Brownfields Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet

BACKGROUND

EPA has selected the California Trade and Commerce Agency (TCA) for a Brownfields Pilot. The Pilot, along with funding from the State of California, will establish the California Mill Reuse Program, which is a publicly supported program to reuse closed and abandoned wood products mill sites in the State. The California Mill Reuse Program is based on the Oregon Mill Site Conversion Project and the lessons learned in that project since 1995. The California Program will be implemented by TCA and will work with the Pilot on redevelopment plans for six targeted former mill sites.

An initial survey identified 100 abandoned or closed mills in an area covering 25 counties, primarily in the northern half of California. Further investigation revealed that the total number of former mill sites in California is much higher-there are close to 600 sites in just one county. The closure of timber mills has resulted in the 25-county area having a much lower average income than the rest of the State. The average unemployment rate is 10% and the average poverty rate is 14.8% in these mostly rural counties.

OBJECTIVES

The Pilot plans to establish a structure for public-private cooperation to successfully develop closed or abandoned mill sites throughout California. Pilot funding will be used exclusively to assess environmental contamination on the target sites, and conduct community outreach activities directed towards those parties affected by mill closures (property owners, developers, and local residents). The TCA's long-term goal is that four of the targeted sites will be converted from abandoned to at least 50% use within five years of the Pilot's commencement.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:

• Establishing a Project Team to oversee formation of selection criteria, select sites, and provide technical assistance;

• Performing Phase I and II environmental assessments on up to six closed or abandoned mill sites;

• Recommending cleanup plans and financing sources for redevelopment of these sites; and

• Conducting community outreach activities at each participating mill site, including producing a newsletter, conducting workshops, producing a Community Guidebook for mill reuse, and holding regular meetings.

The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.

CONTACTS

Trade and Commerce Agency
State of California
(916) 324-9775

Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA - Region 9
(415) 744-2237

Visit the EPA Region 9 Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/index.html

For further information, including specific Pilot contacts, additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/