Federal Officials Will Assess Contamination, Paving the Way for Redevelopment, Jobs in Community
LOS ANGELES - On Wednesday, U.S. E.P.A. will remove 3 4,000-5,000 gallon underground tanks which held gasoline or diesel fuel and one 280 gallon waste-oil underground tank from a former gas station in Fresno, California E.P.A. contractors will also take water and soil samples to evaluate whether the storage tanks have leaked. If the tanks leaked, E.P.A. and the state and regional water boards will assess the level of environmental cleanup required to make the location accessible for reuse. Once completed, the location will be ready for redevelopment and could be used as the location for a quick-service restaurant.
This is part of a statewide initiative focused on cleaning up underground storage tank sites, including 38 sites in Fresno County. The site, currently home to American & Foreign, an auto repair shop, was occupied by a service station from 1937-1982. The underground storage tanks used by the service station ceased operating but remained in place.
Wednesday's excavation, location evaluation and assessment is estimated to cost up to $138,000 and is being funded by the EPA's Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program. Since November 2012 the U.S. E.P.A. and the California State Water Resources control Board have been working with local regulatory agencies to identify and assess tank sites that have been unaddressed in Fresno and throughout the state.
Due to the high clean-up costs, these sites have remained vacant for decades. Addressing these sites can cost anywhere from approximately $10,000 to $1.5 Million depending on contamination at the site. The U.S. E.P.A. and the state will work together with property owners to assess and cleanup these sites, making them accessible for resale and reuse, bringing businesses and jobs back into the area. To date, in excess of 339 abandoned sites have been identified and in excess of 84 underground storage tanks removed, paving the way for redevelopment. EPA's Brownfields Plan has invested in excess of $600,000 towards community and housing investigation and cleanup in Fresno neighborhoods.
Who: U.S. E.P.A.
Officials from City, State, County, and Local governments
What: Underground Gasoline Tank Removal, Location Assessment and Field Work
Informal Media Availability and Visual Event
Where: 603 Broadway Street, Fresno California 93721
When: Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Media is asked to arrive by 10:15 a.m. to check. Event will start at 10:30 a.m.
Parking: Parking is limited. Please park in the residential area on Broadway Street
*This is a live construction site, as such members of the news media wishing to attend must wear closed and/or steel toe boots. Please RSVP ASAP via email to Nahal Mogharabi at [email protected] to gain additional necessary information. Please be sure to include your name, contact information and media affiliation.
For a map of the location as well as additional information about the event and photos, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/mediacenter/fresno-ust/
For more information on Targeted Brownfields Assessment, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region09/brownfields/grants.html
For more information on Underground Storage Tanks, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/ust/lustcleanup.html
