Brownfields Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet

BACKGROUND

EPA has selected Ulster County for a Brownfields Pilot. The Pilot targets the Mid-Hudson Valley, which lies directly north of the New York metropolitan area. The Valley encompasses Ulster, Orange, and Dutchess Counties, and includes the Cities of Beacon, Newburgh, Middletown, Kingston, Port Jervis, and Poughkeepsie. This region has suffered from the loss of industry, aging infrastructure, deteriorated downtown areas, and eroding financial bases. These trends have been exacerbated by the reduction of 13,000 workers by a single employer. Although the region has adapted by creating jobs in the goods-producing sectors, many properties with redevelopment potential, especially in the cities, remain underused or abandoned due to potential contamination and unknown financial liabilities. There has been an increase in the number of companies looking to expand in the region, especially from the New York City area, and demand for industrial sites currently exceeds the supply.

OBJECTIVES

The Pilot's objective is to facilitate brownfields redevelopment through the formation of a regional public/private partnership, the Mid-Hudson Valley Brownfield Partnership (MHVBP). The MHVBP will be a centralized forum through which owners and developers can obtain technical information and assistance. In addition, the MHVBP plans to streamline review and approval processes and provide training and skills for community members. Pilot funding will be used to develop a brownfields inventory, conduct site assessments, and develop a regional model for brownfields redevelopment.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:

• Establishing a regional clearinghouse to provide technical assistance and additional resources for potential developers and property owners;

• Developing a geographic information system-based inventory of brownfields sites and a Project Redevelopment Site Survey which prioritizes properties based on redevelopment potential;

• Conducting model Phase I and II environmental assessments on, and developing cleanup plans for, one or two strategic sites;

• Conducting four to six public meetings and workshops to inform affected brownfields communities about project activities and to solicit input; and

• Identifying other incentives or sources of funding available for site assessments or cleanup.

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

CONTACTS

Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress
(914) 565-4900

Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA - Region 2
(212) 637-4314

Visit the EPA Region 2 Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/brownfields/

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/