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Environmental Officials Brief Delaware Congressionals on Brownfields Progress

Release Date: 6/4/1999
Contact Information: Donna Heron, (215) 814-5113

DOVER, Del. - Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency briefed the Delaware congressional staff today on the progress of the Brownfields redevelopment program, and other Superfund hazardous waste issues throughout the state.

"Annual Superfund briefings provide vital, timely and accurate information from which congressional staffs can develop policy recommendations and stay current on this critical work in their states.  This year’s briefing showcased the Brownfields program in Delaware, which is putting abandoned, industrial properties back into productive use," said W. Michael McCabe, EPA’s regional administrator.

EPA representatives told congressional staff members from the offices of U.S. Senators Biden and Roth and U.S. Rep. Castle that through the agency’s Brownfields program, 11 federal Superfund sites in Delaware are being used or are planned for reuse to benefit their communities.

Some of those sites include:

Army Creek Landfill, New Castle County -- A 60-acre parcel of this site has been re-created as a wildlife habitat.  It supports a meadow and field with diverse grains and wildflowers.

Halby Chemical Company, New Castle County -- Six small businesses operate on the site, including a truck stop, a tire repair shop, and an overseas automobile shipping company.  The property will be paved for further protection of health and to encourage continued industrial use.

Delaware Sand & Gravel, New Castle County -- A five-acre portion of the site was cleaned up to allow for light industrial use, equipment parking and storage.

Wildcat Landfill, Kent County -- This 44-acre site was planted with a variety of plant species and 2.6 acres of wetlands were created adjacent to the landfill cap.  A pair of bald eagles call the site home.

Delaware has 20 Superfund hazardous waste sites requiring long-term cleanup.  Of those, 13 have been cleaned up and, of those, three have been deleted from the Superfund National Priorities List of most hazardous sites.  Four sites have cleanups underway and three sites are in the planning stages.

At the Chem-Solv site in Cheswold, Kent County, more than 40 million gallons of contaminated groundwater has been recovered and treated.  The contaminant level in the groundwater has plunged more than 90 percent.

Superfund workers at the Dover Gas Light site excavated 1,000 cubic yards of tar-like contaminated soil -- enough to fill 50 full-size tractor trailers -- from underground "gas holders."  A soil cleaning system, a parking lot and a groundwater treatment plant are being designed for the site.


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