Brownfields Program moves forward to assess properties

A recently established program to identify contaminated properties in the first step toward getting them cleaned up and back into use is moving forward.

Bear Paw Development Corp. is now working on six properties in its five-county region.

Christin Hileman of Bear Paw Development, coordinator of its Brownfields Program, said more than 40 sites have been looked at, with six approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency as sites eligible to be assessed under the program.

"We looked at a lot of sites," Hileman said, adding that the program is continuing to look at more sites to be evaluated, particularly for petroleum- contaminated properties.

Bear Paw is stretching its dollars in the program by working in partnership wi th the state and wi th other Brownfields programs in some sites, she added.

Bear Paw tried for several years to get into the EPA program and was awarded two $200,000 grants in 2008 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. One grant is to assess sites believed to be contaminated with petroleum products, the other is for sites believed to be contaminated with other hazardous substances including asbestos and lead-based paint.

The purpose of the assessment program is to identify what sites have been contaminated, which then can be cleaned up and used for commercial purposes. It also will identify sites which are believed to be contaminated when they actually are not.

Actual or perceived contamination often leads to property sitting idle, and the Brownfields Program works to bring those properties back into operation.

Hileman said Bear Paw has had great success in identifying eligible hazardous substance sites, and could be applying Hileman said. Bear Paw is using that information in providing a more in-depth Phase II report than was completed in that study.

Bear Paw also is working in conjunction with DEQ on a property in Fort Benton, the Fort Benton Motor Co. Hileman said that is a DEQ-obligated site, but Bear Paw's program is taking up the work due to a shortage of staff at the state agency, speeding up the process. DEQ will reimburse Bear Paw's program for the work done there.

The Phase I assessment on that site is complete and the Phase II is planned.

Hileman said that site — with potential contamination by petroleum as well as hazardous substances — is precisely the kind of property the Brownfields Program is designed for. It is in a premium location in the community, on Main Street and right at the Missouri River.

"Those are the kinds of sites we want to revitalize and redevelop in our communities," she said.

Bear Paw also is working wi th Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation — both Rocky Boy and the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation have their own Brownfields Programs — to assess the Past Time site.

Rocky Boy did the Phase I assessment, but does not have enough funds to complete a Phase II assessment, she said.

Bear Paw is helping complete that assessment.

A Phase I analysis has been completed on Caroline Brown's Market, and Bear Paw is awaiting the report on that analysis.

Bear Paw just was approved to do a Phase I assessment on the Havre City-County Airport, and is waiting for water to recede on the Agro-Energy Industrial Park south of Havre to do a Phase I report there.

Hileman said the area of that park that will be developed is uphill and is not flooded, but a portion of the property that had been used as a dump site by area residents still is under water.

Another site with the Phase I completed and the Phase II assessment planned is at the Short Stop gas station and convenience store on 5th Avenue.

Hileman said that location has been rumored to be contaminated for years, but no state records show any verified leaks, spills or other contamination.

That is one of the greatest benefits of the program, she said. Stigma of contamination on some properties may be based on false rumors.

"Brownfield programs are kind of made for this," Hileman said. "We can look at it and say, 'Yes, it is, or no, it's not.'" For more information on the free program or to report potential sites, contact Hileman at 265-9226 or via e-mail at chileman@ bearpaw.org.