Columbiana Co. Port Authority, leaders will discuss brownfields

By D.A. WILKINSON

wilkinson@vindy.com

EAST LIVERPOOL

The Columbiana County Port Authority plans to meet soon with local leaders to determine whether brownfields in their areas can be turned into sites for businesses.

The port authority has signed an agreement with Tetra Tech, a national engineering and consulting firm that has an office in Pittsburgh, Tracy Drake, chief executive officer for the authority, said Tuesday.

The company will be paid $200,000 with federal stimulus money, which has already been given to the port authority.

The company will survey the brownfield sites for contamination.

Drake said that the authority is looking for areas that are “cleanup ready.”

There are a number of possible sites available throughout the county, he added.

One example is the former Eljer’s Plumbingware property in Salem.

The site survey will look at areas that have gasoline contamination or contaminated water.

The survey also will determine the costs of any cleanup at a site.

The port authority in 2011 will apply for federal funds to pay for any cleanup sites that could be used by various businesses.

The authority had also applied for additional money to do testing in areas with more serious contamination but did not receive additional money.

The port will apply again, Drake said.