[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=46146.41

Site cleanups focus of public hearing

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Progress on the city's cleanup of two contaminated areas in the Trail Creek corridor will be discussed during a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Entrepreneur Center, 422 Franklin St.

Consultant Tom Stevenson of Environment Inc., Valparaiso, will discuss what's involved in the cleanup of residual environmental contaminants at the Norfolk & Western rail spur west of E Street and south of Trail Creek, and the former Erincraft facility, 742 E. Eighth St.

City Planner John Pugh said Stevenson has completed environmental testing at the two sites and helped the city apply for federal and state grants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave the city a $400,000 grant for the projects last spring, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management gave another $40,000 for site cleanups.

Pugh said these funds will not cover all the cleanup costs, with the remainder coming from the Michigan City Redevelopment Commission budget.

The city acquired the two properties in 2007 as part of the plan to transform the North End into a mixed-used commercial and residential area with an expanded city marina.

Several other former industrial properties have been targeted for cleanup under Project ReNEW (Revitalizing Environmentally Neglected Workplaces). Project ReNEW is a federal program being conducted through the city's Planning and Redevelopment Department to remove hazardous substances from the sites.

Pugh said once these two properties are cleaned up, the city will focus on remediating the Weber Sign Service and Icehouse properties at Eighth Street and Michigan Boulevard.

Stevenson will work on a plan on behalf of the city to submit to the EPA before the cleanup work is bid to contractors.

As part of federal funding requirements, the city needs to keep the community informed about the project. Residents have until Feb. 20 to review and comment on the draft analysis of cleanup alternatives for each site, which is available in the city's Planning and Redevelopment Department. The final drafts will be sent to the EPA and IDEM on Feb. 27.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...&TM=49388.5

Brownfields may get a cleanup

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Two properties owned by the city may soon be getting face-lifts as part of a project spearheaded by the city planner and redevelopment commission.

The former Erincraft Facility, located at 642 East Eighth St., and the former Norfolk & Western Railroad property, located west of E Street and south of Trail Creek, are two areas the city is looking to improve and develop.

Potential plans for the site were discussed at a special meeting Thursday at the Entrepreneur Center in downtown Michigan City.

Thomas Stevenson of Environmental Incorporated and City Planner John Pugh outlined the city's efforts to develop the brownfields into residential, commercial or industrial areas.

Brownfields, as defined by Stevenson, are abandoned or unused industrial or commercial facilities where redevelopment is hampered by some sort of environmental contamination.

At the Norfolk & Western Railroad property, for example, heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and chromium were found, as were several chlorinated solvents in the groundwater.

In order for both sites to be available for development, the city must first sanitize both soil and groundwater at the sites.

Stevenson and Pugh presented four possible solutions Thursday, all of which, they say, are better than just doing nothing with the properties.

The four options include off-site landfilling, ex-situ soil washing, ex-situ solidification/stabilization, and in-situ solidification/stabilization.

Stevenson and Pugh have determined the best process for restoring the brownfields would be through off-site landfilling. Off-site landfilling involves excavating contaminated soils, transporting the contaminated soils to the landfill, retesting the soil to ensure it's clear of contaminants, then filling in the area with clean soil.

Pugh said the contaminated soil would be possibly taken to a Three Oaks landfill.

Pugh said the process would help Michigan City in several ways.

"We're moving [the brownfields] forward along with plans to redevelop the area," he said, calling the brownfields "eyesores."

Pugh said ideally the two locales will be turned into residential areas.

"We're addressing the soil now, and we'll be addressing the groundwater in the future," he said.

How much will it cost the city?
Off-Site Lanfilling: $1,008,000

Ex-situ soil washing: $1,838,000

Ex-situ solidification/stabilization: $1,277,000

In-situ solidification/stabilization: $1,124,000

Costs incorporate both brownfield sites.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...&TM=49388.5

Brownfields may get a cleanup

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Two properties owned by the city may soon be getting face-lifts as part of a project spearheaded by the city planner and redevelopment commission.

The former Erincraft Facility, located at 642 East Eighth St., and the former Norfolk & Western Railroad property, located west of E Street and south of Trail Creek, are two areas the city is looking to improve and develop.

