The Standard at Morgantown, LLC Submits Voluntary Remediation Program Application

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has accepted a Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) application submitted by The Standard at Morgantown, LLC to address environmental conditions at a proposed development site consisting of several commercial properties along the Monongahela River in Monongalia County.

The site is located at 1301 – 1345 University Avenue and 75 Wall Street, Morgantown, and includes approximately 1.78 acres. The site was historically used for automobile sales and service and as a vocational school (1301 University Avenue), gasoline service stations (1335 and 1345 University Avenue), and a building supplies warehouse (75 Wall Street).

The site currently contains a 20,000 square foot building located at 1301 University Avenue that houses a towing/auto impoundment business as well as two tenants who operate a pub/restaurant and a pottery shop; a former gasoline station building at 1335 University Avenue that is owned by the towing company and presently used for storage; a 20,000 square foot building located at 75 Wall Street presently used as student apartments; and an active convenience store with gasoline sales at 1345 University Avenue.

Redevelopment plans for the site include a multi-story collegiate housing building and parking facility.

OER is currently negotiating a Voluntary Remediation Agreement (VRA) with the applicant.
Under the VRA, the applicant will work with the WVDEP to identify human health and ecological risks associated with current and potential future uses of the site; establish applicable remediation standards; and ensure that standards are maintained at the site. Upon completion of the remediation, a final report will be submitted to OER for review and approval.

West Virginia’s Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Act encourages voluntary cleanups of contaminated sites, as well as redevelopment of abandoned and under-utilized properties, with an objective of counteracting the lack of development on sites with contamination or perceived contamination. By providing financial incentives to invest in brownfields, this approach protects communities and the environment while still promoting economic development in West Virginia.

Questions regarding the Voluntary Remediation Program or this application should be directed to either WVDEP Project Manager Erin Brittain (WVDEP—OER, 2031 Pleasant Valley Road, Fairmont, WV 26554; 304-368-2000, ext. 3728) or Licensed Remediation Specialist David Olson (Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., 4000 Triangle Lane, Suite 200, Export, PA 15632; 724-327-5200, ext. 6322).

For more DEP news and information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, be sure to connect with the agency on all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter and find us on YouTube by searching “Environment Matters.” For specific information about the Adopt-A-Highway, West Virginia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), West Virginia Watershed Improvement Branch, Youth Environmental Program and Human Resources initiatives, connect on Facebook.

Contact:

Jake Glance
(304) 926-0499 ext. 1335
Jacob.P.Glance@wv.gov