Grantee Research Project Results
2002 Progress Report: Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center
EPA Grant Number: R829588Center: HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites
Center Director: Shackelford, Charles D.
Title: Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center
Investigators: Woods, Sandra L. , Burgher, Karl
Current Investigators: Woods, Sandra L.
Institution: Colorado State University , Montana Tech of the University of Montana
Current Institution: Colorado State University , Colorado School of Mines
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: April 15, 2002 through April 14, 2004
Project Period Covered by this Report: April 15, 2002 through April 14, 2003
Project Amount: $242,500
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
The brownfields issue is one of President George W. Bush's and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Administrator Christie Whitman’s priorities. In his 2002 budget, President Bush proposed increasing brownfields funding to $97.7 million for the U.S. EPA. Brownfields are defined by EPA as "abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination". These brownfields sites often are targets for cleanup and redevelopment because they typically have low-to-medium levels of environmental contamination (as opposed to Superfund sites that may have very high concentrations of a wide variety of contaminants). Redevelopment of brownfields properties also has emerged as a top priority for local governments, environmentalists, industry, and other stakeholders. The brownfields boom is fueled by prospects of urban renewal, job creation, profits, and environmental improvement. Indeed, the growing number of brownfields success stories testifies to the potential of putting America's lands back to productive, sustainable use. To succeed in brownfields, however, a local community must juggle a complex set of factors, such as funding and financing schemes, cleanup tools and technologies, multiple levels of regulation, issues of legal liability, risk assessment, real estate, and public participation. Success in brownfields is no easy task, despite the abundance of information on the issue.
The Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substances Research Center (HSRC) Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) for Communities Program is directed by Karl Burgher at Montana Tech at The University of Montana and addresses brownfields sites throughout EPA Region 8. The objective of the Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC TAB Program is to provide technical assistance to meet the needs and desires of the community or group seeking assistance.
Progress Summary:
Activities to provide technical assistance can take many forms, including leadership training, risk assessment, training concerning brownfields processes and site assessment, and technical information concerning cleanup alternatives. Leadership training for community leaders focuses on the technical side of cleanup activities, interaction with government agencies, environmental regulations, cleanup technologies, and risk assessment. Risk assessment training is provided for local government planners, developers, and community members to help build knowledge of basic mechanisms and protocols of risk assessment. Topics include site inventory, characterization, end use, and environmental quality requirements as part of the measurement of risk. Training covering the technical aspects of the brownfields redevelopment process is provided to a variety of stakeholders. Specific subject matter is tailored to local requirements and interests. Training on the assessment of hazardous waste sites helps community leaders and local government environmental professionals develop a better understanding of site assessment principles. Sessions focus on integration of assessment with land-use decisions and provide information about the acceptable tools for data collection. Local government officials, developers, and environmental/planning professionals are provided with the technical information needed and are taught how to make decisions on the use of appropriate technology for sustainable land use.
The TAB Program differs from the Technical Outreach Services for Communities Program, yet should incorporate similar principles of involving stakeholders, meeting stakeholder needs, building trust, creating teams of individuals with a wide range of expertise, and continuous improvement. Our approach, therefore, includes the following:
· Because TAB projects involve a wide range of contaminants and issues, the Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC will assemble an interdisciplinary group of faculty and staff to work with the projects. The group of faculty and staff will vary with project needs.
· In addition to identifying appropriate faculty and TAB staff, stakeholders with a wide variety of opinions must be consulted.
· The TAB Program will work with the group requesting assistance to develop an initial agreement that establishes community needs and describes outcomes.
· Evaluation of TAB projects will be ongoing. The initial agreement will identify mechanisms for formal evaluations.
The Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC is assisting EPA Region 8 brownfields in many ways, such as through the development of print-based materials (creation of handbooks or compilation and review of literature); through face-to-face meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops; and through the use of technologies (such as the Internet, including the development of Web sites, Internet-based instruction, Internet conferencing, or electronic newsletters). Each of these methods will be used, as appropriate, to help communities better understand technical issues and support the redevelopment of brownfields.
The benefits of this project are many. The project will provide assistance to a variety of stakeholders. The Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC will involve faculty and staff from the Center depending on community needs and faculty expertise. The effectiveness of outreach programs will be improved by incorporating a variety of face-to-face and technology-based methods to work with stakeholders. Our ultimate goal is to assist in the redevelopment of brownfields properties by providing information and support to communities.
Status of TAB Sites
· Crow Nation, MO
Status. The TAB Program has been working with the Crow Tribe since November 2000. We have provided assistance with the following items: (1) Brownfields Assessment Grant, (2) Brownfields Job Training Grant, (3) Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants, (4) Brownfields Cleanup Grants, and (5) Tribal Response Programs Grants.Concerns. The Crow Reservation has a history of environmental issues, including: water quality issues, coal bed methane issues, coal mining issues, public health issues, underground storage tank issues, groundwater issues, nonpoint source pollution issues, and environmental justice issues.
Action. The TAB Program has provided assistance to the Crow Tribe in the following areas: (1) assistance with the Brownfields Assessment Grant Request for Proposal process, (2) Phase I evaluation of Big Horn Carpet Mill, and (3) public outreach.
· Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, MO
Status. The TAB Program will assist Fort Belknap Indian Reservation with issues concerning their brownfields sites, including: assessment process, site cleanup, redevelopment, and funding options.Concerns. Fort Belknap has a history of environmental concerns, including: mining issues, landfills, groundwater, environmental justice, chemical contamination, pollution prevention, and cultural sites.
Action. The TAB Program has provided the following activities: (1) Acid Rock Drainage Short Course (1999); (2) Mining in the Environment Short Course (2000); (3) Environmental Planning for Small Native American Community Short Course (2000); and (4) Geographic Information System Mapping Skills Short Course (2002).
Future Activities:
The Crow Nation has a large number of hazardous waste issues that can be addressed by the TAB Program. In addition, we were awarded a Brownfield Job Training Grant on December 21, 2001. This grant has significantly contributed to our TAB activities at this location. The Crow Tribal Brownfields Coordinator and Little Big Horn College Brownfields Coordinator will attend Brownfields 2002 National Conference in Charlotte, NC, November 13-15, with Sherry Bishop, Fort Belknap Brownfields Coordinator. We will assist with the Brownfield Assessment Grant Technical Assistance of both the Phase I and Phase II reports.
Supplemental Keywords:
brownfields, environmental contamination, urban renewal, cleanup, risk assessment, hazardous waste sites, sustainable land use, technical assistance, environmental justice., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Waste, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Hydrology, National Recommended Water Quality, Bioavailability, Waste Treatment, Remediation, Contaminant Candidate List, Monitoring/Modeling, Fate & Transport, Hazardous Waste, Ecological Risk Assessment, Environmental Engineering, Geology, Hazardous, fate and transport, risk assessment, contaminated sediments, mathematical model, hazardous waste treatment, fate and transport , contaminant transport, lead, acid mine drainage, contaminated sediment, mine tailings, cleanup, sediment transport, modeling, surface water, contaminated soil, total maximum daily loads, manganese, Zinc, Selenium, toxicity, mining, copper, environmental toxicant, risk assessments, water quality, cadmium, arsenic, metals, microbial populations, contaminant transport models, mining wastes, mining impacted watershedRelevant Websites:
http://www.engr.colostate.edu/hsrc Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.