EPA Brownfields project public meeting scheduled

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KINGSTON – A virtual public meeting will be held for the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Project on Wednesday, March 3, at 12 p.m. 

The virtual meeting will update the public on the status of the Brownfields Assessment grant and will present the findings of several local environmental site assessments. 

The EPA defines a Brownfield site as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contamination.” Public input is also sought regarding prioritizing the Brownfield sites, as the city continues to pursue future grants and funding for cleanup and redevelopment. 

“This work will help us clean up and redevelop a variety of impacted properties across the city,” said Mayor Steven Noble. “For over 100 years, the land below our feet was not always treated with the care it deserved and has left a variety of negative environmental legacies that need to be addressed. These EPA funds allowed us to begin that work through research and testing.”

In 2018, the EPA selected the City of Kingston to receive two Community-Wide Brownfields assessment grants – $200,000 in hazardous substance and $200,000 in petroleum. Since then, the $400,000 assessment grant funds have been used to: 

– Update the inventory of potential Brownfields sites in the City

– Educate residents about the Brownfields program

– Solicit information on additional potential Brownfields projects for the inventory

– Develop a site selection, prioritize and selection criteria for the inventory

– Conduct Phase I environmental site assessments (ESAs) and perform follow-up Phase II

The city has worked with Weston & Sampson to implement the Brownfields program, including the completion of 12 environmental site assessments. These activities have been focused primarily in the Midtown and Rondout districts. The completed Brownfield assessments are expected to encourage the cleanup of underutilized and contaminated, or potentially contaminated, properties and return them to beneficial reuse. More info at https://engagekingston.com/brownfields 

The public can access hard copies of the final Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessment reports virtually at Engage Kingston and at City Hall.  Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, please send an email to kwilson@kingston-ny.gov to schedule an appointment to review these reports in person.

Wednesday, March 3, at 12 p.m. 

Live Spanish interpretation will be available for the meeting. 

Webinar link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83795745107?pwd=T1ZkRk5MT2JjT3oxTVdIaWxYODZqUT09 

Passcode: dFMMku90

Or dial in by phone: 646-558-8656

Webinar ID: 837 9574 5107 

Passcode: 36608162




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