With over 400 attendees, the 1998 Industrial Site Recycling Conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 13-15, 1998 was a great success

ISRC '98 -
With over 400 attendees, the 1998 Industrial Site Recycling Conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 13-15, 1998 was a great success. Sponsored by the Engineer's Society of Western Pennsylvania and supported by The Brownfields Center, the conference attracted consulting engineers, attorneys, real estate developers, industry representatives, non-profit organizations, regulators and academics. Mayor Tom Murphy of Pittsburgh opened the conference with the progress made in Pittsburgh through the city's purchase and subsequent financial support for redevelopment of old industrial sites. In a plenary session, Mr. Tim Fields, EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste Management and Emergency Response, noted the commitment of the federal government in the formation of the National Partnership and the ongoing brownfield pilot and showcase initiatives. Tuesday's luncheon featured Mr. Michael McCabe, EPA Region III Administrator with a message connecting the State's Clean-Air Implementation Plan with brownfield development with specific attention to reduced vehicular mileage associated with brownfield developments as opposed to greenfield developments. Mr. James Seif, Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, hosted the presentation of the Phoenix Awards during Wednesday's luncheon. The Phoenix Awards are given to private and public sector success stories in the innovative reuse of old industrial sites.
This winner of this years' private sector Phoenix Award was Ryan Companies US, Inc. for the Quarry Retail Center, Minneapolis Minnesota. The 42-acre Johnson Street Quarry had become an unmanaged "dump" for contaminated debris, and, although located next to a metropolitan freeway system, the obstacles of a brownfield site discouraged potential developers. Given 13 years of persistence and a grocery store as its anchor, the site has been converted into a retail center hosting national companies in the markets of general merchandise, home improvements, pet supplies, office products and more. The site has been a catalyst for other development, has created over 1170 new jobs, and has increased property and sales tax bases in excess of $3 million per year.
The winner of the public sector Phoenix Award was the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County for the Ingersoll-Rand Redevelopment Project in Charleroi and North Charleroi, Pennsylvania. Ingersoll-Rand ceased operations on a 4.3 acre site in 1988. The site was contaminated with toxic materials and surrounded by a dense residential community suffering unemployment and poverty. The Washington County Redevelopment Authority collaborated with environmental regulatory agencies, two municipalities, county, state, federal government, and Ingersoll-Rand to acquire, remediate, and renovate the site. Occupants of the property now include Tri-State Hydraulics, Inc. and Jaycees Foods, Inc. These new businesses employee 59 residents with a forecast of 102 within the next three years.
Other unique and interesting events and activities of the conference included:
Announcement if the PaDEP Keysites Program - This entrprenuerial effort initiated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources will be a catalyst to high-market potential brownfield developments which are being hindered by environmental issues. (Please Contact Mr. Tom Fidler for more information, (717 ,,,,,,,,,,,)
Marketplace - For the first time, ISRC featured a marketplace (The Deal Happens Here!) to promote the interaction of brownfield property holders and potential buyers. The success of this effort leads to consideration of a 1999 expansion. Additionally, Michael Baker Corp. and The Brownfields Center introduced "BBWeb" (URL:……..), a GIS-based inventory of brownfield properties.
Brownfield Development: The Reality - This real-life town meeting featured respresentatives of the many stakeholders in a regional brownfield development initiative. The session, facilitated by the editor of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, included Ms. Karen Miller of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Frank Horrigan from the Governor's Action Committee, Allegheny County Commissioner Michael Dawida, Mayor George Matta (Duquesne), Mr. George Tkach of the Allegheny Trails Alliance, Mr. Bruce Haney of the Gustine Company and Mr. Andrew Quinn if Kennywood. Residents from the local communities that house these brwonfield site made up the audience. The discussion was lively and helped to raise some issues seen to be potential barriers to local brownfield development. Issues such as the cost effectiveness of brownfield development vs. greenfield development and the importance of infrastructure in expediting development.
Session on Brownfields: Sustainable Economic Development - Mr. Mulugetta Birru… Murphy, Mulu, Cohon, Andrew….