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.