Commissioners say regional brownfield grant will fund testing, Cameron County site requires retesting after lab error

Commissioners updated the public on a regional brownfield grant and follow-up work at several sites, including a Cameron County parcel known as Pick Pocket Flats. A speaker said the region secured roughly $1.6 million in funding that will be split across Potter, Clearfield and Cameron counties, with Cameron County administering its portion through the county office.

"We were up there for... roughly four and a half hours walking the different sites," Josh said, describing a Montrose Environmental site visit to the county's 370-acre parcel and an assessment by a landscape architect. The visit, he said, informed planning and next steps for remediation and reuse.

County officials reported soil samples at Pick Pocket Flats showed chemical contamination and surface oil on top of surface water. "They took the dirt samples. Apparently, they have to retake them though because the lab got some things mixed up on the exact locations," Josh said, adding that the lab will cover the cost of retests and the grant will not be charged for the error.

Officials said the grant is regional in scope; the speaker described developers from neighboring counties expressing interest in Cameron County sites during a Brownfield Advisory Committee meeting. The county will continue data-gathering and expects another meeting in about a month to review additional findings and planning steps.

Why it matters: Brownfield remediation can unlock privately led redevelopment and remove public-health risks tied to contaminated soil or water. County officials said the retesting and continued fieldwork are steps toward clarifying remediation needs and attracting potential developers.

Next steps: County staff said they expect additional sampling and follow-up meetings to set explicit remediation schedules and to determine how the regional grant dollars will be divided among individual projects.