Volpe Center Highlights - September/October 2002
Human and Natural Environment
Director's Notes |
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility and Economic Growth
Human and Natural Environment |
Organizational Excellence |
Homeland Security
Awards |
Papers and Presentations
Brownfields Environmental Assessments (EPA)
The Volpe team was required to assess the entire 21-acre brownfields site in Bellingham, Massachusetts, most of which is undeveloped. The size and complexity of the site required several visits. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Christopher Zevitas) |
The nation's landscape is littered with "brownfields," vacant or under-used industrial and commercial facilities whose redevelopment is often complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. Because lenders, investors, and developers fear that involvement with these sites may make them liable for cleaning up contamination they did not create, they are more attracted to developing sites in pristine areas called "greenfields." The neglected brownfields can create safety and health risks for residents, drive up unemployment, and degrade communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Initiative promotes the cleanup and sustainable redevelopment of brownfields. The Volpe Center is supporting EPA Region 1 in conducting environmental site assessments at a number of brownfield sites in New England, most recently in Bellingham, Massachusetts. Beginning in June 2002, Mr. Christopher Zevitas, Ms. Michelle Morris, and Mr. Ryan Cummings, all of the Environmental Engineering Division, performed site reconnaissance inspections at the Pearl Street Mill site. The inspections were conducted to document conditions and history relating to the presence of hazardous substances and petroleum products at the site. Located on the Charles River, the Pearl Street Mill site was originally a textile mill dating to the late 19th century. More recently, the site housed a variety of light industry and businesses. In 1999 the site was condemned for occupancy permit violations and was eventually acquired by the Town of Bellingham for nonpayment of taxes. The town is seeking to reuse the site to fill a critical need for senior housing.
The Pearl Street Mill buildings comprise about 75,000 sq ft. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Christopher Zevitas) |
Redevelopment of the site is complicated by environmental contamination resulting from the presence of a variety of hazardous materials and waste. Future site activities will involve a detailed site investigation that will include the collection and analysis of soil and groundwater samples to determine the nature and extent of the contamination.
Volpe's environmental assessment and remediation work began in the 1990s with support to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at a contaminated site in Maine. The Center now supports similar work for a number of FAA regions, including the FAA Technical Center. Building on this success, Volpe has implemented several projects for the EPA, including Brownfields assessment work in Region 1.
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