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Two Texas Sites Selected as Pilots for EPA Redevelopment Project

Release Date: 7/13/2000
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The Tex Tin Corporation site in Texas City and the RSR Corporation site in Dallas are two of  40 sites in the nation chosen to be pilot projects for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund program's Redevelopment Initiative.

     The Redevelopment Initiative gives funding and support to states, communities or tribes to help them plan for reusing Superfund sites before the cleanup method is chosen. This helps ensure that the cleanup results are consistent with the planned reuse of the site.

     "EPA's goal is to ensure that community approved reuse plans are considered when the cleanup itself is planned. Knowing the community's wishes helps us tailor the cleanup to those needs," said EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke.

     Tex Tin smelted tin during World War II. After the war, the site was used to smelt tin, copper and other materials, which left the property contaminated with inorganic constituents and low level radionuclides.

     Texas City will use its $100,000 cooperative agreement to gather information on recycling, scrapping, or salvaging Tex Tin onsite materials, instead of landfilling them. The city will seek input from the community on reuse options and develop a site reuse assessment plan.

     The RSR Corporation site was used as a lead smelter from 1934 to 1984. Air emissions and disposal of wastes contaminated the surrounding community.

     Dallas will use its $100,000 cooperative agreement to assess the community's needs and prioritize future uses for the RSR site. The city will develop a reuse plan detailing the planned uses and test its plan to ensure it is feasible. The city will share the plan with the residents and city  decision-makers.

     The EPA Superfund program works closely with state agencies to clean and restore uncontrolled contaminated properties. Superfund cleans sites when the work required is beyond the resources of state and local agencies.

     More information on the Redevelopment Initiative is available on EPA's web site at https://www.epa.gov/oerrpage/superfund/programs/recycle/overview.htm.