CCRPC Board TrainingClimate & Brownfields

September 19, 2012

Julie Potter, Senior Planner

Objectives

Review CCRPC’s air, energy and climate-related activities

Review CCRPC’s Brownfields activities

Questions & answers

Air Quality, Energy and Climate

UPWP Task 2.2.3.2Multi-year program; MPO fundedIdentify and recommend policies and actions

at the regional, local and individual level that would help the region reduce energy consumption, air pollution and climate change and be resilient to future climate change impacts.

Air Quality

2010 in-house report:Keeping Our Air Clean

Research on air quality issues for the region Implications of ozone

non-attainment Identify strategies to

improve air quality

Air Quality Data

Major Air Quality Findings

Ozone concentrations are partly due to pollution from mid-west power plants and partly due local emissions

Major local sources: vehicles, solvent use, residential wood combustion, fossil fuel combustion

Air quality and climate change are linked through fossil fuel consumption

Recommendation to develop a climate action plan

Energy

Regional energy forums for municipal energy committees

$275K EECBG from federal stimulus – competitive grant program funded 8 local projects

VEIC energy analysis study for ECOS project

Climate Change Trends & Impacts

2012 in-house reviewData showing changes

in our climateDiscussion of

projections for our region

Discussion of impacts to environment, public health, infrastructure, economy

Current Climate Activities

Regional greenhouse gas emissions inventory#1 source is transportation#2 source is heating fuels

Climate Action PlanRegional strategies and actions to address climate

mitigation (reducing emissions) and climate adaptation (resiliency)

Guides in appendix for municipalities, employers, and individuals

Coordinate with ECOS Regional Plan

Brownfields

Brownfield – “Real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”

In most cases, the property owner is liable for clean up

Brownfields Activities

UPWP Task 12.5.1; EPA grant fundedAssessment grants to conduct environmental

studies of sites with known/suspected contamination2006 - $200K over 3 years for petroleum sites2008 - $200K over 3 years for hazardous sites2010 - $200K petroleum; $200K hazardousPreparing application for grants to start 2013

Assessment grants don’t pay for clean up!

What do we do?

Voluntary program Hire qualified environmental consultant to:

Review site history to identify concerns (Phase 1).Sample to determine what, if any, contamination actually

exists (Phase 2).Determine appropriate clean-up actions and costs for

planned redevelopment (Clean up plan).

Help identify funding sources for clean up. Get idle/underutilized properties ready for

redevelopment to productive use.

What have we done so far?

Browns Court, Burlington – parking lot proposed for downtown housing – Phase 1 and Phase 2 assessments

157 So. Champlain St, Burlington – former garage proposed for downtown housing – Phase 2 assessment and clean up estimates

3 Maple St, Essex Jct. – mixed use proposed for increased density – Phase 1 and Phase 2 assessments

What are we working on now? Moran Plant/Waterfront North,

Burlington – former power plant planned for public access development – sluiceway dams, clean up plan for interior, soils assessment

Richmond Creamery, Richmond – former creamery in village planned for mixed use development – Phase 1 and Phase 2 assessments, clean up planning

Bright Street, Burlington – house and garage planned for affordable housing – Phase 2

What are we working on now?

Winooski – historic tank inventory Essex Jct. – Village center area-wide assessment Urban Reserve, Burlington – gap analysis review of

previous studies and planned supplemental sampling

Questions?