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Mississippi Receives Two National Awards at 2013 Brownfield Conference

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is pleased to announce that it joins a distinguished group of entities who can proudly say they have won a Phoenix Award for excellence in brownfield redevelopment.  MDEQ, CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), the General Services Administration (GSA), and ARCADIS were recognized at an awards ceremony in May at the National Brownfield Conference in Atlanta.  These collaborative partnerships have been cited as among the best of the best in the Southeast in 2011 and 2012 when it comes to remediating and transforming brownfield sites into significant community assets.  Mississippi was the only State to receive two (2) Phoenix Awards during the Ceremony.

Since 1992, CSXT has spent nearly $20 million on the environmental investigation and cleanup of the former Gautier Oil Site.  The project is a successful model for low impact, community friendly remediation/restoration of a former wood treating facility that would typically include abundant engineered structures, systems, and ongoing remediation. The acceptance and implementation of practical, low maintenance remedial components has resulted in re-establishing near natural estuarine environs along the Pascagoula River, the only unimpeded (no dams) river that flows into the Gulf of Mexico.  The Site, now a healthy and vibrant green space, has been recognized on state and national levels. Most recently the Site was certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council under its Wildlife at Work certification program in November 2012. The Site restoration efforts have also been recognized by multiple professional organizations and societies for the innovative restoration of estuarine habitats.

The redevelopment and construction of the Jackson Federal Courthouse over two city blocks located in the Central Business District of Jackson Mississippi had a total project cost was approximately $150M of which total environmental cost was approximately $1.5M.  The GSA has transformed vacant lots, a former dry cleaner, former vehicle maintenance facility into a state of the art, energy efficient courthouse to replace the former Eastland Federal Courthouse. The Jackson Federal Courthouse was designed with a number of sustainable features. The facility is expected to reduce potable water consumption by as much as 50%.  Construction involved the use of over 14% recycled content materials, resulting in over 75% reduction of construction waste being diverted to a landfill.  The courtroom doors were made from salvaged lumber from site demolition and were part of the Art and Architecture Program.

MDEQ was recognized at the Brownfields 2013 awards ceremony at the Georgia World Congress Center on May 16, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. The National Brownfield Conference is the largest event in the nation that focuses on environmental revitalization and economic redevelopment.  The Phoenix Awards are awarded by a nonprofit entity, The Phoenix Awards Institute, Inc., to recognize successful revitalization projects, honor project participants, and encourage project participants to share their knowledge/techniques so these model projects can be replicated across the country.  This marks the third time that MDEQ has been recognized nationally for its brownfield redevelopment efforts. In 2008, MDEQ and the City of Tupelo won the Phoenix Award for the Tupelo Fairgrounds project that involved the redevelopment of the old fairgrounds and a former dry cleaner into Tupelo Fairpark.

Picture (l to r) Jeff Beckner (ARCADIS), Matt Adkins (CSXT), Joe Shisler (ARCADIS), Trey Hess (MDEQ), Tony Russell (MDEQ), Laura Shadix (GSA) and Phil Youngberg (GSA)

Public Notice of Proposed Brownfield Agreement Site

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

                                                                PUBLIC NOTICE

                                                                            OF

                                      PROPOSED BROWNFIELD AGREEMENT SITE

Pursuant to the Mississippi Brownfield Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment Act Mississippi Code Annotated Sections § 49-35-1 through § 49-35-27 (Act), notice is hereby given that The District Land Development Company, LLC (“Brownfield Party”) has submitted an application to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to enter into a Brownfield Agreement with the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (Commission) with regard to a tract of land located just east of I-55 and north of Eastover Drive in Jackson, Mississippi and referred to as the former Mississippi School for the Blind (AI#63645).  The Brownfield Agreement Site is further described as being situated in Section 24, Township 6N, Range 1E, Hinds County, Mississippi. 

Buildings on the proposed Brownfield Agreement Site contain asbestos requiring abatement.  The Brownfield Party has agreed to conduct the proposed asbestos abatement activities in compliance with the Mississippi Air Emission Regulations For the Prevention, Abatement, And Control Of Air Contaminants (APC-S-1) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).  The proposed use of the Site after completion of all remediation will be the District at Eastover mixed-use development.  The Brownfield Party will be required to report to the MDEQ regarding the status of the implementation of the Brownfield Agreement and the corrective action.

The staff of the Commission has evaluated the proposed Brownfield Agreement and believes that, with the conditions and restrictions contained within the proposed Brownfield Agreement, the remediation will be in compliance with all applicable State and Federal laws and standards and will be protective of the public health and the environment.  Therefore, the staff of the Commission has made a preliminary decision, based on available information, to recommend to the Commission that the proposed Brownfield Agreement be approved.

The Brownfield Party proposes to remediate the site based on site-specific public health and environmental risks as provided by the Act and in accordance the Mississippi Air Emission Regulations for the Prevention, Abatement, And Control Of Air Contaminants (APC-S-1) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). The Brownfield Party certifies that there are no other known potentially affected Parties other than those that are named in the proposed Brownfield Agreement. The public is invited to submit any comments regarding the proposed Brownfield Agreement no later than close of business on September 5, 2013, to Trey Hess at: 

                                       Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality

                                                          Office of Pollution Control

                                    Groundwater Assessment and Remediation Division

P.O. Box 2261

Jackson, Mississippi 39225-2261

Phone: 601-961-5654

Fax: 601-961-5300

All comments received by that date will be part of the record and considered in the formulation of a final decision in this matter.  A copy of the proposed Brownfield Agreement is available for inspection and copying at the offices of the MDEQ located at 515 Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39225 by calling Mr. Lorenzo Boddie at (601) 961-5068.  A copy of the proposed Brownfield Agreement is also available for inspection at the county courthouse of Hinds County, Mississippi at the location where other public notices are posted.  It is expected that the Commission will consider the proposed Brownfield Agreement during its regular meeting to be held at 9:00 a.m. on September 26, 2012 at 515 Amite Street, Jackson, Mississippi.  Questions or comments should be directed to the MDEQ representative set forth above.