September 15, 2004

Grant Money Issued to the Department of Environmental Quality

In an effort to encourage the use or redevelopment of closed solid waste disposal facilities, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been issued a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to establish an Internet-accessible database. This database will contain information pertaining to the physical characteristics (i.e. available development area, phone service, water supply, etc.) of these closed sites. The DEQ recently began mailing a notification of the grant award and a questionnaire to owners of closed solid waste disposal facilities in order to populate the database. Information submitted by the facility owners will be posted on an Internet web page, and will be available to potential developers/users of the properties.

The program is voluntary, and is designed to encourage reuse of the landfill properties in lieu of developing “greenfields” properties. In addition, the program is designed to assist owners of solid waste disposal facilities to potentially obtain revenue from properties often left unused. Potential development opportunities include: communications towers, vehicle storage/parking, firing ranges, and small business offices. The intent of the database is to provide the potential developers/users with baseline information regarding the property, as well as contact information. The potential developer/user would then be responsible for contacting the facility owner to negotiate a development agreement.

A permit amendment will be required from the DEQ if the post-closure use of the facility is altered. Additionally, the facility owner will need to consider engineering and environmental issues associated with development of the property.

Joyce Engineering, Inc., founded in 1983, is a consulting engineering firm specializing in solid waste management consulting services.