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Shelby County closed on two Regional 1 parcels; environmental surveys found remediable contamination, staff say
Summary
Task force members were told Shelby County has closed on the two primary parcels needed for the Regional 1 hospital. A hazardous‑materials survey identified contamination that county staff say can be remediated; the site has been entered into a TDEC remediation program and further phase‑2 testing of the ground will be required before demolition.
Shelby County has closed on two primary parcels intended to provide the core footprint for the Regional 1 project, task force members heard; additional adjacent parcels remain under letters of intent and have not been conveyed, staff said.
"The county did in fact close on the 2 main parcels of land that provides the primary acres that are needed to build the core project," Kim Brown, consultant for Shelby County, told the task force. Brown and project staff clarified that other parcels discussed in the acquisition process remain unsettled.
Environmental testing Project staff said an interior hazardous‑materials survey was completed for the two parcels the county owns and that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has an active remediation program entry for the property. Patrice Thomas told the task force that survey results "identified items that they believe can, in fact, be remediated." Task force members said a phase‑2 ground survey will be required after building removal.
Leases and conveyance issues Task force members discussed an existing lease on one adjacent parcel that may extend for roughly two years; staff said the county and Regional 1 will need appropriate property rights or a lease from the county to Regional 1 to obtain required approvals from state regulators.
Why it matters: Remediation and conveyance affect the schedule and the county's exposure. Task force members asked for documents showing who performed the environmental assessments and any legal approvals that accompanied the acquisitions.
What the task force directed - Staff agreed to provide the environmental reports (phase‑1 and phase‑2 documentation) and a legal summary of the county's acquisition approvals and any conditions attached to those approvals. - Thomas and Brown said demolition cannot proceed until hazardous‑materials abatement and any required ground testing are completed.
Ending: Task force members asked staff to deliver environmental survey documents and legal approvals to provide clarity on remediation scope and the county's liabilities.
