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19 Toxic Legacies Reborn

Release Date: 03/15/2006
Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, 202-564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. – March 15, 2006) Most people would be surprised to learn that giving a gate key to a model airplane club could transform a cleaned-up landfill into a flying park. But, activities like this are taking place at cleaned up Superfund sites all around the country, and the results are benefiting human health, local communities, and the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is helping communities reuse 19 cleaned-up Superfund sites.

"President Bush and EPA are committed to putting both people and property back to work," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Through our 'Return to Use Initiative,' EPA is helping communities across America convert environmental eyesores back into something of public pride."

Part of EPA's multi-part Land Revitalization Initiative, the Return to Use Initiative focuses on Superfund sites that have already been cleaned up but remain vacant. The Return to Use Initiative helps to remove real and perceived barriers to community use by addressing liability concerns and providing key information about the site and available uses that would not interfere with the clean-up remedy. Returning the sites to beneficial use not only allows local communities to reclaim lost land, it can also lead to increased property values, a higher tax base and protected open space. In addition, when local interests have a stake in the revitalized property, the chances are greater for continued productive use.

The 19 new demonstration projects are located in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.

EPA launched the Land Revitalization Initiative in April 2003 to help communities restore contaminated properties to environmental and economic vitality. EPA works with property owners and federal, state, and local partners to promote the reuse of sites as green space, or for recreational or commercial facilities, without posing any risk to human health or the environment.

More information on EPA's Superfund Return to Use Initiative and the demonstration projects: epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/rtu/demos.htm

More information on EPA's Land Revitalization Initiative: epa.gov/landrevitalization



The following is a list of the 19 sites:

Colorado
California Gulch, Leadville, Colo.

Connecticut
Kellogg-Deering Well Field, Norwalk, Conn.
Nutmeg Valley Road, Walcott, Conn.

Florida
Beulah Landfill, Pensacola, Fla.
Taylor Road Landfill, Seffner, Fla.


Illinois
Celotex, Chicago, Ill.
Yeomen Creek, Waukegan, Ill.

Indiana
Augustus Hook, Frankfort, Ind.
Ingram Richardson, Frankfort, Ind.

Kansas
Kansas City Structural Steel, Kansas City, Kan.

Maine
Union Chemical, Town of Hope, Maine

Michigan
Clare Water Supply, Clare, Mich.
Rose Township Dump, Rose Township, Mich.
Tar Lake, Mancelona, Mich.

New Hampshire
Tinkham Garage, Londonderry, N.H.

Pennsylvania
Strasburg Landfill, Newlin and West Bradford Townships, Pa.

South Carolina
Palmetto Wood Preserving, Dixiana, S.C.

Tennessee
Flura Corporation, Newport, Tenn.

Utah
Midvale Slag, Midvale, Utah