Pursuant to the Mississippi Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup and Redevelopment Act Mississippi Code Annotated Sections § 49-35-1 through § 49-35-27 (Act), notice is hereby given that Cooley Center, LLC 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 (MCEQ) with regard to a tract of land located in Section 3, Township 18N, Range 15E, Oktibbeha, Mississippi and more particularly described as the MSU Cooley Building, the Mill at MSU (AI#29656). The Cooley Building is slated for renovation and has Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) and Lead-Based Paint inside of it. An Underground Storage Tank (UST) needs to be removed and fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, and some solid waste/rubbish need to be disposed of at approved facilities. Therefore, remediation of the Brownfield Agreement Site is necessary. Cooley Center, LLC has agreed to conduct corrective action as described in the MDEQ-Approved Corrective Action Plan dated November 29, 2013 and to abide by the conditions of the Brownfield Agreement Order. Cooley Center, LLC will be reporting to the MDEQ regarding the implementation of the Brownfield Agreement and during the cleanup process; and MDEQ will provide regulatory oversight. The proposed use of the Site after completion of all remediation will be The Mill at MSU Development which will include the renovation of the Cooley Building into a Conference Center and the construction of a Hotel and parking garage. Cooley Center, LLC proposes to remediate the Brownfield Agreement Site based on site specific public health and environmental risks as provided by the Act and in a manner that is protective of public health and the environment. Cooley Center, LLC will be required to report to the MDEQ regarding the status of the implementation of the Brownfield Agreement on a quarterly basis.
The staff of
the MCEQ has evaluated the proposed Brownfield Agreement and believes that,
with the conditions and restrictions contained within the proposed Brownfield
Agreement, the site will be in compliance with all applicable State and Federal
laws and standards and will be protective of the public health and the
environment once the Brownfield Agreement is completed. Therefore, the staff of the MCEQ has made a
preliminary decision, based on available information, to recommend to the MCEQ
that the proposed Brownfield Agreement be approved.
Cooley
Center, LLC proposes to remediate the site based on site specific public health
and environmental risks as provided by the Act. Cooley Center, LLC 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 written
comments regarding the proposed Brownfield Agreement no later than close of
business on January 8,
2014 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
Phone: 601-961-5171
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 E. Amite Street in downtown
Jackson, Mississippi by calling Mr. Lorenzo Boddie at (601) 961-5758. A copy of the proposed brownfield agreement
is also available for inspection at the county courthouse of Oktibbeha County,
Mississippi at the location where other public notices are posted. It is expected that the MCEQ will consider
the proposed Brownfield Agreement during its regular meeting to be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 23,
2014 at 515 E. Amite Street, Jackson, Mississippi.
Questions or comments should be directed to the MDEQ representative set
forth above.