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NACOG brownfields grant seeks local nominations; county readies old jail remediation
Summary
NACOG and Stantec asked Coconino County to nominate underused or vacant properties to its $1.5M EPA Brownfields Assessment grant; county staff said earlier Phase I/II and ABCA studies are complete for the old courthouse/jail and an EPA remediation award (~$573,000) will be used to abate asbestos, lead and mold before demolition of non-historic
NACOG's Route 66 Brownfield Coalition asked the Board of Supervisors to help identify candidate properties for a $1.5 million U.S. EPA Brownfields Assessment grant that funds Phase I/II environmental site assessments, hazardous-building surveys and site-reuse planning for both public and private properties.
Dave Laney of Stantec, the coalition's environmental consultant, said the EPA grant is competitive and has already funded assessments across northern Arizona; the program is voluntary and non-enforcement, meaning property owners receive assessments and reuse plans at no cost and are not compelled to undertake cleanup. Laney said eligible properties include old commercial buildings, vacant lots, former service stations and other underused sites where perceived contamination impedes redevelopment.
Tom Hanachek and Jeff Stein (Facilities) gave an update on the county's old courthouse/jail site across the street from the administrative center. The county has completed Phase I and Phase II assessments and an Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). An EPA-funded remediation allocation (about $573,000) is targeted for asbestos, lead and mold inside the building envelope; staff plan to demolish non-historic additions and preserve the sandstone historic jail core. Facilities expects to put remediation work out to bid later this fall and proceed with cleanup and site-reuse planning.
Why it matters: brownfield assessments can unlock redevelopment in downtown parcels, raise nearby property values and attract outside investment. Stantec and NACOG urged property owners and local developers to submit two-page site nomination forms available through NACOG's brownfields web page; the county said it will assist outreach to potential nominees and the Brownfields Advisory Committee will help prioritize nominations.
Next steps: the coalition is accepting nominations and the county will identify priority sites and help publicize the program; county staff said remediation bidding and community reuse planning for the jail site are imminent.
