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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (June 11, 2018) – The Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has accepted a Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) application submitted by the Urban Renewal Authority of the City of Parkersburg and the City of Parkersburg to address environmental conditions at the Former Pennzoil/Elk Terminal in Wood County.
The site is located at the northwest corner of the 19th and Keever Street intersection in Parkersburg and includes approximately 5.37 acres. The site was operated by Pennzoil United, Inc. as a bulk petroleum storage terminal from approximately 1953 to 1955.
The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment identified two areas which may be contaminant sources: two former aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and former pesticide/herbicide use in the northwest corner of the site. Future site use is expected to be developed with a recreational trail on the exterior of the nearby floodwall and the remainder of the site will be kept as green space
OER has negotiated a Voluntary Remediation Agreement (VRA) with the applicants. 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.