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Four abandoned gas stations

The technical assistance provided

to the Vi l lage of Suther land is a

clear example that show s how

being environmental ly conscio us

can bring posit ive growth and

development for our sm al l , rural

communities. Karl Brooks , EPA

Region 7 Administrator

U.S. EPA Region 7

Transforming Brownfield Sites in Sutherland, Nebraska into Thriving Places

Summer 2013

Summary of EPA Technical Assistance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7provided the Village of Sutherland, Nebraska, with technical

assistance in 2011. The technical assistance was provided in

part by contractor support using funding from EPAs Office of

Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) and Office of

Underground Storage Tanks (OUST).

Founded in 1891,Sutherlandis home to approximately 1,200 residents along the historic Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30) in

west-central Nebraska, roughly 20 miles west of North Platte. It rests between the North and South Platte rivers on

the southern edge of the Sand Hills prairie. Incorporated as a Village in 1905, it still maintains that title and is proud to

be the biggest little Village in Nebraska.The project location was identified through the EPA Region 7 inventory of

abandoned gas stations, which was developed in 2007 and inventoried such sites along two historic highways in the

Region,the former Lincoln Highwayand theformer Route 66. EPA, in

partnership with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ)

and the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Development Program,

provided planning support to Village officials as they considered revitalizing the

downtown area, including four former gas station sites, two of which serve as

gateways to the Village.

Abandoned gas stations may pose

potential environmental and public

health hazards due to underground

storage tanks that remain after the

stations close. By addressing these

conditions, including potential

contamination and liability issues,

these sites can be made viable forreuse that benefits the community while removing eyesores and transforming

them into community assets. EPA, in partnership with NDEQ, assessed the

environmental conditions posed by the underground tanks and found little or

no contamination.

Workshops Provided Community with Revitalization Plan

SRA International, Inc., and HDR, Inc., provided contract support for this

project. They assisted EPA in hosting a Community Design Workshop in October

2011, resulting in an overall Revitalization Strategy for downtown Sutherland. This

strategy then provided a blueprint for how the Village could redevelop the abandoned gas stations, at the same time

helping create a vision for a more sustainable community.

Initially, some of the Village members were skeptical of the value of the workshop and of working with EPA.

According to Sutherland Village Clerk Samantha Boggs, Folks in this part of Nebraska run away from EPA. One

business owner who attended had to be assured that EPA was not out to get him or the Village. Afterward,

however, the Village was quite impressed with the workshop.

EPA contractor support included:

Developing reuse options and scenarios for four former gas station sites Identifying Sutherlandsassets and opportunities Soliciting community input on the future vision of Sutherland

http://www.villageofsutherland.com/http://www.villageofsutherland.com/http://www.villageofsutherland.com/http://www.lincolnhighwaynebraskabyway.com/http://www.lincolnhighwaynebraskabyway.com/http://www.lincolnhighwaynebraskabyway.com/http://www.historic66.com/http://www.historic66.com/http://www.historic66.com/http://www.historic66.com/http://www.lincolnhighwaynebraskabyway.com/http://www.villageofsutherland.com/

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Since the technical assistance,

the Vi l lage has deemed two

comm ercial bui ld ings uns afe and

has demol ished o ne. There wi l l be

a new bui ld ing bui l t on the lot .

EPA showed that i t can be a

simple proc ess. They came and

show ed what the town could be,

and then set up steps the town

could follow. Samantha Boggs,Vil lage Clerk of Sutherland

Contractor Report Recommendations

The contractors created recommendations for redevelopment concepts expressed by the community. Village officials

then used many of the recommendations to move forward with marketing new business opportunities and promoting

revitalization of the downtown. Key elements of redevelopment in the report or Revitalization Strategy included:

1. Downtown Redevelopment

2. Gateways

3. Corridor Enhancement4. Commercial Opportunities

5. Residential Opportunities

6. Parks, Open Space, and Trails

The report also laid out a vision ofSutherlands revitalization from local

stakeholders ideas on how to reuse the former gas station sites, rights of

way, and other sections of downtown. The Sutherland community learned

that the former gas station sites could not only improve the environment, but

also change the aesthetics of their downtown. Public rights of way could

provide other opportunities to enhance the appearance of downtown and

positively affect the environment as well. This could be done by using green

infrastructure (e.g., natural landscaping) to accommodate stormwater thatwould normally flow off site. Additionally, green infrastructure can help

improve the flow of traffic and create safer commuter corridors by

separating two-way traffic. Improvements in sidewalks, crosswalks, parking, and transportation flow can also help

transform the downtown into a welcoming destination. The Village is looking into other improvements such as

streetscapes (e.g., lighting/lampposts, benches) and greenery (e.g., flower pots, trees, green infrastructure), which

can make the community more walkable, thereby reducing automobile use and improving air quality.

How the Community Leveraged Results

In February 2012, the Village set up the Sutherland Growth Committee

(SGC). The SGC continually referred to the EPA Revitalization Strategy

for guidance. Since formed, the SGC has:

Demolished one dilapidated structure in the downtown area and soldproperty to an adjacent commercial property. Secured $10K of funding from Mid-Nebraska Community Action ($1K)

and Lincoln County Convention Bureau ($9K) to restore one of the

publicly-owned gas station sites.

Received labor and supply donations for a publicly-owned gas station cleanup that helped instill community pride. Worked with NDEQs Petroleum Remediation Section that provided a comfort letter stating that one of the gas

stations was investigated and no further actions were required. The site is now being used by a local business.

Received $160,620 in U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant fundingfor the rehabilitation of five homes for low-income families.

Cleaned up a privately-owned former gas station site that will be rehabilitated in time for the Lincoln Highway 100Year Anniversary celebration in the summer of 2013, where travelers can stop and take pictures.

Potential uses of the other former gas stations include: a leased caf, a public stopping point with a kiosk andrestrooms, and a small museum, which are all being evaluated by the SGC.

All of this has been possible through the Village of Sutherland accepting EPAs technical assistance, along with

support from state and other federal agencies.

For More Information

Lead EPA Contact: David Doyle, EPA Region 7, Lenexa, KS doyle.david@epa.gov

U.S. EPA Office of Sustainable Communities www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htmU.S. EPA Office of Brownfields & Land Revitalization www.epa.gov/brownfields

Two refurbished former gas stations

Community design workshop participants

mailto:doyle.david@epa.govmailto:doyle.david@epa.govhttp://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa.gov/brownfieldshttp://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htmmailto:doyle.david@epa.gov