Grantee Research Project Results
2003 Progress Report: Environmental Assessment and GIS System Development of Brownfield Sites in Baltimore
EPA Grant Number: R828771C011Subproject: this is subproject number 011 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828771
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (2001) - Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments
Center Director: Bouwer, Edward J.
Title: Environmental Assessment and GIS System Development of Brownfield Sites in Baltimore
Investigators: Chen, Guangming , Oguntimein, G. B. , Williams, Sedley
Institution: Morgan State University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2006
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
This research involves a multidisciplinary approach to environmental assessment of at-risk sites in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The objectives of the research project are to: (1) work in collaboration with city, state, and federal partners to collect, analyze, and document the data on the locations, usage history, risk factors, and potential for remediation of selected existing brownfield sites in Baltimore; (2) develop a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) inventory of environmental activities at these sites; and (3) conduct outreach activities that will provide community service, environmental education, and information through the creation of partnerships with stakeholders impacted by brownfields.
Progress Summary:
To achieve Objective 1, the Morgan State University (MSU) team is working with the Park Heights Reisterstown Corridor Coalition (PRCC), a community located in the northwest area of Baltimore with the U.S. postal Zip Code 21215, for their brownfield assessment project. According to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration survey, this area of Baltimore has the highest population with asthma and the highest lead contamination. The team has accomplished the following tasks: (1) environmental site assessment on three brownfield sites in the area; and (2) economic assessment on the community neighborhood. This information is useful for the baseline study of strategic planning of the brownfield redevelopment. The environmental assessment can reveal the potential risk of exposure to any hazardous environment. The summary results of analysis are given as follows:
• Site 1, located at 4701 Reisterstown Road, was a former gas station that was closed 20 years ago. The underground storage tank (UST) was removed, and a low residual level of petroleum contamination remains at the site. As such, it does not warrant additional investigation because the levels do not present any threat to human health or the environment. The community is proposing to develop the site into an in-house children’s playground.
• Site 2, located in the 4700 block (even-number side) of Reisterstown Road, was shared by a Dodge automobile dealership, a glass company, and a few small-businesses. A Little League park, which is now idle, and a nonspecific park currently occupy the space.
• Site 3, located at 4431 Reisterstown Road, is bounded by Reisterstown Road and Wylie Avenue. About 60 yards from West Cold Spring Lane was a gas filling station operated by Gulf Oil Corporation between 1937 and 1952, while from 1968 to 1975 it was an automobile sales lot operated by several different companies. No information is available on whether the UST has been removed.
The economic assessment on the Park Heights neighborhood indicated that both economy (business) and population have declined significantly in the area. The decline included a more than 14 percent decrease in population in the community from 1990 to 1999, and many abandoned residential townhomes. This decline is projected to continue and even worsen for the next few years if no redevelopment is implemented.
In addition, the MSU team also embarked on a survey of auto body shops located in the Park Heights Reisterstown corridor with the objective of determining the occupational safety practices and environmental impact of the auto body operation. There are more than 20 shops located in this area. From an initial survey of 10 shops, all had good disposal practices, with waste drums for different chemicals and frequent pickup of the waste. The workers were observed to be working at odd postures of body parts, which might lead to musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and other forms of cumulative trauma disorders. The workers who are not using respirators (11.1 percent) and protective clothing (66.6 percent) are at risk for health problems due to the inhalation of toxic chemicals contained in the paints. A community-wide awareness program on safety and health issues for the owners and the workers of the auto body shops could prove to be beneficial in minimizing the safety and health risks. A short workshop program to disseminate information on ergonomically safe methods of working also would be beneficial.
Development of Geographic Information System (GIS)
To meet Objective 2, which was to develop the GIS mapping incorporating the results of the Brownfield and Economic Assessment on the Park Heights area of Baltimore, the MSU team, using ArcGIS 8, the most popular GIS software, has developed the model and database to create the GIS mapping for the brownfield sites in the Park Heights community. Two layers were created to store the information about our assessment results: one layer to store the environmental assessment results on the three brownfield sites; the second layer to store the information about the auto body shops that are major pollution contributors in the area. These information/databases can be conveniently accessed on the GIS mapping by clicking the respective place.
