Leveling up on Brownfield Knowledge at the Washington Brownfield Workshops
I might be part of a team that deals with brownfield reuse, but since I’m on the communications side, I don’t always grasp the technical stuff. RLF? MARC? TBA? They’re just acronyms to me! But after attending the Washington Brownfield Workshops, hosted by the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) and the WA Department of Ecology, I have definitely leveled up my brownfield knowledge. Maybe not a total expert yet, but I definitely learned a ton!
In both Richland and North Bend, we set up shop in their community centers. In Bremerton, we enjoyed a fantastic location right by the water at the Kitsap Conference Center. The mayors of North Bend and Bremerton, Mary Miller and Greg Wheeler, welcomed us and recognized the Indigenous land we were on. We were fortunate to have stunning views and fantastic lunches from local restaurants for all three workshops! Speakers from the Washington Department of Ecology, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Department of Commerce, and the fantastic Joelle Greenland, AICP, from CCLR presented at the workshops. If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that reaching out to even one person at these agencies connects you to everyone! No need to go through a bunch of different contacts for every single question, you get access to all their resources in one go.
The WA Department of Ecology put together an extremely helpful chart outlining brownfield funding options (you can check it out here). It breaks down everything you need to know about RLF (Revolving Loan Fund), MARC (EPA Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grants), TBA (EPA Targeted Brownfields Assessment), and a whole lot more. It tells you who’s eligible and who to reach out to for help—basically, it’s a goldmine of info!
During the workshops, participants dove into brownfield resources, funding programs, common challenges, strategies, local case studies, and the Washington state cleanup process. Attendees were able to ask site specific questions to the knowledgeable speakers! Each brownfield site has its own unique characteristics and requirements, making it essential to connect with experts in the field. Being able to ask questions about your specific project is incredibly valuable!
With more than 100 attendees, the workshops were a great chance to connect with local government, nonprofits and businesses, paving the way for new partnerships on brownfield projects and kickstarting new ones! At the CCLR booth, I had a fantastic view of everyone mingling. One attendee was searching for a particular solution to a pooling problem on their property. Joelle and I didn’t have a solution for her but she was able to connect with the other attendees to find her answer! It was truly wonderful to witness these local connections being made!
Following the presentations from our speakers, we were led on walking (& boating!) tours of brownfield projects in the area. Check out some of the projects we explored:
Richland:
Led by Mandy Wallner, Economic Development Manager at the City of Richland, the Richland tour was so informative. Who knew there were so many brownfields just down the road from the Richland Community Center!
Ranked as number 2 on Ecology’s Hazardous Sites List in 2012, some major cleanup was needed at this gas station. Under Ecology’s Voluntary Cleanup Program, air sparging and vapor extraction systems were installed. Between 2013 and 2020, groundwater and soil samples showed that contamination is no longer detected, thus removing the location from the Hazardous Sites List in 2021!
515 George Washington Way
This site was formerly an Economy Inn which had fallen into disrepair. The city purchased the site in 2022 and completed environmental studies to assess possible contamination. The hope for this site is to become a fire station!
This site was originally a Goodyear service shop in 1969, then, a Tri-Cities Battery Service shop 1995. In 2008, this site was also listed as number 2 on Ecology’s Hazardous Sites List. Using the Voluntary Cleanup Program, 267 tons of contaminated soil were removed and the site was removed from the Hazardous Sites List in 2010. Now that contaminants have been removed, this site is ready for redevelopment!
750 George Washington Way
This site was an automotive service shop and was remediated in 1990. In 2009, it was transformed into a multi-tenant commercial space called the Riverside Professional Center. This project took an environmental blight and created a space for businesses to set up shop!
505 Swift Blvd.
This is the site of Richland’s old City Hall, built in 1958. Mandy Wallen shared that the City Hall had a jail cell that was used until 1980. This was just one of the many interesting facts learned during this walking tour! Unfortunately, the old City Hall wasn’t able to be built up so the city found it easier to move across the street and to remediate this site.
North Bend:
James Henderson, the Economic Development Manager of the City of North Bend, and Alison Roberts, Executive Director of the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank began our tour at the North Bend Train Depot where we engaged in a meaningful discussion about how brownfields can play a role in combating climate change.
302 West North Bend Way
The city of North Bend is looking to revitalize a former gas station at 302 W. North Bend Way. Though the brownfield has many contaminants, the location is in the core of downtown North Bend and well positioned to become a cornerstone for the community. In 2007 and 2008, 850 cubic yards of contaminated soil and four storage tanks were removed from the site. The city is working with the Washington Department of Ecology to assess additional cleanup needs to ensure the site is suitable for redevelopment.
One thing I learned during these workshops is the importance of community outreach. We see this exemplified in this project! James Henderson and Alison Roberts shared how they received nearly 750 responses from community members regarding the redevelopment potential of the site. Based on the community feedback, the City hopes to transform this location into affordable housing and/or a food bank. From considering community needs to acknowledging the need for privacy when accessing a food bank, this project is a catalyst for how to put your community first when revitalizing brownfields!
Learn more about this project and their community outreach here.
Bremerton:
Led by James Weaver, Marine Facilities Director of Port of Bremerton, the tour started with a beautiful Kitsap Transit ferry ride from the Port of Bremerton to Port Orchard.
619 & 620 Bay St
The Port of Bremerton is set to transform the former Kitsap Bank location into the Port Orchard Community Events Center using EPA and WA Department of Commerce funding. Nestled by the water, this site is ideal for becoming a central hub for the community. The plans feature a library, event space, and waterfront viewing, which will not only provide a much-needed gathering spot but also boost tourism in the area.
512 & 525 Bay St
The Port of Bremerton is undertaking a cleanup of a former gas station and metal fabrication site, utilizing funding from the EPA,. This initiative includes the removal of underground storage tanks. The effort is part of the Port of Bremerton’s initiative to leverage state and federal resources for the remediation of sites located near the Puget Sound marine environment.
As the workshops came to an end, I said goodbye to the amazing people I met. I took away a wealth of new information and experiences. If you missed the workshop or want to refresh your memory on what you learned, be sure to take a look at the workshop slides available here!
More workshops are on the way, possibly in your area! Sign up for CCLR’s newsletter to stay in the loop about events near you.
