BROWNFIELDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A Shared …witnessed a change in the social, eco-nomic, and...
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3rd Quarter 2002, Issue 17 BROWNFIELDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A Shared Vision A Shared Vision In the past 20 years, America has witnessed a change in the social, eco- nomic, and envi- ronmental climate in many inner-city commu- nities. Environmental justice (EJ) has emerged to offer new challenges and new opportunities. EJ is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involve- ment of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementa- tion, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Despite its complexity, once achieved, EJ could provide the basis for a new and much needed paradigm in environmental protection and community building, a paradigm that has collaboration as its central principle and recognizes the importance of developing new models to address old problems that still linger from America’s Industrial Age. In a number of ways, this much sought after paradigm is emerging from the brownfields arena. At the heart of the brownfields philosophy is the concept of sustainability, defined as the capacity to meet the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability pro- vides the most compelling link between EJ and brownfields by recognizing that the solutions to issues that impact a community must be pursued simultaneously. The conven- tional wisdom seems to suggest that the solution to what ails a community lies solely in economic vitality. Sustainable solutions, however, seek to restore and maintain economic vitality, protect the natural and built environment, and address equity issues for affected neighborhoods. Like brownfields, the EJ philosophy seeks to realize the point of agreement between environmental protection and the achievement and maintenance of a sustainable community. Implicit in both philosophies is the need to develop collabora- tive approaches to solving the myriad of problems that might plague a community. Collaborative approaches view the quest for solutions as a process that includes coalition building, consensus seeking, and the finding of a shared vision. These are key ingredients to building sustainable communities, as can be witnessed by looking at the many success stories celebrated in the brownfields arena. In the city of Fort Wayne, for example, state, federal, and local agencies, as well as community and business leaders, are collaborating to address the former Bowser Pump Company site. One of the results, so far, has been the cleanup of a portion of a neighborhood eyesore and the construction of 10 single-family residences with another 18 to 25 planned for future construction. This illustrates the importance of devel- oping a collaborative approach in addressing brownfields, and the same type of approach can prove useful in addressing EJ issues in redevelopment or other efforts. Brownfields redevelopment has been touted as an example of environmental justice in action because of the approaches used and the resources brought to bear on the issues, real or perceived, that impede redevelopment. Common to many successful redevelopment efforts is a call for an investment in three critical aspects of a sustainable community: its economic vitality, its environmental health, and its people. This kind of forward-thinking, collaborative, and practical approach can and must be realized when addressing EJ. (continued on page 2)
Transcript of BROWNFIELDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A Shared …witnessed a change in the social, eco-nomic, and...
3rd Quarter 2002, Issue 17
BROWNFIELDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A Shared VisionA Shared Vision
In the past 20years, America haswitnessed a changein the social, eco-
nomic, and envi-ronmental climate
in many inner-city commu-nities. Environmental justice
(EJ) has emerged to offer newchallenges and new opportunities.
EJ is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involve-ment of all people regardless of race, color, national origin,or income with respect to the development, implementa-tion, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations,and policies. Despite its complexity, once achieved, EJcould provide the basis for a new and much neededparadigm in environmental protection and communitybuilding, a paradigm that has collaboration as its centralprinciple and recognizes the importance of developing newmodels to address old problems that still linger fromAmerica’s Industrial Age.
In a number of ways, this much sought after paradigmis emerging from the brownfields arena. At the heart of thebrownfields philosophy is the concept of sustainability,defined as the capacity to meet the needs of presentgenerations without compromising the ability of futuregenerations to meet their own needs. Sustainability pro-vides the most compelling link between EJ and brownfieldsby recognizing that the solutions to issues that impact acommunity must be pursued simultaneously. The conven-tional wisdom seems to suggest that the solution to what ailsa community lies solely in economic vitality. Sustainablesolutions, however, seek to restore and maintain economic
vitality, protect the natural and built environment, andaddress equity issues for affected neighborhoods.
Like brownfields, the EJ philosophy seeks to realize thepoint of agreement between environmental protection and theachievement and maintenance of a sustainable community.Implicit in both philosophies is the need to develop collabora-tive approaches to solving the myriad of problems that mightplague a community. Collaborative approaches view thequest for solutions as a process that includes coalitionbuilding, consensus seeking, and the finding of a sharedvision. These are key ingredients to building sustainablecommunities, as can be witnessed by looking at the manysuccess stories celebrated in the brownfields arena. In thecity of Fort Wayne, for example, state, federal, and localagencies, as well as community and business leaders, arecollaborating to address the former Bowser Pump Companysite. One of the results, so far, has been the cleanup of aportion of a neighborhood eyesore and the construction of 10single-family residences with another 18 to 25 planned forfuture construction. This illustrates the importance of devel-oping a collaborative approach in addressing brownfields, andthe same type of approach can prove useful in addressing EJissues in redevelopment or other efforts.