In addition, we have designed a GIS identifier capability for these brownfield sites and auto body shops: as long as we move the cursor close to the site, an identifier box will appear automatically with the information about the address and/or company ownership's name, and historical usage of the three brownfield sites, and the auto body shops.
Educational Outreach
A 1-day summer environmental education program for Baltimore City High School students was conducted. The theme of the program was Environmental Protection in Urban Communities. The objectives were to: (1) introduce high school students to environmental issues as they relate to the urban communities; and (2) stimulate students' interest in environmental protection issues and careers in environmental science and engineering. In attendance were students from Webdubors High School, Western High School, and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Forty-four high school students responded to the announcements we sent , but only 10 actually showed up on the day. The topics covered were: (1) Environmental Pollution Prevention and Green Chemistry Concepts; (2) Introduction to Brownfield and Its Redevelopment; (3) Hazards of Industrial Waste; and (4) Urban Environment, the Role of Community Associations. Following the seminars, the students visited the Environmental Laboratory in the School of Engineering, and then took a tour of the brownfield sites in the Park Heights community.
Other Outreach Activities
The MSU team worked with Mr. Henri Thompson, Director of the PRCC on the development of a proposal for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant for the auto body shop. In addition, we are working with the Clearing House for a Healthy Community in East Baltimore on two major concerns: (1) the environmental effects of exposure to various toxic and hazardous agents from a particle aggregating company (Baltimore Aggregate Recycling Company) located in the area; and (2) redevelopment of brownfield sites.
Future Activities:
We will prepare publications to disseminate the results of the study.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this subprojectSupplemental Keywords:
environmental assessment, geographic information system, GIS, brownfield sites, brownfield, Baltimore, Maryland, MD, remediation, outreach, community service, environmental education, stakeholders, Morgan State University, MSU, Park Heights Reisterstown Corridor Coalition, PRCC, asthma, lead contamination, site assessment, economic assessment, hazardous waste, hazardous substance, underground storage tank, petroleum contamination, toxic chemicals, auto body shop, health risks, safety risks, mapping, urban communities, pollution prevention, green chemistry., RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Brownfields, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, brownfield sites, environmental hazards, risk assessment, risk assessment , environmental risks, environmental assessment, environmental consequences, hazardous waste, GIS, environmental educationRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R828771 HSRC (2001) - Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R828771C001 Co-Contaminant Effects on Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities Involving Urban Sediments and Soils: Phase II
R828771C002 The Fate and Potential Bioavailability of Airborne Urban
Contaminants
R828771C003 Geochemistry, Biochemistry, and Surface/Groundwater Interactions
for As, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cd with Applications to Contaminated Waterfronts
R828771C004 Large Eddy Simulation of Dispersion in Urban Areas
R828771C005 Speciation of chromium in environmental media using capillary
electrophoresis with multiple wavlength UV/visible detection
R828771C006 Zero-Valent Metal Treatment of Halogenated Vapor-Phase Contaminants in SVE Offgas
R828771C007 The Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments (CHSUE) Outreach Program
R828771C008 New Jersey Institute of Technology Outreach Program for EPA Region II
R828771C009 Urban Environmental Issues: Hartford Technology Transfer and Outreach
R828771C010 University of Maryland Outreach Component
R828771C011 Environmental Assessment and GIS System Development of Brownfield Sites in Baltimore
R828771C012 Solubilization of Particulate-Bound Ni(II) and Zn(II)
R828771C013 Seasonal Controls of Arsenic Transport Across the Groundwater-Surface Water Interface at a Closed Landfill Site
R828771C014 Research Needs in the EPA Regions Covered by the Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments
R828771C015 Transport of Hazardous Substances Between Brownfields and the Surrounding Urban Atmosphere
The 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.
Project Research Results
Main Center: R828771
108 publications for this center
20 journal articles for this center