Brownfields
Brownfields are former industrial or commercial sites where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated the Brownfields program to support assessment, cleanup, and reinvestment in properties that supports the community, enhances the economy, and protects the environment.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) collaborate with EPA to monitor and provide assistance for the Brownfields program.
Assessment and cleanup operations at The Landing
October 2014
Over the last 15 years, the City of Mt. Shasta, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and numerous community partners have invested over $800,000 and countless hours on detailed research, assessment, and soil testing of The Landing, due to its previous use as a heritage mill site.
The City of Mt. Shasta began the process of assessing the former Roseburg Mill site for environmental preparedness and redevelopment potential in 1998 with an EPA Targeted Site Assessment (TSA). Between 1998 and 2009 a further three assessments were conducted with EPA and DTSC funding. These Targeted Site Assessments and Investigations (TSI) analyzed soil and groundwater both across the site and in specific regions of the “Old Mill” and “New Mill”. Unfortunately, these assessments were limited in size and scope, not coordinated, and merely raised more questions and required further investigation to determine cleanup needs. Two large EPA grants were received in 2011 (Communitywide Assessment) and 2013 (Multipurpose Assessment & Cleanup) that has since allowed the City to make a major progress in fully assessing and characterizing the property now named “ The Landing – Mt. Shasta Commerce Park”. These two assessments plus a 2015 TSI have put about $1 million into the site and allowed for a timeline to be developed for the cleanup and redevelopment of the site.
The 2011 EPA Communitywide Assessment Grant was intended to cover the entire City of Mt. Shasta though the majority of expenses that have gone towards The Landing. This $400,000 supports the sampling and analysis of portions of the site and preparation of a cleanup plan for the Old Mill section. This grant also had marketing and outreach sections to inform the community and developers of the work being done onsite. Finally, this grant assisted planning the final cleanup and development end-use plans.
The 2013 EPA Multipurpose (Assessment/Cleanup) Grant funds the assessment and cleanup of the New Mill section of The Landing. Each portion is $200,000 and moved the central portion of the site towards redevelopment. At the close out of the grant, 400 cubic yards of contaminated soil was removed.
In 2017, the City was awarded an EPA Cleanup Grant to update remediation goals and remediate an 8 acre portion of the Old Mill. Between the Fall of 2017 and July of 2019, the City was awarded a DTSC TSI Grant that updated the remediation goals, finalized the remediation workplan, and completed California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for the entire Old Mill section. Cleanup implementation under the EPA grant is expected to occur between 2019-2021.
In 2019, a $500,000 EPA Cleanup grant was utilized to clean remediate the New Mill Box Factory. Nearing the close out, this grant assisted in the remediation of an additional 12-acres of mixed petroleum contaminated soils from the former burner area and transformer.