75 Lake Street St. Albans, VT 05478-1850 (802) 524-5958 (800) 564-5958 Fax (802) 527-2948 BROWNFIELDS ASSESSMENT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT APRIL 2014 Agreement Closeout Report Cooperative Agreement Number: BF-96113901 Reporting Period: August 19, 2009 April 30, 2014 Report Number: Nineteen Date Submitted: July 10, 2014 Prepared For: Prepared By: Submitted via email to: Dorrie Paar EPA New England, Region 1 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 Mail Code OSRR07-2 Boston, MA 02109-3912 Paar.Dorrie@epamail.epa.gov Submitted via mail to: Las Vegas Finance Center US EPA, LVFC 4220 S. Maryland Pkwy, Bld C, R, 503, Las Vegas, NV 89119 Fax: 702-798-242 Northwest Regional Planning Commission 75 Lake Street St. Albans, VT 05478 Greta Brunswick, Senior Planner Northwest Regional Planning Commission 75 Lake Street St. Albans, VT 05478 Serving the municipalities of: Alburg T Alburg V Bakersfield Berkshire Enosburg Falls Enosburg T Fairfax Fairfield Fletcher Franklin Georgia Grand Isle Highgate Isle La Motte Montgomery North Hero Richford St. Albans C St. Albans T Sheldon South Hero Swanton T Swanton V
1. PROJECT CLOSEOUT REPORT Description of the Region Franklin and Grand Isle Counties consist of 23 rural municipalities (2010 Census population 54,716) in northwestern Vermont bordered by Canada, Lake Champlain, New York, the Green Mountains, and Vermont s urban area, Chittenden County. The region is host to one City, St. Albans (2010 Census population 6,918), and several smaller population centers all with a 2010 Census population of less than 2,500, including Richford, Swanton, and Enosburg Falls. The region s economy was historically centered on agriculture and forestry related products, which thrived in part because of the region s location as a major transportation corridor for commercial traffic from New England to Canada. The rail road years were prosperous for our region but since its demise our economy has never fully recovered. As a result, brownfield sites are scattered throughout the 23 municipalities, concentrated in our four population centers. Description of Sites Funded by this Grant Former Fonda Container Company/Solo Cup. The Former Fonda Container Company/Solo Cup was a manufacturing facility located in downtown St. Albans. The property is currently owned by the City of St. Albans. This grant funded a sampling round of on-site and down-gradient groundwater monitoring wells, in addition to sampling of a recovery well installed at a former transformer area. Environmental site assessments funded by other NRPC Brownfields Assessment grants found a variety of contaminants in soil and groundwater including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), metals, chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and asbestos-containing building materials. The facility has since been demolished and the site partially remediated, work which was funded in part by a sub-grant from NRPC's RLF. A Site Management Activities Complete (SMAC) letter is imminent from the State. The City is currently part of the Brownfields Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA), which is pooling together resources to help the site attract a developer. Former Fonda Container Company before Demolition Former Fonda Container Company site after Demolition ready for Redevelopment St. Albans House. The St. Albans House is a privately owned four-story former hotel located on a corner lot in downtown St. Albans City. In addition to a hotel, the site was home to a variety of commercial and residential uses since the early 1900s, including auto sales and service and a printing shop. This grant paid for a Supplemental Page 2 of 13 St. Albans House Redevelopment
Phase 2 Assessment and a Vapor Intrusion Assessment. Other NRPC Brownfields Assessment grants funded a Phase 1 and Phase 2 Assessment. There were no remedial actions required at this site and it has received a SMAC. Redevelopment is complete with residential apartments on the third and fourth floors and commercial office space on the first and second floors. Richford Area Wide Plan. The Area Wide Brownfield Planning project in Richford, Vermont brought a team of consultants together to plan for the revitalization of the village center, with additional concentration on how to redevelop four historic brownfield properties as an important catalyst for growth and opportunity. The vision developed by the project was a welcoming, attractive community with a positive image; and a productive downtown that capitalizes on the town s architecture, the Missisquoi River, and its location proximate to recreation resources. To implement the vision, the plan identified short and long term projects, including the Missisquoi Park and Main Street Overlook Park at 111, 113 Main Street; Main/River Street improvements, including upgrades to the streetscape and building facades and redevelopments; additional municipal parking opportunities; and a welcome center. Site-specific assessments at four historic brownfield properties identified