2011 Annual Report

SUSTAINABLE REUSE OF

BROWNFIELD PROPERTIES

http://www.brownfield.ms

BROWNFIELD MAP…..………….1 LEGISLATIVE RECOGNITION FOR

PHOENIX AWARD…….…….…...2 CSX BROWNFIELD RESTORATION

PROJECT IN GAUTIER………......3 BROWNFIELD APPLICANT

SITES…...........................…….5 COMMUNITIES ASSISTED WITH

TARGETED BROWNFIELD

ASSESSMENTS………..……..…7

Brownfield

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Mississippi Brownfield Program 2011 Annual Report

Statutory Requirement Section 49-35-27 of the Mississippi Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment Act requires that “the department shall report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Senate Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Resources Committee, and the Chairman of the House Conservation and Water Resources Committee on the status of the implementation of the Mississippi Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment Program. The report shall include a list of all brownfield parties and brownfield agreement sites participating in the program, a map showing the locations of sites, a brief description of the brownfield agreement for each site, including the location of the site, the agreement implementation status of each site and to the extent practicable, information on the redevelopment or reuse of each site. The report annually shall highlight those sites included in the Program since the last annual report.”

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MDEQ and Tupelo Accepting Phoenix Award in New Orleans - Willie McKercher and Trey Hess of MDEQ, Debbie Brangenberg of Downtown Tupelo Main Street Assn., Trudy Fisher, Executive Director of MDEQ, and Charles Coney, Consulting Project Manager.

House Concurrent Resolution No. 29 signed by then Speaker Billy McCoy and Governor-elect Phil Bryant

During 2011, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)

experienced continued interest in the Brownfield Program. This interest has been attributed to the efforts to educate parties about risk-based remediation and liability protection, as well as effective outreach. In 2011, MDEQ reached three (3) new Brownfield Agreements, and the total number of Brownfield Agreements obtained to date stands at twenty (20). In 2011, MDEQ received three (3) new applications. As required by the Brownfield Law, the Brownfield Agreements reached in 2011 and the newest applicants are highlighted in this annual report. 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

MDEQ-Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association Partnership Recognized by Mississippi Legislature

On January 19, 2011, House Concurrent Resolution No. 29 was adopted by the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate commending the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for their outstanding efforts. The partnership between the City of Tupelo and MDEQ was highlighted in November 2009 at the National Brownfield Conference in New Orleans when we received national recognition for our work on the redevelopment of contaminated property at the old fairgrounds in Tupelo. The regional Phoenix Award was presented to the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association and MDEQ for their efforts to transform the area around a former dry cleaner into the popular downtown Fair Park District. The Phoenix Awards Institute recognizes groups that remediate and redevelop brownfield sites and represents the industry’s highest honor.

In 2000, during the acquisition of property that included the former Long’s Laundry, the City of Tupelo learned from environmental studies that the soil and groundwater beneath the site had been contaminated by chlorinated solvents. The project stalled until 2003, when the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association applied for Targeted Brownfield Assessment assistance through MDEQ. “We

were dead in the water until the brownfield folks at MDEQ came to us and helped. Up to that point, the city had spent close to $200,000 dollars in environmental studies with no clear end point in sight,” says Debbie Brangenberg, Director of Main Street.

With a clear understanding of the intended future use of the property and the city’s objectives for redevelopment, MDEQ was able to develop a strategy for the environmental assessment to be completed, for liability protection to be secured, and for the site to be redeveloped in a manner that was protective of human health and the environment. In 2004, demolition of the former dry cleaner began, and the transformation of the properties into “Fair Park” had begun.

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Historical Marker at the Gautier Oil site

Wetlands Restoration work by CSXT included replanting approximately 25,000 wetlands plants on the former Gautier Oil Site.