Brownfields redevelopment has been touted as an exampleof environmental justice in action because of the approachesused and the resources brought to bear on the issues, real orperceived, that impede redevelopment. Common to manysuccessful redevelopment efforts is a call for an investment inthree critical aspects of a sustainable community: its economicvitality, its environmental health, and its people. This kind offorward-thinking, collaborative, and practical approach can andmust be realized when addressing EJ.
(continued on page 2)
IDEM/Office of Land Quality Page 2 www.IN.gov/idem/land/brownfields
Current Activities
EPA and Habitat for Humanity Form Partnership
Environmental Justice (continued from cover page)
IDEM’s Guide for Citizen Participation; GettingInvolved in Environmental Decision Making, a fre-quently asked questions brochure; and the EnhancedPublic Participation Plan are some of the tools developedby IDEM’s Environmental Justice Program to help fostercollaboration. Of particular relevance in brownfields is theEnhanced Public Participation Plan. The essence of theplan is collaboration and partnership building internally,across programs, and externally with local communityorganizations. The plan recognizes the importance of theseelements in raising public awareness, increasing publicinvolvement, and ultimately leading to even better environ-mental decisions. For more information about EJ, please visitwww.IN.gov/idem/environmentaljustice or contact KeithVeal, IDEM’s Environmental Justice coordinator, at (317)234-0435 or [email protected].
The Brownfields Program isnow using IDEM’s Risk Inte-grated System of Closure(RISC) to evaluate all sitesentering the program. Pleasevisit the Brownfields Program’sWeb site for more information.
In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyand Habitat for Humanity International formed a partner-ship to build energy-efficient, affordable housing on formerbrownfield properties. Both organizations pledged to workcooperatively toward completion of this shared goal.Habitatfor Humanity is a nonprofit group that with the help offuture homeowners, builds and rehabilitatesaffordable houses for low-income families,using voluntary labor and donations.
EPA has already workedcooperatively with Habitat’saffiliates in the cities ofWellston, Mo., and Minneapo-lis, Minn., to construct homeson former brownfield proper-ties. EPA and Habitat willexpand this partnership to include fiveadditional cities in the near future.EPA will use brownfield dollars toperform environmental assess-ments at community-identifiedbrownfield properties so thatHabitat can locate safe, afford-able building lots. Through newauthority in the recently passedbrownfields legislation, EPA mayalso offer cleanup grants to
nonprofits, such as Habitat, to provide cleanup funds if theproperties are found to be contaminated.
“This is an excellent opportunity to work with Habitatfor Humanity to encourage affordable and energy-efficienthousing on cleaned up brownfields properties,” said EPAAdministrator Christie Whitman. “We also hope that
through this agreement we can encourage the use ofenergy-efficient products to not only save money, but
the environment as well.”
The Indiana BrownfieldsProgram has worked with alocal Habitat for Humanityaffiliate to assess environmen-
tal contamination on a brownfield inBloomington. Monroe Countyreceived an Indiana Brownfields
Site Assessment Grant in February2000, which was used to investigate a
Bloomington Habitat for Humanityproperty that reportedly had beenused as a junkyard scavenger sitefor electrical components. For moreinformation about this project,contact Susan Tynes of the
Brownfields Program. For more information aboutHabitat for Humanity International, visitwww.habitat.org.
International Economic Development CouncilBrownfields WorkshopAugust 13 -14, 2002Indianapolis, INwww.iedconline.org/brownfield_workshops.html(202) 942-9454
August
Brownfields Bulletin 3rd Quarter 2002, Issue 17 Page 3 Contact information on back page
*Site Status Letters have been developed to replace No Further Action Letters formerly issued by IDEM’s Brownfields Program.
Assessments completedor referred
Grantsawarded
67112 18
Loansapproved
Community Initiatives
The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement(EASI) is a national nonprofit coalition of aging and envi-ronmental organizations, which encourages senior volun-teers to use their expertise and leadership in assisting localcommunities while promoting environmental stewardship.The group was established in 1991 as part of a Memoran-dum of Understanding between the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency and the American Association ofRetired Persons. EASI volunteers have been involved in avariety of activities, including watershed assessment,classroom environmental education, and brownfieldsrevitalization research.
