpTechnical and educational assistance
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Brownfields Program Staff (listed at right)100 N. Senate Ave., Suite 1101P.O. Box 6015Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015www.state.in.us/idem/olq/brownfields
Financial assistanceIndiana Development Finance Authority
Calvin Kelly, Program ManagerOne North Capitol, Suite 320Indianapolis, IN 46204(317) 233-4332e-mail: [email protected]/idfa
Brownfields Program Staff
Gabriele Hauer [email protected] Chief (317) 233-2773
Michele Oertel [email protected] Environmental Manager (317) 234-0235
Dan Chesterson [email protected] Manager (317) 232-4402
Keith Veal [email protected] Manager (317) 233-1520
Tracy Concannon [email protected] Scientist (317) 233-2801
Sandy Bardes [email protected] (317) 233-2570
Thomas W. Baker [email protected] (317) 233-1207
IDEM’s toll-free number: (800) 451-6027, press 0 and askfor a person by name or number, or dial direct.
Indiana Department of Commerce
Deanna Jeffrion, Enterprise Zone Program ManagerOne North Capitol, Suite 600Indianapolis, IN 46204(317) 232-8917e-mail: [email protected]
