The Panhandle Area Development District (PADD) is two years into receiving funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help communities in the 11 counties of the panhandle to redevelop potential brownfield sites.
Brownfields are properties with a real or perceived presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant which may hinder the redevelopment of reuse of the property. These properties may have previously been used as a factory, packing plant, or industrial site and may possibly be contaminated from leftover by-products from its original use.
These funds have assisted with the completion of Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) on seven properties so far. ESA’s can happen in two phases. A Phase I site assessment looks at the historical use of the property and gives the owner or prospective buyer a recommendation on whether further testing is needed.
If the recommendation for further testing is indicated from the Phase I, the owner or buyer can decide whether or not to have a Phase II assessment done. A Phase II site assessment conducts tests on the property to determine the presence of hazards, contaminants or pollutants.
The information gathered from a Phase I or Phase II site assessment will give owners or prospective buyers the knowledge of the true story of the property. This information can help sell or redevelop the building or property for reuse.
PADD is ready to assist more property owners and interested developers with Phase I and Phase II site assessments. Interested property owners should contact PADD to complete an access agreement and a brownfields funding application.
For more information on brownfields assessment funding, contact Megan Koppenhafer, Community Planner at PADD as 308-633-6829 or at [email protected].