The Senior Environment Corps (SEC) is a subgroupof EASI consisting of senior volunteers who work onlocal environmental issues. SECs have received nationalrecognition for their senior volunteer activities related tobrownfields initiatives. EASI achieved this level of effec-tive participation by studying programs that have success-fully utilized senior volunteers in brownfields initiatives.“Involving Senior Volunteers in Brownfields Initiatives: AFoundation for Successful Community Involvement” is areport based on EASI’s research of successful casestudies.
EASI also has been involved with projects in Indiana.The Fort Wayne SEC was formed in 1999 and currentlyconsists of approximately 12 senior volunteers with variedbackgrounds. As part of the Brownfields Initiative in FortWayne, the SEC contributed a great deal of volunteertime to the former Bowser Pump Company brownfieldsite. The SEC volunteers contributed by serving astechnical assistants to neighborhood associations applyingfor redevelopment grants. The SEC also assisted in manyother ways, including completing grant paperwork,
locating and contracting consultants, and offering technicalsupport after grants were awarded. The value of SEC’scontribution can be seen in the nearly 4,000 hours ofvolunteer time that went toward the Bowser project.More information about the Bowser site can be found onthe Brownfields Program Web site under Success Stories.
EASI’s International Conference is scheduled forOctober 28-30, in North East, Maryland. For moreinformation about the conference, the EASI, and itsnumerous SECs, visit the national EASI Web page atwww.easi.org, or find out more about the Fort WayneSEC by contacting Jean Joley at (260) 458-2005.
S e n i o r V o l u n t e e r s A s s i s t B r o w n f i e l d s R e d e v e l o p m e n t
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BROWNFIELDS PROGRAMScoreCard
ScoreCard
BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM
Comfort andSite Status Lettersissued*
Correction Brownfields Bulletin apologizes for a mistakein last quarter’s issue. The amount of low-interestloan funds approved for the St. Edwards Courtproject in the city of New Albany is $350,000 (not$60,000). The loan amount for the Titans Homesproject in the city of Indianapolis is $60,000 (not$350,000), which changes the total amount ofloan funds to $235,000 (not $525,000) for the cityof Indianapolis.
If you prefer to receive thispublication by e-mail, pleasevisit the Brownfields ProgramWeb site to subscribe, or contactDan Chesterson.
IDEM/Office of Land Quality Page 4 www.IN.gov/idem/land/brownfields
In Brief
February 2002 Indiana Brownfields Site Assessment Grant Round AwardsIn March and April, eight communities were awarded
Indiana Brownfields Site Assessment Grants available through theEnvironmental Remediation Revolving Loan Fund. The Februaryround of grants was competitive. A total of 14 grant applicationswere received, totaling approximately $300,000 of requestedfunding, with only $250,000 available. The decision to awardfunding was a cooperative effort by the Indiana DevelopmentFinance Authority, the Indiana Department of Commerce andIDEM. A total of $200,614 was awarded in grants for this round.Following is a list of those communities with their respective sitesand grant award amounts:
POLITICAL AMOUNTSUBDIVISION AWARDED
City of Plymouth (former Interstate Truck Plaza) $18,251City of Rising Sun (former Fryman Auto Parts Property) $19,040City of Richmond (Starr Gennett) $13,967City of Franklin (Central L & M Supply Co.) $18,351City of Dunkirk (former Gasoline Service Station) $31,958City of Frankfort (Frankfort Public Library Expansion) $32,354City of South Bend (Omniplex and former White Lightening) $40,257St. Joseph County (Fitterling Landfill) $44,687
Recently, the Indiana DevelopmentFinance Authority (IDFA) Board, in co-operation with IDEM, approved three In-diana Brownfields Low-Interest Loansthrough the state’s EnvironmentalRemediation Revolving Loan Fund, alsoknown as the Brownfields Fund, for thecities of Warsaw (Gatke Corp.), Tell City(Tell City Chair Co.), and Michigan City(Josam Foundry.) The loans were ap-proved in conjunction with the recentlyawarded pilot grants from the IndianaDepartment of Commerce through thefederal Community Development BlockGrant (CDBG) program to assist in finalredevelopment and site preparation ef-forts. Funding from the pilot may be ap-plied toward environmental remediation,demolition, building rehabilitation, publicinfrastructure and reuse planning. Halfof the remediation costs will be fundedby these approved low-interest loansthrough IDFA.
