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South Berwick plans Phase II assessment for 1.6-acre Railroad Avenue brownfield; SMPDC to seek EPA cleanup funding
Summary
Town staff and regional partners described plans to conduct a Phase II site investigation this winter at a 1.6-acre railroad-adjacent parcel the town acquired through tax foreclosure; SMPDC has assessment and cleanup grant programs to support investigation and remediation.
Town planning staff reported the town will pursue a Phase II environmental site assessment this winter for a 1.6-acre parcel on Railroad Avenue that the town acquired by tax foreclosure in 2019.
Paul Schumacher, special project planner, and DeCarla Brown, the town's planning and economic-development director, briefed the council on the site's location near Driscoll Brook, an old chemical factory that once experienced a fire, and a decommissioned railroad spur. A Phase I (records-based) assessment existed prior to the town's acquisition; staff said surface observations show drums and other indicators that further testing is warranted.
The town has applied for and received technical assistance from the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) under the EPA Brownfields program. SMPDC has funds for environmental assessment work and reuse planning; staff said TRC, an environmental engineering firm, was selected to perform the Phase II field investigation, with a cost estimate in the roughly $35,000 range. SMPDC has recently secured federal grants (the presenters referenced a $500,000 pot for assessment work and noted SMPDC's successful track record distributing over $20 million in Brownfields funding regionally). Staff also noted a separate EPA cleanup grant award of $3 million to SMPDC but said whether those funds could cover any necessary remediation will depend on Phase II results and the cleanup cost estimate.
Staff emphasized there is currently no cost to the town for assessment and that SMPDC administers grant contracts and reporting to EPA. The Phase II work will include test pits and soil sampling; presenters said groundwater sampling is not currently included but could be added if field results indicate a need.
Town acquisition and ownership status affect cleanup and disposition options. Staff said if the town retains the parcel it can apply for cleanup grants as a municipal owner; if the town were to sell, the buyer could pursue remediation loans or grants (nonprofit buyers can seek certain grants) but state law requires proceeds, minus costs, be returned to prior owners in some foreclosure-sale scenarios. Staff said the town must await Phase II results before deciding whether to retain ownership, pursue remediation, or pursue sale with deed restrictions or other mechanisms to protect town objectives.
Council members asked about potential off-site impacts to Driscoll Brook and downstream properties. Staff said Phase II could be expanded to include groundwater and surface-water sampling if warranted and that TRC would present findings to the council once the investigation is complete. The presenters recommended a cautious, stepwise approach and offered to bring TRC to a council meeting to discuss detailed results and remedial options.
Next steps: TRC-led Phase II investigation planned for winter (scheduling dependent on weather), lab analysis and reporting to DEP and EPA, then council consideration of remediation and ownership options once results are in.
