Superfund Return to Use Initiative

  • CAL GULCH Site
  • Cal Gulch Site

EPA Superfund Redevelopment Initiative

Nationwide

Situation: 

In 1999, EPA launched the Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI) with the goal of returning Superfund sites to safe and productive use by working with communities to consider appropriate future use options. Until 2004, SRI focused its efforts on sites that did not have a cleanup remedy in place. This approach gave EPA the best chance to select a remedy consistent with the reasonably anticipated future use of the site and gave the communities the best opportunity to productively use sites following cleanup. SRI did not initially address any of the vacant sites where construction of the remedy was complete. There are over 1000 construction-complete sites, and many of them remain idle or underutilized. The cleanup remedies at these sites are vulnerable to damage that may be caused by trespassing or other inappropriate activities.

Solution: 

To support SRI in its efforts to address barriers to reuse at construction-complete Superfund sites, Skeo Solutions works with EPA, communities, developers, local governments and other site stakeholders through the Return to Use (RTU) Initiative. The RTU Initiative was designed to remove real or perceived barriers to appropriate reuse at Superfund sites where construction of the cleanup remedy is completed. Barriers to reuse may include a lack of understandable information about the site, site ownership issues, and liability concerns or stigma related to a site’s Superfund history. 

Outcome: 

As a result of the RTU Initiative, Skeo Solutions assisted EPA in forming partnerships at over 60 sites. The scope of these partnerships can range from informal consultation between community representatives and EPA personnel to EPA providing funding to jump start reuse planning or drafting a Ready for Reuse determination to clarify appropriate future uses. As part of the RTU Initiative, each site becomes a demonstration project, and its story is captured in a fact sheet and highlighted on SRI’s website to enable other communities to benefit from the lessons learned.

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