Potential plans for the site were discussed at a special meeting Thursday at the Entrepreneur Center in downtown Michigan City.

Thomas Stevenson of Environmental Incorporated and City Planner John Pugh outlined the city's efforts to develop the brownfields into residential, commercial or industrial areas.

Brownfields, as defined by Stevenson, are abandoned or unused industrial or commercial facilities where redevelopment is hampered by some sort of environmental contamination.

At the Norfolk & Western Railroad property, for example, heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and chromium were found, as were several chlorinated solvents in the groundwater.

In order for both sites to be available for development, the city must first sanitize both soil and groundwater at the sites.

Stevenson and Pugh presented four possible solutions Thursday, all of which, they say, are better than just doing nothing with the properties.

The four options include off-site landfilling, ex-situ soil washing, ex-situ solidification/stabilization, and in-situ solidification/stabilization.

Stevenson and Pugh have determined the best process for restoring the brownfields would be through off-site landfilling. Off-site landfilling involves excavating contaminated soils, transporting the contaminated soils to the landfill, retesting the soil to ensure it's clear of contaminants, then filling in the area with clean soil.

Pugh said the contaminated soil would be possibly taken to a Three Oaks landfill.

Pugh said the process would help Michigan City in several ways.

"We're moving [the brownfields] forward along with plans to redevelop the area," he said, calling the brownfields "eyesores."

Pugh said ideally the two locales will be turned into residential areas.

"We're addressing the soil now, and we'll be addressing the groundwater in the future," he said.

How much will it cost the city?
Off-Site Lanfilling: $1,008,000

Ex-situ soil washing: $1,838,000

Ex-situ solidification/stabilization: $1,277,000

In-situ solidification/stabilization: $1,124,000

Costs incorporate both brownfield sites.

[lovethiscity]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...&TM=49388.5

I was told by somebody that made it to the meeting, the clean up will be done to industrial or commercial standards. This means that neither site would be suitable for residential or recreation. With the Erin Craft site as part of the North end revitalization calling for housing. The second site to be part of the Trailways system for walikng. What are they doing? With leaching from property next to both of these areas that the city does not own at this time, does it even make sense to attempt a cleen up at this time? Will they have to do it again?

[C Hinchman]

Why did the city purchase or take over the Erincraft and Norfolk and Western sites, when they knew there were environmental problems. Now there going to apply for grants to clean these sites up. Or the city will have to pay to sanitize the soil.

Now the city wants the Weber and Ice house properties. They have appraisals on these sites, and I believe they want to deduct the cost to sanitize these sites from the purchase price there offering these property owners.

This just doesn't see right to me. The owners don't want to sell there propeties. But the city is going to take the properties from them thru court action. If the city wants these properties then the city should pay for the clean up.

If the current owners did not cause the contamination why should they suffer?

[Southsider2k12]

http://emichigancity.com/news.htm#brownsfield

Invitation for Public Review and Comment On the City's Brownfield Remediation Plans

The public is invited to review and comment on the draft copies of the Analyses of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) for both the former Erincraft Facility located at 742 East 8th Street and the former Norfolk &Western Railroad property located west of E Street and south of Trail Creek in Michigan City. The ABCAs describe the history of the sites, provide a summary of environmental assessment results and an evaluation of the soil cleanup alternatives, and present the recommended alternative for implementation at the sites. The public comment period is available until the end of the business day on March 13, 2009.

The draft copies of the ABCAs are available in the City Planning Department office
located in City Hall at 100 East Michigan Boulevard. The copies are also available
on the City’s web site; click here.

Forward all comments to John Pugh, City Planner, 219-873-1419.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=26206

Commission seeking EPA grants
MICHIGAN CITY - Now that cleanup of contaminated soils at three Trail Creek properties is nearing completion, the Redevelopment Commission is preparing three grant proposals to clean up the groundwater at these same sites.

Plans were announced at a special public meeting of the Redevelopment Commission on Monday at City Hall. Thomas Stevenson, project manager for Environmental Incorporated in Michigan City, has been heading up the site evaluation and cleanup efforts on behalf of the commission.

