Connecticut Brownfield Sites

Connecticut Connecticut Brownfield SitesBrownfield Sites

What are ‘Brownfield Sites’?What are ‘Brownfield Sites’? ““real property, the real property, the

expansion, expansion, redevelopment, or redevelopment, or reuse of which may reuse of which may be complicated by be complicated by the presence or the presence or potential presence potential presence of a hazardous of a hazardous substance, pollutant substance, pollutant or contaminant…". or contaminant…". – CT DEP– CT DEP

What are ‘Brownfield Sites’?What are ‘Brownfield Sites’? 1990’s- Fed. And State Government 1990’s- Fed. And State Government

decided to take action on land that decided to take action on land that was sitting unused because of the was sitting unused because of the potential hazards that they potential hazards that they contained.contained.

Unknown liabilities were preventing Unknown liabilities were preventing communities from restoring these communities from restoring these sites.sites.

What are ‘Brownfield Sites’?What are ‘Brownfield Sites’? CT- state remediation programs and CT- state remediation programs and

standards are in place to help standards are in place to help promote the cleanup and promote the cleanup and redevelopment of sites.redevelopment of sites.– Connecticut Remediation Standard Connecticut Remediation Standard

RegulationsRegulations

Federal Brownfields LawFederal Brownfields Law Jan. 11, 2002- Federal Law expands Jan. 11, 2002- Federal Law expands

assistance for brownfields assistance for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revitilization , assessment, cleanup, revitilization , and job training.and job training.

Stages of Brownfield Stages of Brownfield RemediationRemediation

Inventory of Sites: Inventory of Sites: what’s there and how muchwhat’s there and how much Assessment: Assessment: Can reclamation occur? Can reclamation occur? Funding: Federal and/or PrivateFunding: Federal and/or Private

– Amount required for each stage of redevelopmentAmount required for each stage of redevelopment Remedial Design and Construction Remedial Design and Construction

– Apply appropriate technology to clean or contain Apply appropriate technology to clean or contain pollutionpollution

– 13 approved clean-up technologies just for USTs13 approved clean-up technologies just for USTs– Each site clean-up is specific to the pollutants and Each site clean-up is specific to the pollutants and

geology of that sitegeology of that site Package site for sale or developmentPackage site for sale or development

AssessmentAssessment Develop understanding of:Develop understanding of:

– Type of pollutantsType of pollutants– Horizontal & vertical extent of pollutionHorizontal & vertical extent of pollution

Impact on the environmentImpact on the environment– Are streams, lakes, rivers polluted?Are streams, lakes, rivers polluted?– Is the underground water table Is the underground water table

polluted?polluted?– Is the pollution localized or Is the pollution localized or

widespread?widespread?– Are plants/animals affected?Are plants/animals affected?

Brownfields and You!Brownfields and You!

Brownfields and You!Brownfields and You!

Possible ContaminantsPossible ContaminantsContaminant Possible source of

contamination

Heavy metals: arsenic, cadmium chromium, lead, mercury

metal finishing/plating shops, manufacturing and foundries, coal burning power plants and landfills

Gasoline/constituents of gasoline:  gasoline, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene

gasoline stations, tank farms, pipelines

Solvents:  tetrachloroethlyene, trichloroethylene,  III-trichloroethane

dry cleaners, machine shops, metal finishing/plating shops

Petroleum products                                   

leaking underground storage tank              

methane gas                                  

decomposing waste materials found in landfills           

PAH (polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons)

PAHs are a group of over 100 different chemicals formed during the incomplete burning of many things including coal, oil, garbage, and cigarettes.

Methane gas decomposing waste materials present in landfills.

explosive chemicals that are designed and produced for use as an explosive (e.g., TNT, explosive bolts, bullets, blasting caps, and fireworks).

Explosives manufacturing company

Case Study: Waterbury, CT Case Study: Waterbury, CT Development – Brass Mill Center Development – Brass Mill Center

MallMall The long defunct, brass The long defunct, brass

manufacturing center, manufacturing center, once comprised of more once comprised of more than 90 decaying than 90 decaying buildingsbuildings

Processed brass until Processed brass until alternate/cheaper alternate/cheaper alternatives availablealternatives available

100-acre downtown 100-acre downtown site, was prepared for a site, was prepared for a rebirth.rebirth.

Case Study: Waterbury, CT Case Study: Waterbury, CT Development – Brass Mill Center Development – Brass Mill Center

MallMall Removal of asbestos, Removal of asbestos,

lead paint, metals, lead paint, metals, solvents, oil, machinery, solvents, oil, machinery, and polychlorinated and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) biphenyls (PCB) contaminated materials. contaminated materials.

Over 200,000 cubic Over 200,000 cubic yards of debris was yards of debris was removed or recycledremoved or recycled

Soil vapor extraction Soil vapor extraction and on-site treatment and on-site treatment were used to treat the were used to treat the 155,000 tons of tainted 155,000 tons of tainted soil. soil.

Case Study: Waterbury, CT Case Study: Waterbury, CT Development – Brass Mill Center Development – Brass Mill Center

MallMall The entire demolition The entire demolition

and remediation was and remediation was completed well completed well ahead of schedule ahead of schedule and under budgetand under budget

construction of the construction of the 1,300,000 square 1,300,000 square foot Brass Mill Center foot Brass Mill Center was then completedwas then completed

Your TaskYour Task Groups of up to 2 students will work Groups of up to 2 students will work

together to research local ‘Brownfield Sites’together to research local ‘Brownfield Sites’ You will gather information about the site You will gather information about the site

and report back to your classmates in the and report back to your classmates in the form of a PowerPoint Presentation.form of a PowerPoint Presentation.

– http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2715&q=324930 a=2715&q=324930

Your goals are to:Your goals are to:1.1. Identify Contaminants PresentIdentify Contaminants Present2.2. Identify the affects of the contaminants of the Identify the affects of the contaminants of the

environment.environment.3.3. Determine how the site was/should be cleaned Determine how the site was/should be cleaned

upup

To be answered:To be answered: General description of site:General description of site:

– Name, Location, Site DefinitionName, Location, Site Definition Contaminants:Contaminants:

– Types in location, Why are they there, affects on Types in location, Why are they there, affects on environmentenvironment

InvestigationInvestigation– formulate a question about the site that may be answered formulate a question about the site that may be answered

through scientific investigation and to design the through scientific investigation and to design the investigation.investigation.

– Do not worry about the specific steps needed to isolate the Do not worry about the specific steps needed to isolate the contaminant or specific techniques used to measure the contaminant or specific techniques used to measure the contaminant’s effect on the environment. Focus on writing contaminant’s effect on the environment. Focus on writing a general plan for your investigation including the a general plan for your investigation including the independent and dependent variables to be studied, general independent and dependent variables to be studied, general procedures you will follow and the data you will collect. procedures you will follow and the data you will collect.

Brownfield Research SitesBrownfield Research Sites Newhall Remediation Project, Newhall Remediation Project,

Hamden CTHamden CT– http://www.newhallinfo.org/http://www.newhallinfo.org/

Raymark Industries, Stratford CTRaymark Industries, Stratford CT– http://yosemite.epa.gov/r1/npl_pad.nsf/http://yosemite.epa.gov/r1/npl_pad.nsf/

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