|
Watershed Management Bureau
Coastal Program
Nonpoint Pollution Control Program
Brownfields
The New Hampshire Coastal Program (NHCP), administers the New Hampshire Coastal
Watershed Brownfields Program. "Brownfields" are previously developed sites
that are perceived to be contaminated. Redeveloping brownfields is
one way for communities to reinvest in existing infrastructure and thus limit
sprawling development that eats up previously unused lands, called "greenfields".
The goal of the four coastal brownfields projects is to return these underused
or abandoned sites to productive use. NHCP works closely with the NH
Dept. of Environmental Services Brownfields Program who advise NHCP on technical
and regulatory issues
In 1998, the NHCP received a $200,000 grant from the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) under the Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Program.
The grant money is being used to revitalize four abandoned brownfield sites
in the Coastal Piscatacua River Watershed; 1.)the Department of Public Works
Garage in downtown Dover, 2.) Craig Supply in Durham, 3.) Essex Mills in
Newmarket, and 4.) the Kane Gonic Brickyard in Rochester.
On May 20, 2002, US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie
Whitman announced that the NH Coastal Program in the Office of State Planning
has been awarded a $200,000 Supplemental Assistance grant for the Coastal
Watershed Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot. This grant will
supplement the current NHCP $200,000 grant. Our EPA Region I Brownfields
representative reported that, A There was a great deal of competition for
these funds here in Region I and your proposed activities and application
proved to be a winner.
A total of $14.6 million in Brownfields grants were awarded to assess the
contamination of abandoned properties in 80 communities around the nation.
Whitman said, Reclaiming America's brownfields properties is an effective
way to help revitalize and reinvigorate our nation's blighted neighborhoods
while at the same time preventing urban sprawl.
Dover - This project involves redevelopment of the 35-acre site of
the former wastewater treatment plant and public works garage, located on
the Cocheco River in downtown Dover. The City is addressing petroleum contamination
associated with underground storage tanks (USTs) using state petroleum funds.
Brownfields monies were targeted to better characterize baseline environmental
conditions and develop a site-wide Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to address
non-petroleum related contamination issues. Proposed plans for the site include
removal of the public works garage, increased public access and recreational
opportunities, and some mixed-use redevelopment. The City is moving ahead
with its plans to relocate the public works facility from the site.
Durham -  The Town of Durham inherited the Craig Supply sites land
title as a result of the landowner neglecting to pay taxes. The site is located
in the middle of the UNH campus. The site was formerly a dry cleaner
supply company and is contaminated by a release(s) of perchloroethylene.
Phase I of the work, which has been completed, included underground storage
tank site related contaminant transport in bedrock by performing bedrock
fracture evaluation; a receptor survey; natural attenuation potential in
groundwater, and an additional source area evaluation.
Upon EPA approval, Phase II of the work will begin in August. The work
will evaluate offsite groundwater contamination by installing four multi
level bedrock monitoring wells. Evaluation of stratigraphy and shallow
groundwater quality proximate to Reservoir Brook will be evaluated as well
as potential in-situ enhanced bioremediation of vadose zone soils and shallow
groundwater. Phase II also includes evaluating the site's groundwater
and surface water quality and working toward developing a Remedial Action
Plan (RAP) for the site.
Newmarket - The Essex Mills, which are over 150 years old, are located
on the Lamprey River in downtown Newmarket. Some of the mill property is
contaminated in areas with hazardous material including polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The goal of the project was for the Town to facilitate site development.
In February 1999, the Town of Newmarket and the Essex Group, Inc. concluded
an agreement in which the Essex Group, Inc. donated the site to the Town
of Newmarket.
The property was conveyed to the Newmarket Community Development Corporation
(NCDC) in 1999. The site has now been successfully redeveloped into
condominiums.
Rochester - Kane-Gonic Brickyard. This 18-acre site once housed a
thriving brick-making business. The goal of the project was to identify and
quantify all environmental liabilities for the benefit of future users or
purchasers of the property and secure an appropriate liability release, from
NHDES. The investigations were completed, and the NHDES issued a partial
liability release for the non-petroleum issues at the site. The City of Rochester
has recently begun a preliminary review of a proposed 7-lot industrial subdivision
to make way for a new industrial park.
Brownfields in 2003: A new site has been chosen for 2003 Brownfields
monies. It is the former Regis Mills Tannery on Old Manchester Road
in Raymond. Historical research and site evaluation has begun.
|
|
