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EPA and Texas Declare McGregor Property 'Ready for Reuse'

Release Date: 10/30/2006
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – October 30, 2006) Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a “ready for reuse” determination for the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant (NWIRP) in McGregor, Texas. The determination is the first to be issued to a U.S. Navy facility nationally.

The “ready for reuse” determination verifies that environmental conditions at the property are protective of human health and the environment for its current and future commercial, industrial and agricultural uses.

“Getting property back into productive use is one of our highest priorities,” EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said. “This determination clears the way by providing the necessary assurances to help encourage developers to reuse these valuable resources.”

A “ready for reuse” determination provides, in a straightforward manner, specific information about a site, including the nature and extent of contamination, the cleanup work performed, and the status of the property with respect to federal and state requirements.

John Steib, TCEQ Deputy Director of Compliance and Enforcement, said, “Today’s ‘ready for reuse’ designation of NWIRP McGregor is a milestone in the redevelopment of a formerly contaminated site. The TCEQ is proud to have been part of the partnership that made this major environmental achievement possible. Fundamental to TCEQ’s mission is protecting our state’s human and natural resources while allowing economic development. This ‘ready for reuse’ determination is the result of having achieved that mission.”

NWIRP McGregor was initially owned by the U.S. Army, followed by the U.S. Air Force, and finally the U.S. Navy. From 1942 until its closure in 1995, its mission included weapons and solid-fuel rocket propulsion manufacturing. The Navy implemented an aggressive environmental investigation and innovative remediation technologies for perchlorate, volatile organic compounds and energetics. Today’s determination affirms that the Navy has investigated and remediated the property in full compliance with EPA and TCEQ requirements, establishing the site safe for its current and planned future uses.

“The McGregor remediation and redevelopment project is a powerful demonstration of the Navy’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for future generations,” said Donald Schregardus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment). “It’s a proud day for the Navy, knowing our partners, the City of McGregor and community, will benefit greatly from this successful collaboration.”

“The potential for creating jobs and revitalizing the local economy was tremendous and that is why I was proud to work with local officials to write the law allowing the land transfer in 1996 and support $6.5 million in federal funding to ensure water quality,” said Congressman Chet Edwards. “This land served our nation well for over 50 years, and it will now serve the City of McGregor and surrounding communities for generations to come.”

“This is a great opportunity for the City of McGregor,” proclaimed McGregor Mayor Jimmy Hering. “When we look to the west, we see almost 10,000 acres of potential and almost 1,000 current jobs. The Navy, and state and federal agencies, have worked for years to turn that industrial land into property that we can grow into and to serve as the basis for McGregor’s future prosperity. There is no doubt that the success of this project will pay off for generations of McGregor citizens.”

More information about the NWIRP McGregor "ready for reuse" determination is available at www.epa.gov.earth1r6/ready4reuse.