Alpena Brownfield Assessment Project
City of Alpena
Alpena Authority for Brownfield Redevelopment
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Michigan Association of Counties Service Corporation
Otwell Mawby, P.C.
The City of Alpena has received two federal grants to stimulate redevelopment and economic growth in our community. The grants provide resources to answer environmental unknowns and position property for redevelopment.
The City of Alpena has a strong rich history as a Great Lakes port, industrial manufacturing center, and regional economic center. Because of economic and competitive changes, our manufacturing base has diminished and commercial base has transitioned, leaving behind industrial and commercial buildings and other sites with known or suspected contamination. These sites represent development challenges because of the financial resources prospective purchasers must commit to determining the environmental status of the property.
Recognizing the need to stimulate redevelopment of these sites, the City applied for and received two federal grants totaling $400,000 to conduct environmental assessments and secure incentives to facilitate redevelopment.
Goals - The goals of the Brownfield Assessment Project are to:
- Remove barriers and position potentially contaminated property for redevelopment;
- Reduce threats to human health and the environment;
- Create jobs and encourage additional spin-off development
- Redevelop downtowns and preserve open space; and
- Create public spaces
Activities
Federal grant funds will be used to:
- Inventory: Identify and compile information on possible properties with potential contamination, or “brownfields”,
- Environmental Site Assessments: Research and investigate whether contamination exists and recommend appropriate actions for redevelopment; and
- Outreach: Inform communities, stakeholders and developers of brownfield redevelopment opportunities in the City of Alpena.
Community Forums
A public forum was held on May 23, 2007 in the early stages of the project to get input on what the community believed are important opportunities for redevelopment.
Inventory
The information gained from these forums and from additional research will be compiled into an inventory of up to 50 potential sites for investigation. From that inventory, the Alpena Authority for Brownfield Redevelopment (AABR) will identify the sites that will be selected to receive additional services through the grant, based on redevelopment potential, potential contamination, owner interest, and other factors, and with the concurrence of the current property owner.
Environmental Site Assessments
The additional services for selected sites are provided in three phases. The first phase includes researching the history of the site to determine what, if any, previous uses may have resulted in contamination. If the research indicates that there may be environmental concerns on the site, samples of the soil and groundwater will be taken and analyzed in the second phase to determine if contamination exists. If contamination exists, a Baseline Environmental Assessment will be prepared in the third phase that documents the existing contamination and protects new owners from environmental liability for previous operations. New owners still have a responsibility to ensure that the contamination does not get worse and that others are not exposed. A Due Care Plan will be developed that outlines what actions need to be taken right away, as well as during and after redevelopment, to ensure the obligations of the new owners are met. The levels of service for each site will be determined by the AABR.
Outreach
An important component of the project is to seek input and share information on the project with the community. The initial public forums will be an opportunity to outline the project and get input on what sites the community believes are potential candidates for redevelopment. Additional forums will update the community on the research and redevelopment opportunities. A brochure will be developed that includes information on selected sites and brownfield redevelopment incentives. And information will be available through a link to the City website.
For more information, please contact:
Greg Sudin
Planning and Development Dir.
989 354-1700
gregs@alpena.mi.us
Mac McClelland
Project Manager
Otwell Mawby, P.C.
231 946-5200
mac@otwellmawby.com