environmental, infrastructure, and structural conditions that would significantly impact redevelopment. In addition, the study included a market analysis and redevelopment feasibility analysis. The private properties selected for site specific assessment and analysis included: The Taylor Block (2 Main Street), The Boright Block (1 Main Street), The Wheeler Building (32 River Street), and The Bank Block (aka, the Mason s Building, 61 Main Street). The Wheeler Building The Taylor Block The Bank Block The Boright Block The area wide brownfield planning report identifies projects and tasks that will revitalize the village center and provides critical information for the redevelopment of the selected brownfield sties. The report is intended to be used by community groups as a guide for implementing revitalization projects in addition to the prospective developers and property owners for the selected brownfield sites. Page 3 of 13
Richford Area Wide Plan Project Area and Environmental Indicators Page 4 of 13
111, 113 Main Street, Richford. The 111, 113 Main Street property (.42 acres) is owned by the Richford Economic Advancement Corporation. 111 Main Street was home to a variety of uses, including a millinery, photographer, auto parts retailer, and auto garage, but currently possesses only the foundation of the former building. Uses at 113 Main Street included a barber shop, cobbler shop, small engine repair shop, and it has rail spurs in the rear of the property. The building at 113 Main was recently demolished using NRPC RLF grant funding and it also now possesses only the foundation of the former building. This grant funded a Phase 2 Assessment, Supplemental Phase 2 Assessment and a Supplemental Building Materials Assessment. The investigation found lead based paint and asbestos containing materials in the building on 113 (now demolished) and shallow soil contamination across the site with a variety of metals and SVOCs. NRPC is currently funding a corrective action plan for the remaining issues at the site. The redevelopment plan is an overlook and public access to a future riverfront park. 111, 113 Main Street Looking West towards Main Street Sketch of the planned Overlook Accessed from Main Street 43 Main Street Property. 43 Lake Street is the site of the former Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge. St. Albans City currently owns the site, which is adjacent to their City Center Project that includes a new State Office Building and a Parking Garage. The City plans to develop a hotel on the property. This grant partially funded a Supplemental Phase 2 Assessment looking at vapor intrusion potential. The assessment is currently ongoing using other NRPC Brownfield Assessment funding. 43 Lake Street Site with Parking Garage Construction in the Rear Page 5 of 13
1.1 STATUS OF ACTIVITIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD Work related to this grant is complete. Task 1: Cooperative Agreement Management Activity 1: Hire and manage qualified consultants. NRPC managed consultant contracts, including generating contracts, monitoring budgets and schedules, reviewing and commenting on deliverables, and coordinating and attending meetings with the consultant, property owner and steering committee. The following contracts were executed and/or managed during this grant period: St. Albans House, St. Albans City Phase 2 ESA Vapor Intrusion ESA Close out monitoring wells and request SMAC Former Fonda Container Company, St. Albans City Off-site groundwater monitoring and recovery well sampling 111, 113 Main Street, Richford Phase 2 and Supplemental Phase 2 ESA Supplemental Building Material ESA Sampling of stockpiled soil to confirm clean status for use as fill at 111, 113 Main Street site. Richford Area Wide Plan, Richford Area Wide Plan Project 43 Lake Street, St. Albans City Supplemental Phase 2 ESA Activity 2: Complete documentation for site eligibility determination. Ongoing email and phone correspondence with EPA and VT DEC on site eligibility issues. Documented site eligibility for all sites funded by this grant. Activity 3: Conduct Section 106 review. On-going discussions and correspondence with SHPO and EPA staff regarding continuing obligations of Section 106. Page 6 of 13
Activity 4: Participate in training, conferences, and staff development. Staff attended Vermont Brownfields Forum. Staff attended the Vermont EPA Brownfields All Grantee Meeting. Activity 5: Complete progress and financial reporting. Completed quarterly progress reports. Activity 6: Complete program closeout activities. Completed program closeout activities. Task 2: Community Involvement Activity 1: Support steering committee activities. Twenty-five Steering Committee meetings were held over the grant period. Agendas, financial reports, project updates, and summaries were prepared. Developed plan for Steering Committee member recruitment. Implemented plan for Steering Committee member recruitment by writing letters to communities and making calls to specific people and organizations. Activity 2: Develop and implement