Today, the Fair Park District includes the Renasant Center for Ideas, serving the community as a regionally-based business incubator; the Tupelo Automobile Museum; City Hall, serving as the centerpiece of Fair Park; City Park with its dancing fountain that attracts children and families from all over, and a variety of upscale retail and small businesses that blend modern amenities with the architectural character and scale of a traditional small city.

2011 BROWNFIELD AGREEMENT SITES Gautier Oil Brownfield Agreement Site Brownfield Agreement Reached – March 24, 2011 Brownfield Party: CSX Transportation, Inc.

c/o Matt Adkins 351 Thornton Road, Suite 125 Lithia Springs, GA 30122

The former Gautier Oil Brownfield Agreement Site was utilized by the railroad and its lessees for wood treating (creosote) operations from approximately 1870 to 1979, and then waste oil recovery from 1980 to 1983. Following a period of inactivity, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad in 1985, removed above ground structures, storage and process tanks, drums and piles of sludge, sand filter beds, and the excavation/backfill of the surface impoundment south of the railroad trestle near the West Pascagoula River. Since that time, CSX Transportation (CSXT) has been working closely with the MDEQ to evaluate environmental

impacts associated with the Site and adjacent River and Bayou Pierre. Affected environmental media include soil, groundwater, and near shore sediments of the River and Bayou.

CSXT held a Public Information Session well in advance of the work to discuss and solicit comments to the proposed remedial plan. In January 2011, prior to project kickoff, CSXT hosted a community gathering at the site to inform the local community of the planned work and again give the locals an opportunity to voice any concerns. CSXT and its contractors effectively communicated with the community

throughout the 11 month remediation project. To date, CSXT has spent over $15M to remediate the site.

Approximately 16,000 tons of impacted soil and 7,000 tons of sediment have been disposed and 25,000 wetland plants have been removed, stored, and replanted along with the

Tupelo Fairpark, National Phoenix Award Winning Brownfield Project

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Elevance Renewable Sciences CEO K’Lynne Johnson and Gov. Haley Barbour announce plans for a new facility in

restoration of approximately 3 acres of fringe wetlands. CSXT is planning to partner with the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain to establish a conservation easement on the entire site. It is CSXT's goal to restore the site to its natural habitat which will promote wildlife use. In addition to the conservation easement, CSXT plans to apply for site certification in 2012 through the Wildlife Habitat Council.

Former Arizona Chemical Brownfield Agreement Site Brownfield Agreement Reached – April 28, 2011

Brownfield Parties: Stockstill Brothers Investments, LLC / City of Picayune Picayune, MS

The former Arizona Chemical facility in Picayune, MS consists of approximately 220 acres. Crosby Chemical owned and operated the site from the early 1920's until SylvaChem took over operation in 1981. In 1986, Arizona Chemical became the owner/ operator of the site. The site was purchased by International Paper in 2004. They dismantled the operation and sold off equipment on site. Beginning in June 2005, International Paper performed assessment on the site in order to determine if there were any potential areas of concern that would serve as a hindrance to redevelopment. International Paper performed remediation by excavation in an area known as the Skim Pond which was a unit used as part of their NPDES permit. Once remediated, the only remaining concern oil the property was an asbestos burial site at the back of the property. On July 21, 2006, International Paper sold the property to the City of Picayune. Hurricane Katrina created a need for additional need for building space for the City and this created a unique opportunity. The City of Picayune was able to purchase the site, and with minimal renovation, moved City Hall to the former Administrative Offices of the facility. Maintenance operations for city vehicles were moved to the remaining warehouse spaces on site and the abundance of space allowed for ample parking of city and county vehicles. The property also proved important for the staging of materials used during reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Katrina. In late 2010, the City of Picayune was approached by Stockstill Brothers Investments, LLC to purchase the property and to open an asphalt plant, creating jobs and putting the site back on the tax rolls. A Brownfield Agreement was reached to allow for the property to be transferred along with liability protection. Amoco/Afta Brownfield Agreement Site Brownfield Agreement Reached – May 26, 2011 Brownfield Party: Delta Biofuels, Inc.

