Brownfields Federal Partnership Mine Scarred Lands Initiative

Transcription

1 Brownfields Federal Partnership Mine Scarred Lands Initiative ASTSWMO 2005 Brownfields & State Response Program Symposium March 15-17, 2005 Jennifer Bohman US EPA

2 Overview Why MSL Brownfields? Background on the MSL Initiative Progress on Demonstration Projects

3 Why MSL Brownfields? Estimates of Over 500,000 Abandoned Mine Land Sites Challenges to MSL revitalization: Regulatory issues Technical issues Financial resources Community capacity

4 Initiative Mission & Goals Mission: Foster revitalization of MSL and affected communities Goals: Federal agency cooperation for integrated approach Select appropriate MSL Demonstration Projects Identify federal resources and how they can work together Provide for information exchange Agencies: EPA, DOI, USDA, ARC, HUD, USACE

5 Project Selection Criteria Brownfields Law definition of MSL Multiple agency interests Community interest & Capacity Specific real estate targeted Responsible party clarification Clearly defined purpose

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7 CAN DO, Hazleton, Pennsylvania

8 CAN DO: Legacy of Mining Hazleton Coal Company formed in 1836 City of Hazleton chartered in 1891 Decline of mining industry forced many to leave region More than 10,000 acres of mine-scarred lands in the region Acid mine drainage (AMD) at rate of 40,000 gallons per minute; 50 million gallons a day

9 CAN DO: Community Overview - Hazleton, PA Greater Hazleton community 52 square-miles Approximately 37,000 residents Luzerne County: poverty 11% Centrally located at the intersection of I-80 and I-81 POC CAN DO Development Organization

10 CAN DO: Visions of Revitalization- Harwood Innovations Site 88-acres Keystone Innovations Zone (KIZ) Reuse vision: business incubator or educational center

11 Kelly s Creek, West Virginia

12 Kelly s Creek: Community Overview 24 square-mile Watershed Includes 7 communities Population: 5,870 Below poverty: 20.1% 20 miles southeast of Charleston POC KCCA and County

13 Kelly s Creek: Visions for Revitalization Provide sewer infrastructure Remediate AMD Develop Ward Estates property into affordable housing and/or a retirement community

14 Stone Creek Tipple, VA

15 Stone Creek: Legacy of Mining Among 70 estimated tipple sites in Southwestern VA Privately owned Presents a health/ safety hazard Stream bank erosion prominent

16 Stone Creek: Community Overview - Lee County 432 square-miles Population- 23,734 Poverty- 23.9% Population Centers: Knoxville, TN- 50 miles away Lexington, KY- 80 miles away Roanoke, VA- 200 miles away POC DMME and County

17 Stone Creek: Visions for Revitalization Affordable Housing Green Space Commuter Lot Outdoor Classroom

18 Stone Creek: Activities $10,000 from Fish and Wildlife Foundation to assist with cleanup Application to Fish and Wildlife Service for site activities Proposal by VA Dept. of Transportation for stream bank restoration accepted by Army Corps of Engineers Ongoing negotiations with property owner

19 Barrick Bullfrog Mine, Beatty, Nevada

20 Beatty: Legacy of Mining Beatty survives gold bust and continues rail service Modern open pit microgold extraction & underground operations Last stages of mine closure / Beatty established as rail center End of rail service Mine closure process initiated

21 Beatty: Overview of Community Beatty 1,200 residents 110 miles northwest of Las Vegas, 20 miles west of Yucca Mountain, and 8 miles east of Death Valley National Park Nye County 98% of land is under federal control 2 people/square mile POC Nye County

22 Beatty: Visions for Revitalization Develop and export alternative energy Capitalize on automotive testing potential Become a multifaceted destination and community Plan and prepare for Yucca Mountain

23 Beatty: Challenges and Approaches to Achieving Revitalization Challenge: Limited community capacity and sound analysis to establish a redevelopment strategy Approaches: Identify and coordinate partnerships related to alternative energy Conduct a feasibility analysis on alternative energy generation Establish consensus on land reuse priorities and an economic development strategy

24 Eureka Town Site, San Juan County, Colorado

25 Eureka: Legacy of Mining Gold and silver mining began in 1860 Eureka and Silverton founded in 1874 as mining camps 1882 Denver & Rio Grande railroad branch built First Colorado mine to produce more than 1,000 tons of ore per day Mine reopened in 1971 and then permanently closed in 1991

26 Eureka: Overview of Community Upper Animas Watershed in San Juan County, Colorado (Pop. 572) One active town, seven ghost towns Silverton is a National Historic Landmark 21% Unemployment POC - County

27 Eureka: Visions for Revitalization Multi-party land trade: San Juan County to own and develop contiguous land lots in the Eureka area (e.g. camping and gravel pit) BLM to own and preserve the historic ghost town at Animas River Forks as a cultural resource Sunnyside Gold to own land that is more valuable to them

28 Pennsylvania Mine, Summit County, Colorado

29 PA Mine: Legacy of Mining Prospectors settled in area mid 1800s Gold, silver, and other metals mined Mining industry declined sharply in early 1900s Mining is no longer the foundation of the region s economy

30 PA Mine: Community Overview Ski resorts are the principal economic activity 82% population growth from Roughly 55% of housing units dedicated to seasonal or recreational use Population- 24,000 Population centers- Towns of Dillon, Keystone, Frisco, and Breckenridge POC Snake River Watershed Association

31 PA Mine: Environmental Issues Toxic concentrations of zinc, lead, copper, and cadmium PA Mine adit: 40% of metals in watershed gallons per min into Peru Creek Peru Creek and Snake River on Clean Water Act s 303(d) list of impaired waters Ski resorts snowmaking impacts on water

32 PA Mine: Visions for Revitalization Improve water quality Establish a trout fishery Establish open space in the Peru Creek Basin and Shoe Basin Establish a way-point on the Continental Divide Trail at Shoe Basin

33 PA Mine: Challenges and Approaches to Achieving Revitalization Challenge: Liability concerns under CERCLA and CWA Approach: Undertake a collaborative dialogue among federal and state government officials and other stakeholders to identify creative solutions to liability concerns

34 Demonstration Projects at a Glance