Brownfields Update for the Pacific Northwest

A site near Adair Village, Oregon illustrates some of the common challenges faced by those wanting to redevelop a Brownfield site. Though the City of Adair Village took possession after a No Further Action letter was given to the prior owners, the subsequent discovery of additional contamination complicated redevelopment in a situation referred to as a “re-opener.” Another challenge is the lack of resources in time and personnel to champion the site and create a straightforward, cohesive vision for its reuse. There also is the ubiquitous challenge that faces many Brownfield owners; the lack of funding needed to perform the assessment and remediation necessary to attract redevelopment.

Camp Adair was a US Army training facility from 1942 to 1946, giving rise to nearby Adair Village, built to serve the 45,000 people stationed at the camp at the height of World War II.  In the 1960s, the site of present day Adair Village was part of a US Air Force SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) radar facility.  Following the facility’s closure by the US government in the 1970s, Camp Adair was used by successive owners as a mill site. When the most recent mill owner ceased operation in 1981, the property was divided into three segments, with 128 acres donated to the community of Adair Village. This occurred after the cleanup of the wood preservative pentachlorophenol, left by the mill’s operations, was accomplished. The state made a No Further Action determination in 1991 that applied only to the cleanup of pentachlorophenol.

The portion of the mill property owned by the City is not contiguous to other Adair Village property, posing a challenge to redevelopment. Another problem is that the site has limited access and insufficient transportation routes and infrastructure.

In 1997, the Oregon DEQ reopened its file for the site, recommending further assessment based on possible dioxin contamination associated with pentachlorophenol use. In 2003, the EPA performed a Targeted Brownfield Assessment that revealed previously undiscovered dioxin contamination in two ponds on the property. The report recommended that more assessment be undertaken to adequately estimate the extent and location of this additional contamination.

The site has attracted the attention of several state agencies that have come together to move the site towards redevelopment. The Department of State Lands has had some wetlands delineation involvement at the site. The state’s economic development agency, Business Oregon, has funded additional assessment and an enhanced, though limited, phase II environmental site assessment. The DEQ continues to work with the city on overcoming barriers to redevelopment.

Business Oregon has also worked with the City to create a vision for the end-use of the property, an important component of any Brownfield project. This will make it easier for the City to acquire funding for assessment and cleanup and attract a potential developer. One possibility is a conceptual plan involving light industrial development that will attract jobs to the area. To that end, the City has discussed designating the site as a County Enterprise Zone, if the Benton County Enterprise Zone expands to rural areas.  It is currently zoned “rural industrial.”

City leaders believe there are many positive aspects to the site. As the sole owner, the City is already in control of the property, eliminating one of the most common obstacles to redevelopment. There is a major rail line on the eastern border of the site. The property is situated 1/2 mile from Highway 99, a major north-south transportation route. There are wetlands on the property that could be incorporated into a reuse scenario, the site is adjacent to a wildlife sanctuary, and there are no nearby neighbors.

Despite these assets, the site remains challenged. Part of that challenge is now coming from the economic downturn affecting all Brownfield redevelopment efforts. The project is also competing with other city priorities for funding and other resources of manpower and time. It should also be noted that the site is not completely idle, with a couple of uncontaminated acres being leased to a recycling facility. That represents a viable path for the city to take in redeveloping the entire site, the parcelization of the site, redeveloping or selling uncontaminated areas, the proceeds of which are used to fund further redevelopment. However, in order to do this, more assessment is needed to determine which areas are “clean” and which are not.

In 2008, Adair Village applied for an EPA Brownfield Assessment grant with the help of an environmental consultant. Unfortunately, the application was not funded. Plans are underway to reapply in the 2011 grant cycle.

The site remains a work in progress. The city is very interested in redevelopment but with the limitations on funds and no clear path forward, the site still faces considerable obstacles. The hope is that the site will attract the attention of someone or some entity who will champion redevelopment and that an economic recovery will make redevelopment of the site more attractive. There also is the hope of additional assessment funding from the EPA or the state.

For more information on this Brownfield site, contact:

Drew Foster, City Administrator
City of Adair Village
541-745-5507
drew.foster@adairvillage.org

Mary Camarata, ERT Representative
Oregon DEQ
541-687-7435
camarata.mary@deq.state.or.us