Phase II Environmental Site Assessments at Clinton High School, Clinton, Louisiana, and Franks Theatre, Abbeville, Louisiana

Client: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District

Completion Date: 2006

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Brownfields Sites as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.  The towns of Clinton and Abbeville, Louisiana, like many communities, had properties in their downtown districts that met the definition of Brownfields Sites and were sitting idle.  Clinton was seeking to redevelop the former Clinton High School building into either upscale residential lofts or for public uses including office spaces and a community center.  Abbeville desired to restore a former movie theater into a community facility.  GEC’s Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for the two properties identified potential recognized environmental conditions and recommended further investigation.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, contract GEC to 1) develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for site sampling, 2) sample the buildings for constituents of concern including asbestos, lead and mold, 3) quantify mercury and PCB-containing devices for disposal planning, and 4) prepare a Phase II ESA report detailing the investigation results.  GEC’s staff of certified asbestos, lead and mold inspectors completed the projects in 2006 and Clinton and Abbeville are moving forward with redevelopment of the properties.