DNR Awards Brownfield Grant to Barron County
Funds Will Support Contamination Assessment
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announces the award of a Brownfield Grant to Barron County to assist with assessment of environmental contamination at a property in Rice Lake.
The award is from the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies program, which provides contractor services for the environmental assessment of eligible brownfield sites.
A brownfield is a property where expansion, redevelopment or reuse is complicated by real or potential contamination. Brownfields vary in size, location, age and past use.
The grant will support the additional environmental assessment of the 1.53-acre property at 220 East Charles Street and approximately 200 feet of the adjacent lakebed in Rice Lake. Prior to its most recent use by a trucking firm and recycling company, a sawmill, lumber yard and hide and fur company operated on the property. The tax delinquent property is currently vacant.
Environmental contamination was previously confirmed in the soil and groundwater, including diesel range organics, chlorinated volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lead. Lead contamination is also found in sediment of Rice Lake adjacent to the property. Activities supported by the grant will help determine the degree and extent of contamination.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has also been assisting the city of Rice Lake with preparation of a redevelopment plan and market study for properties along the lakefront. This property is in the study area.
“The award to support assessment activities to help clean up contamination at the site is an important step to realize the future reuse of this vacant property to meet the need of the community and bring it back onto the tax roll,” said Jodie Thistle, DNR brownfields, outreach and policy section manager in the Remediation and Redevelopment Program. “The DNR is excited to award Barron County with this grant and pleased that it will help the community take the next step to create opportunities for further redevelopment along Rice Lake in Barron County.”
Since 2009, the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies program has provided over $3.5 million to over 70 communities across Wisconsin, partnering to help clean up and redevelop often run-down or underused properties that detract from a community’s potential. Applications for assistance may be submitted to the DNR at any time.
More information about the DNR’s brownfield cleanup programs and services is available on the DNR’s brownfields webpage.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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