The city was awarded a total of $600,000 last year to remove heavily contaminated soil at the former Erincraft facility at 7421 E. Eighth St., the former Norfolk & Western Railroad property west of E Street and the former Bensz site adjacent to the railroad parcel. The city also got $120,000 for the same properties from the federal matching grant fund of the Indiana Finance Authority.

Stevenson said the soil will be remediated to the standards required for residential use, which are the most stringent to protect human health. Doing so will leave future uses of the land wide open.

Now, the city is going after another $600,000 from the EPA Brownfield Cleanup grant program to address groundwater contamination at the brownfield sites. Brownfields are abandoned industrial and commercial facilities with environmental contaminants that prevent future development.

Stevenson estimates the groundwater remediation will take about $1.2 million, half of which could come from state and federal sources and the other half from the Redevelopment Commission.

John Pugh, city planner, said all three sites were purchased by the city in 2003 for the proposed redevelopment of the Trail Creek area. Unless the sites are rid of all contaminants, Pugh said, developers won't want to touch them.

He believes the city's past success with remediation projects will pave the way for more funding from the EPA funding.

"We're building a track record with the EPA and IDEM for responsible cleanup," Pugh said.

Members of the public are invited to review the draft grant proposals in the Planning Department office in City Hall. Comments must be made by Oct. 9 so the grant proposals can be submitted by Oct. 16.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=27669

Contaminated soil cleanup can begin

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Cleanup of contaminated soil on three Trail Creek properties will be under way soon after the Redevelopment Commission on Monday awarded the projects to Denny Excavating, Danville, Ind.

The company was the lowest bidder, according to Thomas Stevenson, project manager for Environmental Inc., Michigan City. Stevenson reviewed the bid packages during Monday's meeting and made the recommendation. He was hired by the commission to head the site evaluations and cleanup efforts along Trail Creek.

To remove contaminated soil, Denny gave a $390,260 bid for the former Erincraft facility, 742 E. Eighth St., $176,644 for the former Norfolk & Western Railroad property west of E Street and $67,782 for the Weber Sign property at 730 E. Eighth St.

The city will pay for the $634,686 total soil cleanup with a $600,000 grant received last year and another $120,000 from a federal matching grant fund of the Indiana Finance Authority. The city has applied to the EPA Brownfield Cleanup grant program for funds to clean up groundwater contamination at the same sites.

In other action, the Redevelopment Commission approved a letter of understanding with the Michigan City Sanitary District to use $8 million in North Side TIF funds to construct a portion of Lafayette-Barker sewer project in the North End redevelopment zone. Al Walus, Sanitary District general manager, asked for approval of the letter at the previous commission meeting, but the request was tabled so commissioners could get a better idea of its financial situation.

The Redevelopment Commission stands to lose $1 million in property tax revenues if County Auditor Craig Hinchman is allowed to certify 2005 property values, according to commission attorney Michael Bergerson. But Todd Samuelson of the accounting firm Umbaugh & Associates told the commission Monday it would be able to fund the $8 million project, given expected property tax revenues for 2010.

Walus said he would ask the Sanitary District Board to approve the letter of understanding at its meeting today.

Additionally, the Redevelopment Commission voted to approve Ed Arnold's request to post a sign advertising his Harbor Grill restaurant on property owned by Mike Conner, of Coastal Properties, just north of Matey's Restaurant, 110 Franklin St. Approval was given for a sign no higher than 10 feet to be placed for a maximum of two years and used only to advertise Harbor Grill.

q

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Dave]

In other action, the Redevelopment Commission approved a letter of understanding with the Michigan City Sanitary District to use $8 million in North Side TIF funds to construct a portion of Lafayette-Barker sewer project in the North End redevelopment zone. Al Walus, Sanitary District general manager, asked for approval of the letter at the previous commission meeting, but the request was tabled so commissioners could get a better idea of its financial situation.

As a resident of the North Side, I have to say this is a load of crap.

Using North Side TIF funds to finance something which is physically in the North Side but has no value to the North Side and does nothing to improve the North Side in any way is simply robbery. Well, maybe not robbery -- embezzlement might be more appropriate.

This is just another reason why I have doubts as to the efficacy of the Redevelopment Commission. It seems to me that if they are willing to spend redevelopment money on this project they really have no clue as to what they are supposed to be doing.