Sustainability and Brownfield Sites

 

The Evolution of the Brownfields Program in the Federal and State Sectors
Catherine Finneran, Brownfields Coordinator, MassDEP, Boston, MA

Applications of Sustainable Principles and Green Technologies at Brownfield Sites
John Albrecht, AECOM Environment, Rocky Hill, CT
Christopher Carleo, AECOM Environment, Westford, MA 
David Woodward, AECOM Environment, Mechanicsburg, PA 
Daniel Groher, AECOM Environment, Westford, MA 
Michael Doherty, AECOM Environment, Rocky Hill, CT

Sustainable Remediation Practices
Glenn Nicholas Iosue, Iosue Associates, Richland Twp, PA


The Evolution of the Brownfields Program in the Federal and State Sectors

Catherine Finneran, Brownfields Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup, 1 Winter Street, Boston MA 02108, Tel: 617-556-1138, Fax: 617-292-5530

The cleanup and reuse of former industrial and commercial sites in previously developed areas is fundamental in promoting smart growth/sustainable development goals.  The redevelopment of these sites, often located adjacent to existing infrastructure and workforce, often relies on adaptive reuse, recycling of on-site building material, and green building and green cleanup technologies.  The presentation will give an overview of state and federal brownfields incentive programs, and outline how these programs have resulted in sustainable outcomes in Massachusetts and nationwide.  State and federal smart growth, smart energy, and sustainable development initiatives will also be discussed.  Case studies will be highlighted.

Applications of Sustainable Principles and Green Technologies at Brownfield Sites

John Albrecht, AECOM Environment, 500 Enterprise Drive, Suite 1A, Rocky Hill, CT  06067, USA, Tel: 860-263-5808, Email: john.albrecht@aecom.com
Christopher Carleo, AECOM Environment, 2 Technology Park Drive, Westford, MA  01886, USA, Tel: 978-589-3000, Email: chris.carleo@aecom.com
David Woodward, AECOM Environment, 2 Market Plaza Way, Mechanicsburg, PA  17055, USA, Tel: 717-795-8001, Email: dave.woodward@aecom.com
Daniel Groher, AECOM Environment, 2 Technology Park Drive, Westford, MA  01886, USA, Tel: 978-589-3000, Email: daniel.groher@aecom.com
Michael Doherty, AECOM Environment, 500 Enterprise Drive, Suite 1A, Rocky Hill, CT  06067, USA, Tel: 860-263-5799, Email: michael.doherty@aecom.com

There are a number of federal, state and industry initiatives under way to incorporate sustainable metrics and green design features into site cleanup. This paper presents several success stories related to the cleanup and reuse of Brownfield sites.  Sustainable features of these projects include:

  • Manage residuals on-site;
  • Reduce emissions from excavations;
  • Reduce off-site transportation;
  • Reuse materials to the maximum extent possible;
  • Employ smart technologies and risk management approaches that attain risk management goals but are less energy intensive;
  • Manage water on-site or beneficially reuse treated water;
  • Create economic benefit
  • Employ native plantings during redevelopment; and
  • Integrate remediation and site development features and incorporate LEED principles into the project.

The projects reviewed include the following successful brownfield reuse projects:

The Former Cos Cob Power Plant remediation and redevelopment in Greenwich, Connecticut has incorporated the beneficial reuse of very low cost off-site fill sources, generated from two nearby large construction projects.  This reuse received approval from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.  Approximately 30,000 cubic yards of earthen cap materials were provided to the project.

The Kendall Square Redevelopment in Cambridge, Massachusetts integrated on-site soil treatment and vapor intrusion management into the redevelopment plans resulting in significant reductions in off-site transportation impacts and protection of future site users.  The redevelopment included the construction of LEED certified building.

The Brightfields project in Brockton, Massachusetts included the construction of a solar array that generated electricity for the remediation system.

A park development in Exeter, New Hampshire included the on-site management of impacted soil and the creation of a park.

A Casper, Wyoming project included wetlands and reuse of impacted groundwater.  It also incorporated demolition materials into the site redevelopment.

Sustainable Remediation Practices

Glenn Nicholas Iosue, GES, Inc., 440 Creamery Way, Suite 500
Exton, PA 19341, Tel: 610-458-1077, Fax: 610-458-2300, Email:
giosue@gesonline.com

The ultimate goal of remediation systems is to protect human health and the environment. However, in order to meet goals, many remediation approaches today were implemented without consideration of sustainable practices, and in turn have not considered their potential for transferring impacts to other media. Considering sustainable factors (during the remedy selection phase and as part of Brownfields redevelopment) will greatly improve the overall environmental performance of a remedy.  Sustainable remediation maximizes the net environmental, societal, and economic benefits of a cleanup.

A case example will be presented to demonstrate how sustainable remediation practices were implemented to treat hexavalent chromium impacts in-place at a former industrial complex.  This successful remedial approach expedited Brownfields redevelopment and provided long-lasting sustainable measures for indefinite future use.

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