Natchez, MS Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc., creator of high-performance renewable specialty chemicals for use in personal care products, detergents, plastics, and lubricants, was able to acquire the former Amoco/Afta Brownfield site in Natchez with the assistance of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA). Through the Mississippi Industry Incentives Financing Revolving Fund, MDA provided assistance for upgrades at the Natchez/Adams County Port, as well as a $25 million loan to the Elevance. Meanwhile, MDEQ, through the

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Mississippi Brownfield Program, reached a Brownfield Agreement with Delta Biofuels, Inc. that addressed liability concerns related to legacy environmental conditions at the facility. The company is converting the facility to a biorefinery and derivatives operation that will involve an investment of more than $225 million and will create 165 full-time jobs over the next five years, in addition to 300 construction jobs. The financial assistance from MDA and the Brownfield Agreement, approved by the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (MCEQ), paved the way for the brownfield redevelopment project to materialize. BROWNFIELD APPLICANT SITES 2011 BROWNFIELD APPLICATIONS Delmas Nursery PROPOSED Brownfield Agreement Site Brownfield Party: Chevron

c/o John Leech PO Box 1300 Pascagoula, MS 39568

BROWNFIELD APPLICANT SITES Prior to 2011 Lowndes Co. Bus Shop PROPOSED Brownfield Agreement Site Brownfield Party: Lowndes County Board of Supervisors

PO Box 1364 Columbus, MS 39701

Moeller Products/Moore Co. PROPOSED Brownfield Agreement Site Brownfield Party: The Moore Company

c/o Pete Johnson 1281 Pickett Street Greenville, MS 38703

Delmar Plaza PROPOSED Brownfield Agreement Site (Gulfport) Brownfield Party: Tuskeena Gulfport Center, LLC

c/o Christopher White P.O. Box 8860 Mobile, AL

LeFleur’s Landing – Under the Hill PROPOSED Brownfield Agreement Site (Jackson) Brownfield Party: City of Jackson

Dept. of Planning & Dev. P.O. Box 17 Jackson, MS 39205-0017

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OCEDA Redevelopment Project PROPOSED Brownfield Agreement Site (Starkville) Brownfield Party: Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority (OCEDA)

c/o: Mr. David Thornell One Research Blvd., Suite 204 Starkville, MS 39759

BROWNFIELD AGREEMENT SITES - Executed prior to 2011 Whirlpool Corporation Brownfield Agreement Site (Oxford) Brownfield Party: Whirlpool Corporation

c/o Robert Karwowski Mound Plantation – Red Barn Brownfield Agreement Site (Rolling Fork) Brownfield Party: Mound Plantation, LP

c/o Bernard Deaton Pilot Travel Center Brownfield Agreement Site (Richland) Brownfield Agreement Brownfield Party: Empire Truck Sales of Louisiana, LLC

Richland, MS Quaker State Brownfield Agreement Site (Vicksburg) Brownfield Parties: Pennzoil-Quaker State Company dba SOPUS

Products and the Warren County Board of Supervisors

Swifty Serve #542 Brownfield Agreement Site (Moss Point) Brownfield Party: City of Moss Point

Moss Point, MS One Hour Cleaners Brownfield Agreement Site (Starkville) Brownfield Party: Statewide Federal Credit Union

Flowood, MS West Manufacturers Blvd. Spec Building (Brookhaven) Brownfield Party: Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber & IDF

Brookhaven, MS Tupelo Fairgrounds/Long’s Laundry Brownfield Party: Tupelo Redevelopment Agency

Tupelo, MS Copiah County MECO Property Brownfield Agreement Site (Gallman) Brownfield Party: Copiah County Economic Development District

Hazlehurst, MS

Emerson Appliance Motors Division Facility Brownfield Agreement Site (Oxford) Brownfield Party: Emerson

St. Louis, MO

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W.R. Grace Brownfield Agreement Site (Corinth) Brownfield Party: Intex Plastics Corporation

Long Beach, CA National Picture and Frame Brownfield Agreement Site (Greenwood) Brownfield Party: Uniek, Inc.