Indiana Brownfields Site Assess-ment Grants previously had beenawarded through IDFA for all of thesesites, which was a requirement to be con-sidered for the pilot. All three communi-ties have been resourceful in taking ad-vantage of necessary and appropriatefunding to realize their respectivebrownfields redevelopment projects.
For this year’s round of site assessmentgrants from the Indiana Department ofCommerce (IDOC) Enterprise Zone (EZ)Brownfield Grant Program, three UrbanEnterprise Associations (UEAs) have beenawarded grant funding. The IndianapolisUEA received the maximum grant awardof $35,000 to go toward redeveloping “TheBulge” site into a junior golf facility, whichis anticipated by the summer of 2004. TheJeffersonville UEA received $22,095 for theJeffersonville Gateway Propertiesbrownfields redevelopment project, whichincludes plans for a park-and-ride bus stopand various commercial and retail facilities.The Terre Haute UEA received $34,976.75,in addition to previous grant funding for theTerre Haute Coke and Carbon Company.Tentative plans include redevelopment intoan industrial park.
The next IDOC grant round is an-ticipated for January 2003. Please con-tact Deanna Jeffrion of IDOC at (317)232-8917 for more information.
Nearly all communities are con-fronted with the challenges of abatingvacant properties and abandoned build-ings. Problems facing these communi-ties in the redevelopment of vacant,abandoned, and blighted properties in-clude difficulty in accessing available re-sources, lack of knowledge about thecomplex legal and environmental issuesinvolved, and inability to establish com-prehensive strategies for redevelopment.
The International City/County Man-agement Association (ICMA) createdthe Vacant Property Network in re-sponse to numerous member requests.The network allows local governmentprofessionals to come together and shareknowledge and expertise on addressingvacant properties and community revi-talization. This is all done through an e-mail discussion list. Issues dealt withinclude infill development strategies, re-use funding, partnerships with the pri-vate sector, reasons for abandonment,best practices, and lessons learned.
ICMA staff assist with the networkby moderating and sharing timely infor-mation, news, announcements of events,and management innovations. For moreinformation, contact Sean Tolliver,ICMA, at (202) 962-3590 or visitwww.icma.org/IssueIntersections/vacantProperties.cfm.
New CDBG BrownfieldsNew CDBG BrownfieldsPilots Are Recipients ofPilots Are Recipients of
Low-Interest LoansLow-Interest Loans
Vacant Property NetworkVacant Property NetworkDOC EZ Brownfield GrantDOC EZ Brownfield GrantProgram - January 2002Program - January 2002Grant Round RecipientsGrant Round Recipients
August 9, 2002 - NextIndiana BrownfieldsSite Assessment GrantDeadline
Reminder
Brownfields Bulletin 3rd Quarter 2002, Issue 17 Page 5 Contact information on back page
Q: What is the difference between an enterprise zone and an empowerment zone?
A: An enterprise zone is an area of general distress where community and business improvements are needed. The zone is an area in amunicipality that is approved and designated by the State Enterprise Zone Board and staffed by the Indiana Department of Commerce.Qualified businesses located in enterprise zones are eligible for certain tax abatements, credits, and exemptions that help promote economicdevelopment. Enterprise zones are administered by local Urban Enterprise Associations. For more information, contact Deanna Jeffrion,IDOC, Enterprise Zone Program, at (317) 232-8917 or visit www.state.in.us/doc/communities/enterprise_index.html.
Empowerment zones are poverty-stricken, distressed urban areas that are approved and designated by the U.S. Department of Housing andUrban Development. Businesses within empowerment zones can take advantage of wage credits, tax deductions, bond financing and capitalgains to stimulate economic development and job growth and promote affordable housing opportunities. For more information, visitwww.hud.gov/offices/cpd/ezec/index.cfm.
An important issue often associatedwith brownfields redevelopment is theidentification of contaminants and thedetermination of the health risks of thosecontaminants. In this issue and in futureissues of the Brownfields Bulletin, variouschemicals of concern will be highlighted.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) area common contaminant found at somebrownfield sites. PCBs are a group ofmanufactured organic chemicals thatcontain 209 individual chlorinatedchemicals (known as congeners). PCBsare either oily liquids or solids, whichappear colorless to light yellow and haveno smell or taste. Some PCBs mayvolatilize into the air and can remainairborne for up to 10 days. PCBs do notburn easily, are chemically stable, andhave a high boiling point, which makethem good insulating material.
