Oct 21

Written by: eeci
10/21/2011 10:26 AM 

Bob Hansen, Connersville News-Examiner Managing Editor

A regional group is looking to clean up at least one place in Fayette County so that it can be put back to use.

The Energize-ECI Regional Planning District wants to develop a partnership with a “brownfield assession coalition” of at least three local governments that together would seek a so-called brownfield assessment that would be funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said Pam Price, the district’s program development coordinator.

Price spoke with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, saying Energize hopes to develop a partnership of the county, the city of Connersville and the town of Glenwood. Together, those groups would identify at least one area that might be a brownfield, or contaminated area. Using EPA funds, Energize would pay for a Phase I assessment which would review the site’s history to determine whether it is actually contaminated.

Sometimes, she explained, old industrial or dump sites are thought to be contaminated but a Phase I assessment finds no evidence that they are.

Commissioner Richie Pflum said he and others from the area had previously met with Price. Among sites they have suggested for possible assessment is an old county garbage dump. Pflum said Tuesday there may also be problem areas in the Orange community. He asked Price to meet with Marion Dalrymple, township trustee, about possible problems in Orange. Dalrymple attended the meeting and expressed interest in meeting with Price.

Pflum said Price also has visited with officials from the city, who suggested sites within city limits.

After a site is evaluated in Phase I, a Phase II assessment could be conducted, again paid for by EPA funds, Price said. In Phase II, experts would take soil and water samples from the site to identify the contaminants. Following that evaluation, the site could become eligible for cleanup.

“The idea is to get things back on the tax rolls and maybe even get them back to green space,” Price said.

In a handout, Price said examples of sites that could be considered for evaluation and clean up include former gas stations, oil storage facilities, dry cleaners, abandoned or underutilized industrial sites, former schools, apartment buildings and hospitals.

The Energize-ECI Regional Planning District, headquartered in Muncie, has obtained $609,000 in EPA funds to fund a brownfields assessment coalition in Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay counties.
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