The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday released its initial list of 30 Superfund National Priorities List sites with the greatest expected redevelopment and commercial potential, including 3 sites in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania sites include the Metal Bank Superfund Site in Northeast Philadelphia; the BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site in Ambler, Beaver County; and the Crater Resources Inc./Keystone Coke Co./Alan Wood Steel Co. Superfund Site (aka Crater Resources) in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County.

“EPA is more than a collaborative partner to remediate the nation’s most contaminated sites, we’re also working to successfully integrate Superfund sites back into communities across the country,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Today’s redevelopment list incorporates Superfund sites ready to become catalysts for economic growth and revitalization.”

Superfund redevelopment has helped countless communities reclaim and reuse thousands of acres of formerly contaminated land. Superfund sites on the list have significant redevelopment potential based on previous outside interest, access to transportation corridors, land values, and other critical development drivers.

The Metal Bank Superfund Site currently includes a material recovery business and a nonprofit arts organization. Additional redevelopment opportunities also exist at other portions of the site.  (Click Here for redevelopment fact sheet.)

The BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site consists of three parcels: the Reservoir, Park, and Asbestos Pile. (Click Here for redevelopment fact sheet.)  

The Reservoir parcel is currently being reused as a waterfowl preserve.  Future use plans for the Park parcel include establishing a public park and open space.  The Asbestos Pile parcel is vacant and any future use will require coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

At the Crater Resources Superfund Site, part of the site is currently being used for Renaissance Park, a commercial office park. EPA recently modified the cleanup plan for the site to allow for residential use on a portion of the site.  (Click Here for redevelopment fact sheet.)

In July 2017, the Superfund Task Force released its recommendations to streamline and improve the Superfund program including a focus on redevelopment training, tools and resources towards sites on the NPL.

EPA will work diligently with developers interested in reusing these and other Superfund sites; will identify potentially interested businesses and industries to keep them apprised of redevelopment opportunities; and will continue to engage with community groups in cleanup and redevelopment activities to ensure the successful redevelopment and revitalization of their communities.

EPA Administrator Pruitt has set the expectation that there will be a renewed focus on accelerating work and progress at all Superfund sites across the country. The Superfund program remains dedicated to addressing risk and accelerating progress at all of its sites, not just those on the list.

This is not a complete list of sites in the Superfund program with redevelopment potential. The list is intended to be dynamic. Sites will move on and off the list as appropriate.

Click Here for the complete list of the 30 sites and fact sheets about each site.

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[Posted: Jan. 17, 2018]

1/22/2018