FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		STATE AGENCIES CONVERGING ON CITY PIER The Herald News, Thursday, July 31, 2008 - Page A2 Fall River — Visions of boats floating in the water as tourists gaze upon the Taunton River from a hotel on the City Pier have stayed just that over the years, a vision. But the redevelopment of the City Pier is getting a boost thanks to a pilot program spearheaded by the state that will bring a consortium of agencies together to aid in the cleanup of contaminants at the site and assist in paving the way to development. The Brownfields Support Team brings the city together with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, MassDevelopment and other state and federal agencies for the cleanup of the City Pier. Fall River Office of Economic Development Executive Vice President Kenneth Fiola Jr. said Mayor Robert Correia lobbied for the inclusion of the City Pier in the pilot program, adding that a cleaned up pier could become a boon for the city. “Getting the City Pier cleaned up is tremendously important and the next step to developing the waterfront,” Fiola said. “And having the ability to work in a closer fashion with the state can only enhance the project.” The City Pier, a vacant 4-acre waterfront lot between The Regatta and Point Gloria on Davol Street was taken by the Redevelopment Authority in the early 1980s. At the time, the site included a vacant restaurant and marina that was eventually torn down. In 2001, the quasi-governmental agency and city proposed private development of a hotel, condominiums and a marina on the site. But as the land was being prepared for sale, required environmental testing revealed inordinately high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. A price tag of $1 million to $3.5 million has been placed on the cleanup. Fiola has said the source of the contaminate at the City Pier is unknown, with speculation including the usage of the site as a staging area for the construction of Route 79. While the initiative will pull on the resources of various agencies, it will not include funding for cleanups. The five pilot sites were selected based on their location within Gateway Communities and Gateway Regions where MassDEP is providing technical assistance, in Growth Districts and/or areas identified by the state for streamlined permitting and in areas prioritized for municipal assistance by MassDevelopment. The Brownfields Support teams will work with communities to identify site- and project-specific issues hindering redevelopment of key properties. Support provided by the Brownfields Support teams may include expedited site inspections, reviews and approvals by MassDEP; technical assistance on expedited permitting; funding for assessment and cleanup from MassDevelopment; and coordination with the Attorney General’s Office on liability issues. Along with the City Pier, the pilot sites are the former Chapman Valve/Crane Co. site in Springfield, South Worcester Industrial Park in Worcester, Fisherville Mill in Grafton and Ted’s for Tires in Haverhill. Fiola said if plans to use the land as a marina move forward, the city may be able to save some money by encapsulating the site and cleaning areas where there are high levels of PCBs. “Having everyone at the same table, concentrating on the same project in a cooperative fashion will really move this project along,” Fiola said. Back