Brownfield Structures to be Assessed, Pending Funds

The city of Zanesville continued to work with Muskingum County and the Port Authority in their project to assess Brownfield structures in the area.

They’re applying for a federal grant of $600,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which will set the project in motion. The money will allow them the funds to assess certain properties. Redevelopment Administrator for the city of Zanesville Patrick O’Malia explained what is considered a ‘brownfield structure’.

“Brownfield is a site where there is either known or potential of environmental contamination and that hinders the redevelopment of that property,” said O’ Malia. “So sometimes they’re known issues, like an abandoned gas station, we know that there’s an underground storage tank there for gas, but if it was an old manufacturing there’s a chance that there were chemicals used or heavy metals or other things could be potentially harmful and in fact slow down that redevelopment. ”

While the four phase project is only in the beginning stages, O’malia said the goal is to improve upon neighborhoods and create more opportunities for development.

“The ultimate goal though is to get them, if the property owners allow us, to get them cleaned up,” said O’Malia. “With any luck, that it will improve the quality and standard of life for the residence of Muskingum County.”

The EPA is expected to grant or deny the application in the spring of 2016.