There are no known natural sourcesof PCBs in the environment. Somecommercial PCB mixtures are known in theUnited States by their industrial tradename, Arochlor. They have been widelyused in hundreds of industrial andcommercial applications includingcoolants and lubricants in transformers,capacitors, and other electrical equipment.The manufacture of PCBs in the UnitedStates stopped in August 1977 because ofevidence that they bioaccumulate andbioconcentrate in the environment,causing harmful effects. More than 1.5billion pounds of PCBs were manufac-tured in the United States prior to 1977.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls(PCBs)
Although PCBs are no longer manufac-tured in the United States, they can be foundin older devices still in service and can alsobe inadvertently produced as byproductsduring the manufacture of certain organicchemicals. Environmental sampling can beconducted to determine PCB presence onbrownfield sites, and blood testing can beconducted to detect recent human expo-sures to large amounts of PCBs.
For further information: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov, http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pcb/
Products ContainingPCBs
· Electric transformers and capacitors
· Electrical appliances or devices containingPCB capacitors (refrigerators and television sets)
· Old fluorescent lighting fixtures
· Hydraulic fluids; heat transfer fluid; oldmicroscope oil; dye carriers in carbonless copypaper; plasticizers in paint, plastics and rubberproducts; adhesives; caulking compounds;pigments; and filters in investment casting wax
Health EffectsKnown long-term human health effects:irritation of nose and lungs, and skin irritations,such as acne (chloracne) and rashes
Potential human health effects: birth defects,reproductive problems, gastric disorders,liver damage, nausea, dizziness, eyeirritation, bronchitis, potential carcinogen(studies still being conducted on humanhealth exposures)
Animal testing results: liver and kidney damage,stomach and thyroid gland injuries, anemia,acne, reproductive problems, carcinogen
This article attempts to give only basic information due to limited space. Please consult the appropriateagencies and Web sites or a qualified specialist for more specific/comprehensive information.
EPA Maximum Contaminant Level: 0.0005ppm (milligrams/liter) in drinking water
EPA Reporting Requirements: spills oraccidental releases of 1 pound or more mustbe reported to the EPA
IDEM RISC Guidance Levels: direct contactresidential soil (1.8 ppm), direct contact industrialsoil (5.3 ppm), construction worker soil (16 ppm),residential groundwater (0.00043 ppm), industrialgroundwater (0.0014 ppm)
OSHA, NIOSH, and the FDA: theseorganizations also have set levels to protectworkers and food, respectively
Regulatory Levels/Requirements
Possible Means ofExposure to PCBs
· Repairing or maintaining PCB transformers
· Using old fluorescent fixtures andappliances that may leak PCBs when hotfrom use
· Breathing air near hazardous waste sitesthat contain PCBs
· Drinking PCB-contaminated well water
· Eating fish, meat or dairy products thatcontain PCBs
3rd Quarter2002, Issue 17
Brownfields Bulletin is published quarterly by the Indiana De-
partment 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 over-
all mission is to make Indiana a cleaner, healthier place to live.
IDEM’s brownfields initiative helps communities remove barriers
for sustainable growth.
Please contact Dan Chesterson of the IDEM Brownfields Program to
inform IDEM of address changes, to be added or deleted from the
mailing list or e-mail list serve, or to share your comments and
ideas about this publication.
Brownfields Program StaffGabriele Hauer [email protected] Chief (317) 233-2773
Michele Oertel [email protected] Environmental Manager (317) 234-0235
Dan Chesterson [email protected] Manager (317) 232-4402
Pat Colcord [email protected] Manager (317) 233-4991
Tracy Concannon [email protected]
Environmental Manager (317) 233-2801
Susan Tynes [email protected] Scientist (317) 233-1504
Trevor Fuller [email protected]
Environmental Scientist (317) 233-8409
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 ask for a person by name or number, or dial direct.
Who Can HelpTechnical and educational assistance
Indiana Department ofEnvironmental ManagementBrownfields Program Staff (listed top right)100 N. Senate Ave., Suite 1101P.O. Box 6015Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015www.IN.gov/idem/land/brownfields
Indiana Department of CommerceDeanna Jeffrion, Enterprise Zone Program ManagerOne North Capitol, Suite 600Indianapolis, IN 46204(317) 232-8917e-mail: [email protected]
Financial assistanceIndiana Development Finance AuthorityCalvin Kelly, Deputy DirectorOne North Capitol, Suite 900Indianapolis, IN 46204(317) 233-4332e-mail: [email protected]/idfa
Printed on recycled paper, 100% post-consumer content.
Indiana Department of Environmental ManagementOffice of Land QualityBrownfields ProgramP.O. Box 6015Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015
50-03-3
