ENGAGE
Ohio UST CIC accomplishes its mission by sorting through the site specific dynamics, providing a liability shield to the community or innocent owners by taking title to the site, understanding the local economic drivers, and figuring out an end-use for the community. In most every case, the redevelopment process of these former gas stations is complicated by the potential legal liability of clean-up; liability that can be incurred simply by taking title to the property. Ohio UST CIC has the experienced professional team that can sort through the legal, environmental, and economic development issues that have prevented these sites from returning to productive use.
Ohio UST CIC’s Service Team Professionals will guide a community through the process, starting with an Ohio EPA VAP Phase I Due Diligence Assessment. Whether through a foreclosure, partnership, donation, or other form of title transfer, Ohio UST CIC will shield a community from the potential threat of environmental clean-up liability. After funding and clean-up of the site, Ohio UST CIC has the economic development expertise to work with the community in determining the most appropriate route to redevelopment and return to productive use.
FUND
Assessments and remediation efforts are costly to fund in former UST sites. In many cases, uncertainty surrounding the location and tank history of use and maintenance further complicates calculating anticipated costs of clean-up. Financial risks and title liabilities are barriers for non-responsible parties, owners, or political subdivisions interested in the land. Ohio UST CIC understands these risks and has experience to creatively source the funding needed to help move the project forward.
Several grant opportunities are currently available for abandoned or vacant gas station sites that are in a BUSTR “Class C” status. The Ohio Developmental Services Agency is accepting applications for up to $500,000 for assessment and clean-ups of qualified sites. In addition, the Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program can provide property assessment services at no cost. The collaboration of professionals in Ohio UST CIC can help guide you through the entire process from grant application through final development.
REMEDY
The cleanup of an abandoned gas station is typically overseen by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR): and is a three-stage process: environmental site assessment, human health risk assessment, and remediation. The purpose of the assessment is to identify the contaminants present at the site, determine the media in which they are present (soil and/or groundwater), and establish their magnitude and vertical and lateral extents. Often-utilized remediation technologies include in-situ chemical oxidation, air sparging, groundwater pump and treat, soil vapor extraction, dual-phase extraction, and source area removal. Ohio UST CIC’s environmental team will prepare and implement a Remedial Action Plan that will drive concentrations of contaminants in soil and groundwater to below the legal levels. When this occurs, BUSTR or the Ohio UST CIC’s Ohio EPA Certified Professional will grant the site an NFA (No Further Action) status clearing the path for repurpose and redevelopment of the site.
REDEVELOP
Abandoned and blighted properties along main corridors and at high-traffic & high-visibility intersections can cast the city or town in a negative light. No area is immune to the problems associated with abandoned or vacant properties. Add in the uncertainty of contamination from old or removed USTs and the problems associated with the location multiply. The liabilities and anticipated costs of redeveloping a former UST site can overshadow the promise a good location and almost guarantee that the property will remain unchanged for many years to come.
Ohio UST CIC Board of Directors shares a long-standing history of community development from city, regional, statewide, nationwide, and international perspectives. They are leaders in economic development who work for private sector non-profit agencies. Their agencies partner with the public sector and are actively engaged in community partnerships to enable the development of housing, jobs, schools, and transportation in urban, suburban, and rural areas. They promote community development by connecting redevelopment projects not only with public and private sources of funding, but also with development-focused financial institutions, development councils, non-profits, and philanthropic groups. Their experience includes infrastructure, land use planning, brownfield remediation, building and zoning services, and historic preservation. They are active in researching community issues and program effectiveness and enacting public policy to achieve community goals and improve the lives of people they serve.
Ohio UST CIC is composed of Board Members and Service Professionals with statewide economic development interest, connections, and experience necessary to repurpose and redevelop these sites. Ohio UST CIC and local communities can partner together to effectively put an end to the perpetual nature of blight and environmental nuisance presented at these unique sites. Ohio UST CIC will work with property owners, political subdivisions, interested parties, and developers within communities to identify potential end-uses and turn these former gas station sites into viable community assets. No other organization has the potential to address all property, government, and environmental issues. The Ohio UST CIC has boldly stepped in to fill an evident void needed to revitalize blighted areas in Ohio communities.