Since 1993, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has worked with partners from municipal government, community groups, federal agencies and other state agencies to bring contaminated sites back to beneficial use in Providence and the other communities throughout Rhode Island. We have worked on many traditional Brownfields projects aimed at economic redevelopment of environmentally distressed properties. However, the true value of our partnerships became apparent as we undertook some of the more challenging restoration projects where the future use was for the "public good", including new schools, park lands and greenways. Early communication between environmental officials and public health professionals has led to better risk evaluation and communication between government agencies and the community and has drawn attention to these valuable, but overlooked, urban resources. Several lessons have been learned along the way including the benefits and limitations of a Brownfields Demonstration Pilot and a Brownfields Showcase Community designation. Investigation of subsistence fishing in an urban river adjacent to one major Brownfields site led to the discovery of dioxin contamination and a new Superfund National Priorities List site in North Providence. Several tools have been employed to investigate, evaluate and remediate these contaminated sites.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.