public outreach campaign. Three newsletter articles in NRPC Newsletter o Brownfield funding opportunities, March 2010 o St. Albans House Project, January 2013 o 111, 113 Main Street Project, October 2013 Planned, advertised, and held a morning forum titled Bagels and Brownfields intended to publicize the program and gain public support and interest. The forum was specifically advertised to the development community. Made edits to the program s brochure and completed brochure mailing campaign. Presented to the Saint Albans Rotary Club on NRPC s Brownfield Program. Attended meetings to plan a Transaction of Contaminated Properties Forum for the developer community. Working with adjacent regional commissions and the State Brownfield Program to put on the event. Activity 3: Conduct site inventory. Ongoing review of Hazardous Sites list. Consideration of hiring a consultant to work on site inventory. Continued development of the area wide planning project in Richford, which added to the site inventory. Activity 4: Assist site owners and prospective owners and developers. Provided technical assistance to the City of Saint Albans on questions related to specific potential sites, including a site on Stebbins Street. Page 7 of 13
Engaged in discussions with the Town of Alburgh on whether one of its properties might be appropriate for the NRPC Brownfield program. Provided information to the Town of Fairfax on the Brownfield Program for a potential site they are interested in purchasing for a new Town Office. Assisted the Richford Economic Advancement Corporation (REAC) in planning for redevelopment at their 111 and 113 Main Street properties. Supported the Town of Richford in planning the development of a park on a riverside property in the Village. Activity 5: Support site-specific brownfield activities. Provided information to the Saint Albans House property owner on the Supplemental Phase 2 ESA conducted for the site. Assisted the Richford Economic Advancement Corporation (REAC) in planning for redevelopment at their 111 and 113 Main Street properties. Participated in the Brownfields Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA) program for the Fonda site in St. Albans City. Activity 6: Support community brownfield efforts. Met with Town of St. Albans to discuss NRPC Brownfield Program and potential opportunities for the Town Highway Garage. Provided information to the Town of Fairfax on a potential site they are interested in purchasing. Provided information to the Town of Swanton on a tax delinquent property. Provided information to the City of Saint Albans on the potential for an area wide planning project for Federal Street. Provided information to the Richford Economic Advancement Corporation (REAC) on brownfields area wide planning. Supported the Steering Committee for the Richford Area Wide Brownfield Plan in implementing its goals. Activity 7: Nurture local and statewide brownfield efforts. Met with State Brownfields Coordinator and discussed the concept of a Regional Developers Workshop to advertise the program as well as other statewide Brownfields issues. Staff attended Vermont Brownfields Forum. Task 3: Site-Specific Activities Activity 1: Conduct Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments. None Activity 2: Conduct Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessments. Page 8 of 13
St. Albans House, St. Albans City Supplemental Phase 2 ESA St. Albans House, St. Albans City Vapor Intrusion ESA 111, 113 Main St., Richford Phase 2 ESA 111, 113 Main St., Richford Supplemental Phase 2 ESA 111, 113 Main St., Richford Supplemental Building Material ESA Activity 3: Develop Correction Action Feasibility Investigations (CAFI), Corrective Action Plans (CAP), and other eligible reuse documents and studies. Former Fonda Container Company Site, St. Albans City Off-Site Groundwater Monitoring Area Wide Planning for the Richford Village Center. SMAC and Notice to Land Records issued and filed for the Saint Albans House property. 1.2 MODIFICATIONS TO WORKPLAN No modifications were made to the workplan. 1.3 SITE-SPECIFIC PRODUCTS a) Sampling and analysis plan None. b) Quality assurance project plan QAPP addendum for Vapor Intrusion Assessment at St. Albans House QAPP for Phase 2 Assessment at 111 and 113 Main St. in Richford QAPP addendum for supplemental well sampling at 111 and 113 Main St. in Richford QAPP addendum for supplemental building material assessment at 111, 113 Main St c) Site investigation/assessment reports St. Albans House, St. Albans City Supplemental Phase 2 ESA St. Albans House, St. Albans City Vapor Intrusion ESA 111, 113 Main St., Richford Phase 2 ESA 111, 113 Main St., Richford Supplemental Phase 2 ESA 111, 113 Main St., Richford Supplemental Building Material ESA d) Remediation plans and designs None. e) Other Former Fonda Container Company, St. Albans City - Off-Site Groundwater Monitoring Report Richford Village - Area Wide Plan report St. Albans House, St. Albans City - SMAC and Notice to Land Records Page 9 of 13
