Region 6

Land

Oklahoma to get cleaner, greener with $2.6 million from EPA

More than $5 million in brownfields funding awarded across Region. More

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The Superfund Program continues to make significant progress in cleaning up America's contaminated sites,according to annual data released by EPA. EPA completed work at a 40 sites. Over 1,000 sites or 64 percent of the Superfund top priority sites have construction work completed. Read more …>

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Proper disposal of compact fluorescent light bulbs

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of properly.

• Information on Proper Disposal of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs in PDF format (2 pages, 72 KB)
• General Information on Compact Florescent Light Bulbs

 

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Historic school gets nearly $200,000 from EPA to remove asbestos

St. Matthew School Community Association, Inc., of Natchitoches Parish has been awarded $197,996 in brownfields funding by the Environmental Protection Agency to remove asbestos-containing materials.

“EPA uses the brownfields program to partner with communities, so we can give challenged properties new purpose and new life,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  Read more …>

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EPA awards Oklahoma City additional $250,000 in brownfields funding 

EPA has awarded an additional $250,000 to Oklahoma City to help cleanup area brownfields.  Oklahoma City was previously awarded a $2 million revolving loan fund grant to restore brownfields in the Oklahoma City Empowerment Zone.

“Through our brownfields program, EPA continues to sow the seeds of environmental and economic success,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. Read more ...>

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EPA adds Texas sites, proposes New Mexico site to Superfund list 

Two sites in Texas have been added and one site in New Mexico has been proposed to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

“Adding these sites to the NPL makes federal resources available to help protect the drinking water sources for thousands of Texans and New Mexicans,” EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said. Read more ... >

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Developer to clean up Superfund site

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency marked the signing of the first-ever agreement in the nation by a developer to clean up a Superfund site at a ceremony in Houston.

“This ground-breaking agreement shows the innovative solutions that are possible when government and industry work together to achieve a shared goal,” EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said.  Read more …>

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Dallas Brownfields Program Spurs Neighborhood Revitalization

Like many large cities, Dallas experienced marked population growth in the early 1990s, expanding by 17 percent, or 686,000 residents. Most of the growth occurred on the city's fringes and in the surrounding suburbs. This growth drew businesses and residents from downtown, leaving many properties vacant. To stem the migration from downtown and redirect development toward declining areas, the city adopted the Dallas Plan, which emphasized promoting economic development, preserving the city's neighborhoods, and encouraging private redevelopment of vacant sites in west and south Dallas--two of the city's poorest areas. Read more .. .>

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Ready for Reuse Determination Helps City of Fort Worth

A unique public partnership involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, city of Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. Postal Service and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality resulted in a new City Service Center on what was formerly contaminated, unusable property.

A joint Ready for Reuse determination by the State of Texas and EPA cleared the way for the Service Center to move to a state-of-the-art facility built on 25 acres in the Fort Worth Federal Center on the far south side of the city. Ready for Reuse areas are determined to be protective of human health and the environment and can be reused for commercial, industrial, residential, recreational, or agricultural use.

Mostly undeveloped before the new Center was built, a small part of the site had been contaminated by lead ingots stored there. The area was cleaned-up to meet state standards, the Ready for Reuse determination was made, and construction on the new Center began. The General Services Administration, the property owner, acted as the developer. The Center was dedicated in January 2006 and has already helped the city deliver improved maintenance services to its vehicle fleet.

The Center's relocation to the south side opened its former site, a prime location near the Kimball Art Museum in the downtown cultural district, to be redeveloped for more appropriate uses.

For more information:
Ready for Reuse
Cleaning Up in Region 6

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EPA Providing Helena Chemical Company Report for Public Review

The EPA is providing the December 2005 “Sampling Activities Report for the Helena Chemical Site in Mission, Texas,” for review by the public. EPA’s initial review of the report indicates that contamination exists but is contained beneath the cap and poses no immediate endangerment to public health or the environment.

Helena Chemical Company Fact Sheet in PDF (26 KB)

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Historic Austin Power Plant Ready for Reuse

Austin Energy's Seaholm Power Plant in Austin, Texas has received the nation's first Ready for Reuse determination under the Toxic Substances Control Act. On January 17, 2006, EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued the determination, which verifies that the property is now safe for commercial and residential use and as a cultural attraction.

Built in the 1950s, the former Plant is located in downtown Austin, in an area targeted for land revitalization and urban renewal. It will become a performing arts center and house a public television station and museum. Ready for Reuse status allows this former industrial property to play a new, vibrant role in the city's continuing economic growth.

"We are building on our experience using the enormously successful Brownfields program, clearing the way for reuse of valuable natural resources by giving encouragement and assurances to developers," said EPA Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division Director Carl Edlund.

Austin Energy investigated and cleaned-up the asbestos, lead-based paint, polychlorinated biphenyls and other contaminants covered under the Toxic Substances Control Act, while maintaining the structural integrity of the historic building. The project also won a gold medal in the environmental division of the Texas Council of Engineering Companies' 2006 Engineering Excellence Awards program.

For more information:
Region 6 Ready for Reuse Program.

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Underground Storage Tank cleanup progressing well

EPA Dallas has reached 62% of its annual goal of cleaning up sites that were contaminated by leaking underground storage tanks, an environmental problem that dates back to the early 1900s, with the proliferation of filling stations across the country.

