EPA Region 8 Excellence in Site Reuse Award
Region 8 has successfully facilitated the redevelopment of Superfund sites across the Rocky Mountains and Plains region. These successes are largely due to the diligence and innovative thinking of EPA site staff, their state counterparts, and the cooperation of other external parties, such as site owners, local governments, community groups, and developers. To recognize these cooperative outcomes, the Region 8 Superfund Remedial Response program in the Region 8 Office of Ecosystems Protection and Remediation created an external Environmental Achievement Award for Excellence in Site Reuse. This Excellence in Site Reuse award recognizes significant achievement in protection of public health or the environment, or in advancing the Agency's strategic goals.
Background
The Environmental Achievement Award is a recognized award under EPA Order R8.3130.5, EPA External Awards Program. Region 8 designed this Environmental Achievement Award for Excellence in Site Reuse or the Excellence in Site Reuse award to recognize those who have supported Superfund reuse. Those receiving this external award have made outstanding efforts when redeveloping a Superfund site.
The Excellence in Site Reuse Award also promotes EPA's efforts to increase public awareness of and participation in its decision-making processes. Public acknowledgement of the important roles and significant contributions that individuals, companies, organizations and/or communities can make to EPA's cleanup and redevelopment programs will foster and facilitate future response and reuse successes. In addition, this award supports EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment, highlights the advantages of reuse of contaminated property, and provides public education regarding the important role of community involvement in protection of human health and the environment.
Eligibility
The Excellence in Site Reuse award may be given by the Regional Administrator to individuals and groups external to the Region such as a developer, site owner or local government who has demonstrated excellence in working cooperatively with Region 8 to ensure the reuse of a Superfund site was complementary with the remedial actions taken and may have even enhanced the remedial actions.
Evaluation Criteria for "Excellence in Site Reuse" Award
- Enhancement of the selected remedy (includes accelerated cleanups and remedial cost savings)
- Reduction of EPA's and/or a state's long-term stewardship responsibilities
- Community benefits (environmental justice considerations, jobs, tax revenues, economic growth, recreation)
- Leadership in innovation and sustainability (green remediation, renewable energy, new land uses, smart growth, green infrastructure)
- Environmental stewardship (watershed and fishery management, environmental restoration, ecosystem benefits)
- Innovation in creative thinking and effective use of partnerships
- Design of reuse complementary with sustainability of selected remedy
Lake County, Colorado (2014)
In December 2014, Region 8 presented the first "Excellence in Site Reuse" awards to Lake County, Colorado, for their efforts to reuse and redevelop the California Gulch Superfund site in Leadville, Colorado. Three key reuse projects at the site, the Mineral Belt Trail, the Lake County Community Park and Soccer Fields, and the Restoration of the Upper Arkansas River, which recently received the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Gold Medal Designation for trout fishing, are attracting visitors from across the country. These projects and other site developments were made possible by collaboration among the EPA, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), other federal agencies, local government, and potentially responsible parties. These stakeholders worked together to ensure that the site’s cleanup would both protect human health and the environment as well as support the community's goals of expanding tourism, recreational amenities and economic diversification.
Certificates were awarded to dedicated supporters of the California Gulch Superfund site’s reuse, including:
- Lake County Assessor’s Office
- Lake County Building and Land Use Department
- City of Leadville
- Lake County Open Space Initiative
- Peter Frykholm
- Greg Policky – Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Reuse Snapshot
California Gulch: Revitalizing the Future of a Mining Mega Site Exit
City of Midvale, Utah (2015)
In April 2015, Region 8 presented the second "Excellence in Site Reuse" awards to City of Midvale, Utah, for their efforts to reuse and redevelop the Midvale Slag Superfund site in Midvale, Utah. The City of Midvale has been instrumental throughout the Superfund process from initial investigations to cleanup to reuse and continued site maintenance. Collaborative and City-led efforts have produced Bingham Junction, an on-site thriving mixed-use development. The site now supports light rail system infrastructure, residences and assisted living facilities, office buildings for national and international companies, a supermarket, retail stores, and recreational amenities. A staff position in the City of Midvale’s offices provided oversight and assisted developers with the implementation of appropriate institutional controls. This innovative approach ensures the site is used responsibly and safely. EPA, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake County, the Cities of Midvale and Murray, potentially responsible parties and community members worked together to clean up and successfully reuse the site.
Certificates were awarded to dedicated supporters of the Midvale Slag Superfund site’s reuse, including:
- Salt Lake County
- Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Reuse Snapshot
Cleanup and Mixed-Use Revitalization on the Wasatch Front: The Midvale Slag Superfund Site and Midvale City, Utah (PDF) (18 pp, 1.9 MB, About PDF)
Awards will continue to be granted to sites meeting the above eligibility and evaluation criteria.