1.4 OTHER DELIVERABLES/WORK PRODUCTS a) List of properties considered for grant activities St. Albans Town Highway Garage A property on Stebbins Street in St. Albans City Town of Alburgh Highway Garage Fairfax New Town Office Site St. Albans House, St. Albans City Former Fonda Container Co. site in St. Albans City 111, 113 Main Street Site, Richford 43 Lake Street, St. Albans City b) Community meeting minutes or summaries Meeting summaries for Brownfield Steering Committee meetings during grant period. c) Educational brochures Updated Program Brochure Several program handouts were prepared for the Richford Area Wide Planning Project. d) Newspaper articles about the grant properties or the grant program Three newsletter articles in NRPC Newsletter o Brownfield funding opportunities, March 2010 o St. Albans House Project, January 2013 o 111, 113 Main Street Project, October 2013 April 2012 Messenger Article introducing Richford AWP project and advertising presentation at Richford Economic Advancement Corporation meeting. e) Photographs of properties Photographs of St. Albans House Site. Photographs of the Former Fonda Container Company/Solo Cup Site. Photographs of the 111, 113 Main Street Properties. Photographs for the area covered by the Richford Area Wide Plan. f) Other Brownfield program information posted to Commission s web site. Planned, advertised, and held a morning forum titled Bagels and Brownfields intended to publicize the program and gain public support and interest. The forum was specifically advertised to the development community. Presentation to the Saint Albans Rotary Club on NRPC s Brownfield Program. Page 10 of 13
2. PROJECT FUNDS EXPENDED Table 1: Costs Incurred This Quarter Object Class Task 1 Cooperative Agreement Management Task 2 Community Involvement Task 3 Site- Specific Activities Totals Personnel 62.75 25.10 $87.85 Fringe Benefits 18.28 7.31 $25.59 Travel $0.00 Equipment $0.00 Supplies 13.00 $13.00 Contractual $8,402.38 $8,402.38 Construction $0.00 Other $0.00 TOTAL $94.03 $32.41 $8,402.38 $8,528.82 Table 2: Costs Incurred To Date Object Class Current Approved Budget Costs Incurred This Quarter (Table 1) Costs Incurred To Date Total Remaining Funds Personnel $13,311.49 $87.85 $13,311.49 $0.00 Fringe Benefits $4,370.84 $25.59 $4,370.84 $0.00 Travel $299.03 $299.03 $0.00 Equipment $0.00 $0.00 Supplies $2,119.86 $13.00 $2,119.86 $0.00 Contractual $179,898.78 $8,402.38 $179,898.78 $0.00 Construction $0.00 $0.00 Other $0.00 $0.00 TOTAL $200,000 $8,528.82 $200,000.00 $0.00 3. BUDGET AND OVERALL PROJECT STATUS The project has been completed within the approved budget. Budget amendments were approved only to shift funds between tasks and between object classes. Page 11 of 13
4. SCHEDULE The schedule has been updated to reflect program progress. NRPC was granted one one-year extension and one eight-month extension through April 30, 2014. Year 1 (8/2009-8/2010) Year 2 (8/2010-8/2011) Year 3 8/2011-8/2012 Agreement Executed Φ Recruit Committee Members xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Committee Meetings Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Public Outreach xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Selection Criteria Reviewed Φ Φ Φ Site Identification & Prioritization xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Site Eligibility & Section 106 Review xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Site Prioritization Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ QAPP process xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Phase 1 Assessments Phase 2 Assessments xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx CAFI/CAP and Other Planning xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Progress Reports Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Program Closeout Φ Year 4 (8/2012-8/2013) Year 5 (8/2013-4/2014) Agreement Executed Φ Recruit Committee Members xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Committee Meetings Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Public Outreach xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Selection Criteria Reviewed Φ Φ Site Identification & Prioritization xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Site Eligibility & Section 106 Review xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Site Prioritization Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ QAPP process xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx Phase 1 Assessments Phase 2 Assessments xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx CAFI/CAP and Other Planning Progress Reports Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ Program Closeout Φ Page 12 of 13
5. MINIMUM REPORTING REQUIREMENTS List ALL Properties associated with this grant Approved by EPA? (Y/N) Work started? (Y/N/N/A) Entered into ACRES? (Y/N/N/A) Work this quarter? (Y/N/N/A) ACRES update this quarter? (Y/N/N/A) 1 Saint Albans House Y Y Y N N 2 Former Fonda Container Company/Solo Cup Y Y Y N N 3 111 and 113 Main St, Richford Y Y Y Y Y 4 Richford Area Wide Plan Y Y N N N 5 43 Lake Street, St. Albans Y Y N Y Y Page 13 of 13