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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has accepted a Voluntary Remediation Program application submitted by Jefferson Orchards, Inc. to address environmental conditions at its property in Jefferson County.
The site is located at 365 Granny Smith Lane in Kearneysville and includes approximately 80 acres. The site is former agricultural land previously used as a fruit orchard and for the cultivation of field corn and soybeans. The future use of the property will be as a manufacturing facility. Contaminants of potential concern include chemicals associated with past use of the property as an apple orchard and include lead and arsenic from lead arsenate pesticide, as well as select organo-pesticides. Additional contaminants of potential concern may be identified through site investigation activities
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.