Greenwood, MS Nashville-Ferry Road Brownfield Agreement Site (Columbus) Brownfield Party: Glenn Springs Holdings, Inc.

Columbus, MS Intex Plastics East Tank Farm Brownfield Agreement Site (Corinth) Brownfield Parties:

Intex Plastics Corporation Mississippi Polymers Long Beach, CA Corinth, MS

Wolverine Tube Brownfield Agreement Site (Greenville) Brownfield Party: Wolverine Tube, Inc.

DeSoto Co. School Bus Lot Brownfield Agreement Site (Hernando) Brownfield Parties:

DeSoto County, MS Fidelity Development, LLC Hernando, MS Hernando, MS

Fabra Care Master Dry Cleaners Brownfield Agreement Site (Jackson) Brownfield Party: Westland Plaza Associates, Inc.

Baton Rouge, LA

Targeted Brownfield Assessments (TBA) With funding from an annual EPA Brownfield Grant, MDEQ is able to provide contractual environmental assessment services (Phase I / II ESAs) to eligible entities within the State. MDEQ’s TBA Program is designed to help cities, counties, state agencies, and eligible non-profits minimize the uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields. TBAs supplement and work with other efforts under MDEQ’s Brownfields Program to promote cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites in Mississippi. During this reporting period, MDEQ provided Phase I and/or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, resulting in a total savings to communities of almost $82,000 for nine (9) properties in the following communities:

Cary Gulfport Rolling Fork Terry Ridgeland Winona

Unfortunately, MDEQ received word for EPA in the spring of 2011 that its Brownfield Grant would be cut by $80,000 which has translated into a suspension of TBA activities indefinitely.

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Mayors from Clarke County and City of Gulfport receive $400,000 checks from USEPA at 2011 MML Conference in Biloxi.

City Leaders receive ask questions about EPA brownfield grants at annual MML Conference

Outreach Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency solicits proposals for communities interested in receiving grant funding for brownfield redevelopment activities. In 2011, communities in 40 states and 3 Tribes shared $76 million in EPA Brownfield grants to help clean up, revitalize, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. The grants, awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provide funding to eligible entities through brownfield assessment, revolving loan fund, and cleanup grants. Historically, Mississippi communities have been unsuccessful in securing these competitive EPA Brownfield Grants. In 2010, no Mississippi communities were awarded an EPA Brownfield Grant. In 2009, only one (1) community received a grant (Hattiesburg). Recognizing the competitive nature of the national grant writing field, coupled with a reduction in its own EPA Brownfield grant, MDEQ stepped up its outreach efforts to help communities write better grant proposals. In cooperation with the Mississippi Municipal League (MML) and

EPA Region 4, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for the past two years has been holding an “Advanced Brownfield Grant Writing Workshop” at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center during the annual MML Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi each year. The purpose of the Advanced Workshop is to provide communities in Mississippi that have been unsuccessful in receiving an EPA Brownfield Grant an opportunity to receive feedback on their grant proposals from technical experts who have been successful in securing Brownfield Grants. One goal of the advanced workshop is to identify weaknesses that should be eliminated and strengths that should be highlighted. With two

(2) successful grants awarded to the City of Quitman and the City of Gulfport in 2011, MDEQ believes that the enhanced outreach efforts have shown positive results. In addition, a record number of new grantees have applied this year in hopes of receiving an EPA Brownfield Grant in 2012. Among the communities applying for a 2012 Brownfield Grant are: Canton Columbia Columbus Forest Gautier Greenville Hattiesburg Hernando Lauderdale Co. McComb Moss Point Natchez Pascagoula Philadelphia Starkville Vicksburg West Point