Marino Scrap YardBrownfield Site/Beaver County
Brownfields and Economic Revitalization of the Inner CityClass Project
December 1, 1999Lois Davidson
Mira DeDewitt Peart
Introduction
• Who we are• What is our Brownfield Site• Chronology of Presentation
Dynamics
• Acquisition• Indemnification• Motivation• Planning• Ultimate Litigation
Background & Location
• Bordered by the Ohio River and Railroad Street in the Borough of Rochester in Beaver County
• 5 acres including 1 large building and 1 smaller shed-this is the former site of the Marino Scrap Yard.
• Sharp drop-off to the Ohio River, making the River inaccessible at this point.
History of Site
• History dates back to late 1800’s from ERIIS maps of the area.
• Always has been industrial area.• Area contained:
– Brickworks– Foundries– Carriage Factory– Planning Mills & Lumber
History cont..
• The site became a junk yard in the early 1900’s and in 1924 Marino & Son opened a second hand store on the site.
• Eventually they took the entire 5 acres of land and built a scrap yard with a crusher.
• The second hand store became offices and storage space.
Acquisition Steps
• Step 1 Locate the desired property for the intended use.
• Step 2 Contact DEP and regional EPA office for general guidelines.
• Step 3 Retain environmental attorneys and consultants.
• Step 4 Compile an investigation report of the property.
Acquisition Steps cont..
• Step 5 Purchase environmental insurance(if possible).
• Step 6 Secure financing for the property and clean-up.
• Step 7 Purchase property while taking the cost of remediation into account.
ContaminantsPollutant Type Act 2 Residential Used
Aquifer Standard
Highest Concentration
found on site
Methyl Chloride Volatile Organic
Compound (ug/l)
5 8.0
Bis(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate
Semivolatile Organic
Compund (ug/l)
6 31.9
Cadmium Metal (mg/l) 0.005 0.0063
Chromium Metal (mg/l) 0.100 0.194
Lead Metal (mg/l) 0.005 0.0204
Zinc Metal (mg/l) 2 11.66
Arocolor 1260 PCB (ug/l) 0.25 9.0
Arocolor 1242 PCB (ug/l) 1.3 22
Effects of Main Pollutants• Cadmium
– pneumonia, lung disease, kidney failure, hypertension, possible carcinogen
• Lead– lower IQ’s, difficulty with visual motor function
and reaction time, psychological impairment, inability to concentrate, possible carcinogen
• Polychlorinated Biphenyl– damage to respiratory tract, gastrointestinal
systems, liver, skin, and eyes, probable carcinogen
Two Plans
• Plan A -- Take off top 18 inches of soil, cover with 5 feet of clean fill, oil skimmer, shoring
• Plan B -- Cover soil with synthetic membrane and 2 feet of clean fill, cover with parking lot, oil skimmer, shoring
Criteria to Evaluate Plans
• Impact on human health• Long-term maintenance• Sustainability• Cost
Environmental Assessment
Uses:Original Contract $ 76,000Additional DEP Workplan $ 93,000TOTAL $169,000
Sources:
Industrial Sites Reuse
Program $126,000
County Riverfront
Development Program $ 43,000
TOTAL $169,000
Uses:
DEP Remediation Plan $10m-$30m
or
BCCED Remediation Plan $1.4m-$2.3m
Sources:Industrial Sites Clean-upFund (75%) $1,000,000Community DevelopmentBlock Grant (25%) $ 333,000Maximum Affordable $1,333,000
Legal Issues
• Indemnification• Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA)• The DEP’s role• Timeframe• Legal Action
YMCA Motivation
• MONEY!!!!!!• LOCATION
– Intersection of 3 main state roads-65, 68 & 51• Enough land to build site and parking lot.
Demand Factors
• Location is Important– Riverfront was Attractive
• Free Land• No Liability
– Lease Agreement– Act II
Issues
• Infrastructure Problems• Neighboring Uses• Remediation and Ongoing Monitoring
– Statewide Health Standards• Floodplain
Conclusion
• Question the use of the site for YMCA.• Costs of remediation• Time factors if DEP takes over remediation
of site.