Over the last few years cleanup priorities have been based on the level of risk to human health and the environment, rather than the old approach of working down a list, and have focused on re-use - restoring the properties to a safe level that will enable them to contribute to their local economies. Whenever you see a coffee shop, pharmacy or other new business on a corner that used to be a gas station, you're seeing the successful end result of this effort. More than 550 formerly contaminated sites were cleaned up in the first six months of the year.

"We're operating more efficiently by building on our relationships with state agencies, community and industry groups and working collaboratively with them toward our mutual goal of bettering the environment," said Willie Kelley, EPA Manager. "We have a great mission and will continue to improve our results. Helping return properties to productive use is an added benefit of our efforts to ensure a safe environment."

The environmental goal of the underground storage tank program is to protect sources of drinking water. Today 's modern equipment used by most businesses reduces both the number and volume of leaks.

For more information:

U.S. EPA Underground Storage Tank Web site.
EPA Region 6 Underground Storage Tank Web Site.

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EPA awards Brownfields grants to 17 groups in Region 6

Environmental progress in EPA Region 6 continues to advance, with more than $7,500,000 in Brownfields grants awarded to 17 groups in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

"Brownfields grants help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community and economic use," said Regional Administrator Richard Greene. "I am glad that EPA can support the good work our states have begun and I look forward to applauding their achievements."

Brownfields are properties with expansion, redevelopment or reuse challenges from hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants. The EPA program helps communities, developers and other groups restore and reuse these properties.

Reinvesting in Brownfields increases local tax bases, helps job growth, makes better use of existing streets, bridges, other public structures and utilities, thereby reducing development pressure on undeveloped land. Also importantly, Brownfields successes improve and protect the environment.

More information on Region 6 Brownfields

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Shreveport Groups receive EPA Brownfields grants

The Environmental Protection Agency presented $235,955 in Brownfields grants to two non-profit groups in Shreveport, LA.

The Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana was granted $85,995 to continue to develop the InterTech Science Park by addressing hazardous substances at the former Sproull property. This will prepare the site for the expansion of Red River Pharma's manufacturing and research facilities. Read more >

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$2 million EPA Brownfields grant to Oklahoma City

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $2 million Brownfields grant to Oklahoma City, OK, to help protect human health and the environment. Read more >

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Pulaski County, Ark., receives $3 million Brownfields grant

Pulaski County Arkansas received $3 million in Grants from the U.S. Environmental Agency to establish a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund. Read more >

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Brownfields

Many areas across the country that were once used for industrial and commercial purposes have been abandoned over time. Some of these properties are contaminated, while others are simply perceived to be polluted. The potential contamination associated with these sites often deters lenders, investors, and developers from investing in its redevelopment.

Not only do these blighted areas serve as an eyesore for the community, but they can create safety and health risks for residents, drive up unemployment, and foster a sense of hopelessness. These areas are known as "brownfields." Read more >

Targeted Brownfields Assessments

Brownfields Redevelopment

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About EPA's Land Revitalization Action Agenda

EPA, in partnership with the States and a broad range of stakeholders, is undertaking an important initiative both to protect human health and the environment by cleaning up waste sites and restore land to productive commercial, residential, industrial, and green space end uses.

EPA has developed a Land Revitalization Agenda to further land reuse by: ensuring that cleanup program policies and guidance encourage reuse; creating public-private and cross-governmental partnerships to foster reuse; instilling a culture of reuse in our government workforce; and providing incentives for reuse through streamlined implementation of the new federal brownfields legislation to provide brownfields grants and limit liability for prospective purchasers of property. Read more >

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Cleanup Process

The Superfund cleanup process begins with site discovery or notification to EPA of possible releases of hazardous substances. Sites are discovered by various parties, including citizens, State agencies, and EPA Regional offices. Once discovered, sites are entered into the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS), EPA's computerized inventory of potential hazardous substance release sites (view CERCLIS Hazardous Waste Sites). EPA then evaluates the potential for a release of hazardous substances from the site through these steps in the Superfund cleanup process. Read more >

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Waste Management in Indian Country

EPA's Tribal Solid Waste Management Program encourages municipal solid waste and hazardous waste management practices in Indian Country that are protective of human health and the environment. EPA's Strategy for Implementing Waste Programs on Tribal Lands describes the actions EPA will undertake to implement waste programs on tribal lands, including Alaska native villages. Read more >

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Region 6 Corrective Action Strategy

The EPA Region 6 developed a Corrective Action Strategy (CAS) guideline to accelerate corrective action at RCRA facilities. This document is intended to help regulators and facilities make meaningful progress with corrective action at RCRA sites by: 1) prioritizing corrective action at facilities by focusing on sites that pose the most significant risk, and 2) by streamlining corrective action administrative procedures. The overriding goal of the CAS is the protection of human health and the environment. Read more >

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Underground Storage Tanks

The Underground Storage Tank (UST) / Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Program, authorized under Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), works to prevent the release of petroleum and other products stored in USTs. Because leaking underground storage tanks have been a major cause of groundwater contamination in the United States, Congress enacted laws to cleanup leaking tanks, to prevent tanks from leaking, and to detect leaks quickly if they do occur. All Region 6 states have attained State Program Approval to implement the UST/LUST program. Read more >

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Who Pays

By law, the parties responsible for the use, transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances and oil are liable for the cost of containment, cleanup, and damages resulting from a release, or threat of release, related to their own activities. EPA's goal is to identify the responsible parties and ensure that they pay these costs. Read more >