Brownfields Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet

BACKGROUND

EPA has selected the City of Wheeling for a Brownfields Pilot. Due to the loss of heavy manufacturing jobs, Wheeling's population has declined from a high of 61,659 in 1930 to 35,000 today. Because the city is surrounded by mountainous areas, suitable development properties are limited to the waterfront area, which has a history of industrial activity. New industrial development will therefore require recycling brownfields. No comprehensive information is available, however, regarding the environmental conditions at many of these abandoned industrial sites. The community has difficulty attracting new industry to these sites because of uncertainty about potential environmental liability.

The Pilot will seek to build on some early Wheeling brownfields successes. The city will try to take advantage of modern transportation networks, a skilled workforce, and a demonstrated spirit of volunteerism as it builds its brownfields redevelopment program. To begin, the Pilot will refine an existing inventory of potential brownfields sites in the area and establish site cleanup priorities. The Pilot also will target four primary sites for extensive assessment and potential cleanup and redevelopment, including the Former Roger's Hotel site, the former Wheeling Closure site, and two other sites. These properties are located in a neighborhood strategic planning area where other cleanup and economic redevelopment activity is ongoing. When more comprehensive information is known about these sites and contamination is cleaned up, the city will be able to attract new industries and invigorate the local economy.

OBJECTIVES

The Pilot focuses on two specific objectives. First, the Pilot intends to assess the environmental history and potential for cooperative cleanup and redevelopment of the four targeted sites. Second, the Pilot intends to use these sites as case studies of a process for encouraging cooperative brownfields cleanup and redevelopment efforts. The city will ensure that these sites work through the state's voluntary cleanup program. In addition, the city has other potential federal funding available and commitments from local banks and developers for cleanup and redevelopment.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:

• Conducting a formal investigation of all potential brownfields sites in Wheeling to refine an existing inventory of priority sites;
• Conducting Phase I site assessments of the top nine priority sites;
• Conducting Phase II site assessments and developing cleanup plans for the four primary sites; and
• Operating a brownfields cleanup education and resource center to facilitate community involvement at four targeted brownfields sites.

CONTACTS

Department of Economic and Community Development
City of Wheeling
(304) 234-3701

Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA - Region 3
(215) 566-3129

Visit the EPA Region 3 Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm

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/