Save the Date

·         May 5-7, 2008         EPA National Brownfields Conference - Detroit, MI

·         Jun. 11, 2008           Natl. Assoc. of Local Government Environmental Professionals Brownfield Workshop - Largo, FL

·         Oct. 26-27, 2008      Florida Brownfields Conference - St. Pete Beach, FL

Pinellas County’s Brownfield Program Supports Workforce Housing in Tarpon Springs’

The Housing Authority of Tarpon Springs recently used Pinellas County EPA Assessment Grant funding available through the Pinellas County Brownfield Program to pay for the environmental site assessment of a proposed affordable housing project.

The Housing Authority has plans to purchase a 2-acre site from Habitat for Humanity to build new multi-family workforce housing. The selected parcel is located next to a landfill, near the Mango Circle Public Housing Project.  Additionally, there was some evidence that dumping had previously occurred on the proposed site. These factors made an environmental site assessment a necessity before the parcel could be redeveloped for residential use. The Housing Authority leveraged $23,500 of grant funding to conduct the environmental due diligence studies at the proposed site.

Could the Pinellas County Brownfield Program help your site with an environmental assessment? Email Teri Hasbrouck at THasbrouck@PinellasCounty.org to determine if your site is eligible.

Brownfield Redevelopment and Girl Scouts - Two Great Programs that Go Great Together

In November 2005, the EPA awarded Sustainable Long Island and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County a Phoenix Award, the “Oscar” of Brownfield redevelopment, for creating a Girl Scout Brownfield Buster patch. With permission, the Pinellas County Brownfield Program developed a similar patch; the Brownfield Spotter patch.

Through the collaborative efforts of the Pinellas County Brownfield Program and the Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council, the Brownfield Spotter Patch Program teaches girl scouts all about brownfields, so that they learn to identify potential brownfield properties for redevelopment in their communities. The patch program consists of educational activities that help girls discover, lead and take action, according to their age-level developmental characteristics. Activities at the youngest level include discussing both existing brownfields and alternative uses. Activities for older girl scouts include learning how to use a web-based GIS tool and attending a brownfield designation public hearing.

During 2006, the Brownfield Spotter Patch Program was recognized by awards from three organizations; the Florida Brownfield Association; the National Association of Environmental Professionals, and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

If you know a Girl Scout troop who would like to earn this free patch, please have their troop leader contact the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida at 813-281-4475 and ask for the Brownfields On the Go Tote. The tote has everything the troop will need to complete the patch activities.

2007 Florida Brownfields Conference Report -
     Revitalizing Florida’s Future: From People to Properties

Girl Scout Troop 592 from Lakeland, Florida attended the opening day of the 2007 Florida Brownfields Conference in Orlando. The girls attended the Brownfields 101 session and enjoyed talking to local representatives from many brownfield programs throughout the state of Florida. The Lakeland troop is determined to find a brownfield site in their community and work toward redeveloping it into a productive property.

The Florida Brownfield Conference provides information and redevelopment strategies to communities and the public at-large in the interest of cleaning up contaminated sites and revitalizing areas that have been subject to economic decline. The conference is held in a different Florida city each year.  Next year, the 2008 Conference will be at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach. Check upcoming issues of the Brownfields Broadsheet for updates on the 2008 conference.

This year, for the first time, the Florida Brownfields Association provided an immersion course for real estate brokers and builders, covering environmental liability; understanding Phase I and Phase II reports; legal and professional reporting and disclosure obligations; and, business and development opportunities involving contaminated sites. Look for a similar session at next year’s conference in St. Pete Beach.

Brownfield Basics

·         The Florida Department of Environmental Protection defines a Brownfield as: Any real property where the expansion or reuse is complicated by actual or perceived environmental contamination.  Learn more at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/wc/brownfields/bp/program_HANDOUT.pdf