EPA Brownfiel Gr Ap Port of DbqMEMORANDUM
December 9, 2002
TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT:EPA Brownfleld Cleanup Grant Application for Petroleum Contaminated
Property in the Port of Dubuque
The EPA administers an environmental cleanup grant program that provides funding for
petroleum-contaminated properties. A city may apply for up to $200,000 per site in
grant funding. The proposed application will provide funding for a project that will
cleanup the petroleum contaminated soil and groundwater found at the former Molo Oil
Company site near the riveffront east of Bell Street. Part of the property is currently
used as a parking lot with the remainder being vacant land; however, the vacant land
portion of the site includes property that will provide for the expansion of the Grand
Harbor Resort's water park in a future Phase 2 development.
Economic Development Director Bill Baum recommends the City Council endorse the
submission of an application for the EPA Brownfieid Cleanup Grant.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
William Baum, Economic Development Director
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
December 4, 2002
TO:Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM:William Baum, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT:EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant Application for Petroleum
Contaminated Property in the Port of Dubuque
Introduction
This memorandum requests City Council approval of a Resolution endorsing a Brownfield
Cleanup Grant application to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for petroleum
contamination cleanup in the Port of Dubuque.
Discussion
The EPA administers an environmental cleanup grant program that provides funding for
petroleum-contaminated properties owned by a municipality. Previously, petroleum cleanup
was not an allowed activity under this grant program. A city may apply for up to $200,000 per
site in grant funding.
The proposed application will provide funding for a project that will cleanup the petroleum
contaminated soil and groundwater found at the former Molo Oil Company site near the
riverfront east of Bell Street. Part of the property is currently used as a parking lot with the
remainder being vacant land; however, the vacant land portion of the site includes property
that will provide for the expansion of the Grand Harbor Resort's waterpark in a future Phase
2 development.
The attached Resolution authorizes the City Manager to make application for the EPA grant
funding. The City has already completed environmental assessments of the property and
has identified a proposed method of remediation that will not substantially disrupt use of the
public parking lot. The remediation process, which may take as long as three years to
complete, is estimated to cost $570,620. The City will pay for costs above and beyond the
grant funds received with monies budgeted for Port of Dubuque redevelopment.
Recommendation
I recommend that the City Council endorse the submission of an application for the EPA
Brownfield Cleanup Grant. This project will allow the cleanup of valuable riverfront property
in the Port of Dubuque for eventual reuse, including the expansion of the Grand Harbor
Resort and Waterpark.
Action Step
The action is to adopt the attached Resolution.
Attachment
F:\USERS~Pmyh re\WPDOCS',E PA~E PAa pp,M EM,d oc
RESOLUTION NO. 645-02
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF A BROWNFIELD CLEANUP
GRANT APPLICATION TO THE U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR
CLEANUP ACTIVITIES IN THE PORT OF DUBUQUE.
Whereas, the City of Dubuque is interested in promoting further economic
development opportunities in the Port of Dubuque area in order to retain and attract
new job creating businesses to this community; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque and its America's River partners are investing
over $188 million in the Port of Dubuque; and
Whereas, petroleum contaminated property in the Port of Dubuque may hinder
further investment in and development of key riverfront property; and
Whereas, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, through its Brownfield
Cleanup Grant program, has monies available for the cleanup of contaminated
properties owned by municipalities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the City of Dubuque hereby endorses the application to the U.
S. Environmental Protection Agency for Brownfleld Cleanup Grant funding in the
amount of $200,000 to cleanup petroleum contaminated property in the Port of
Dubuque.
Section 2. That the City Manager is authorized to sign, on behalf of the City
Council, the application for EPA Brownfleld Cleanup Grant funding.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 16th day of December, 2002.
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Karen M. Chesterman, Deputy City Clerk
F:\USE RS',Pmyh re'~WPDOCS~EPA~EPAapp.res.doc