Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Organizations requesting assistance

City of West Monroe, Louisiana

Summary of TAB interaction with community

The City of West Monroe received an EPA Brownfields Pilot Assessment grant in 2000 and re-applied for additional funds in 2003. West Monroe is a small city with a population under a 100,000 and is located in Ouachita Parish in north Louisiana. A portion of the city is included in the federally designated Ouachita Parish Urban Renewal Community (RC). The 2000 grant allowed the city the opportunity to assist a property owner in the Voluntary Investigation and Remediation Program (VIRP) with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). Also, as part of this grant, a Brownfields inventory was established using Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

As part of the 2003 Brownfields Assessment grant application, TAB was included to provide extended Brownfields assistance to the City. The City received did receive the EPA Assessment Grant which was awarded in October 2003. As outlined in the contract proposal between HSRC and the City, the City proposed to manage the Brownfields program, with technical oversight provided by TAB. This work overlapped work underway via a TAB Letter of Agreement with the City to provide technical assistance in the completion of the Brownfields Pilot Assessment project. Tasks include upgrading the GIS mapping system developing a Remedial Action Plan for a former dry cleaning site.

TAB and the City of West Monroe entered into a Research Agreement as referenced above. TAB assisted the City with development of a "checklist" or Site Eligibility Criteria work sheet that can be applied to potential petroleum sites eligible to be assessed with their Assessment Grant. In early March, EPA Region 6 requested the City receive cost estimates from two additional sources to provide the same services as those provided by HSRC/S&SW under the Research Agreement. TAB also tracked a Brownfields and Crime project with the help of the CityÕs neighborhood advocate and a citizen's focus group.

On June 1, 2004, HSRC/S&SW and the City of West Monroe terminated the Research Agreement as referenced above. EPA Region 6 is allowing the City to hire a BrownfieldÕs Coordinator through grant funds that in turn frees up time that HSRC was devoting to the City. The City has been assisted as any other TAB community client since June 2004 and will continue to provide assistance as requested by the City.

EPA also selected the City of West Monroe for a 2005 brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds were used to conduct community outreach, perform a thorough site compliance review, conduct site assessments, and develop cleanup plans for sites throughout the city, with an emphasis on sites in Census Tract 56. Region 6 TAB has been approached by the Brownfield Coordinator to possibly co-sponsor a workshop with the City and interested owners, developers, and local bankers on the benefits of Brownfield redevelopment and its success in Louisiana.

TAB has also assisted the City with producing brownfields outreach materials, announcements, and other information detailing redevelopment efforts within the City as well as locating site assessment funds for brownfields redevelopment activities. Efforts are on-going to provide support to the city Brownfield Coordinator.