Brownfields clean-up process is Rotary meeting subject

Jay Kamm, a senior planner at the Northern Maine Development Corporation, was the guest speaker at the Sept. 17 meeting of the Presque Isle Rotary Club.     Kamm discussed his office’s participation in the Northern Maine Brownfields Initiative.  A “brownfield” is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutant or contaminants.
NMDC has received a $200,000 grant to conduct region-wide brownfields assessments in the Northern Maine Economic Development District.  This grant is for petroleum products only.
Kamm said the Northern Maine Brownfields Initiative will identify and review known and unknown contaminated sites; screen up to 10 sites for assessment using pre-determined selection criteria; and make recommendations for mitigation, remediation, and effective re-use of the properties.  NMDC expects to begin the process in October of 2007 and complete the process in September of 2010.
NMDC is looking for interested individuals who wish to serve on the Brownfields Steering Committee.  Please contact Kamm at NMDC for more information at 498-8736.