Certain Urban Core Areas have become the focus of intensive residential development, particularly among younger, financially mobile individuals who are drawn to urban living. The reasons are obvious: proximity to jobs in the urban core, restaurants, amenities, and nightlife. Remediation to residential development in areas such as the site of a former steel mill along an urban river or a former industrial bakery within walking distance of an urban core requires savvier and risk tolerant developers who are willing to take on the challenge and risk. Successful projects can be completed only through an understanding of the actual environmental challenges, legal necessities, and regulatory framework. This conversation will highlight the role for regulators, legal counsel, and environmental advisors to play in tackling brownfields to be successful in residential redevelopment projects.

If traditional brownfields redevelopment is complicated, how do you successfully tackle the most challenging brownfield properties imaginable? Listen to how these brownfield redevelopment experts navigated the daunting development, legal and environmental challenges necessary to convert historical landfill sites into highly valuable redevelopment projects. Case studies will explore both proactive redevelopment approaches, as well as how to turn a dead deal into a model project.

Rural, southeast Ohio, once the source of coal that drove the industrial era in this country, has struggled in more recent times to remake their economy and revitalize their communities. From closed power plants to former strip-mining operations, to ceased federal nuclear sites, this region has its share of Brownfields. However, because of its rural nature, this part of the state doesn’t come to mind when discussing Brownfields and struggles to garner the funding and attention brought to the State’s big “C” cities. But with new federal and state funding efforts, these coal-country communities are taking advantage of opportunities to invest in themselves. This session will offer opportunities for communities with similar challenges to learn best practices and approaches to turning around Brownfields in rural Ohio. Participants will hear from economic development professionals and technical experts who will give examples of the special conditions faced in rural, former coal mining communities, and how to overcome them.

We all face deadlines. Property owners, local governments, land banks, environmental consultants, and other interested parties are typically on a tight deadline to evaluate or clean up a property. So why add another step to the process that could delay a project timeline? The Ohio EPA will provide compelling reasons, with case studies, as to why VAP technical assistance is beneficial. They will also cover proposed changes to the current VAP rules which are required by the Ohio Revised Code to be reviewed every 5 years. These rules specify eligibility for the VAP, associated fees, VAP CP qualifications, VAP Laboratory qualifications, criteria for property assessment and remedies, risk assessment procedures, ground water response requirements, the content and scope of a no further action letter, remedy revisions, the audit process, and clarify sufficient evidence requirements. This will be an engaging session with time for questions and input.