2023 GBA Brownfield Seminar is a Sold-Out Event Once Again!
GBA was pleased to present Georgia Ports Authority Director of Economic and Industrial Development Stacy Watson as our keynote speaker at the 2023 Brownfield Seminar, providing insights into one of Georgia’s most important economic engines. Together with our slate of expert speakers, the 2023 Brownfield Seminar once again offered a day of programming not to be missed! More than 200 attendees joined us for quality education and networking opportunities with a wide range of participants, including leading development, legal, engineering, risk management, economic development, and other professionals throughout Georgia and beyond with a shared interest in cleaning and redeveloping contaminated properties and revitalizing surrounding areas around the state.
2023 Presentations Include
- Keynote Address
Stacy Watson, Director of Economic and Industrial Development for Georgia Ports Authority VIEW PRESENTATION
- Session 1: PFAS Technical Panel
Bill Butler, Newfields / Heath McCorkle, Pace Analytical / Steve Ellingson, Ph.D. / Lucas Barroso-Giachetti, S&ME VIEW PRESENTATION
- EPA Update
Sara S. Janovitz, Acting Section Manager, R4 Brownfields and Redevelopment Section VIEW PRESENTATION
Tami Thomas-Burton, R4 EJ Coordinator, Senior Public Health Scientist VIEW PRESENTATION
- Session 2: EPA Brownfield Grantee Panel
Robert Smith, City of Perry VIEW PRESENTATION
Jessica Lavandier, City of Atlanta VIEW PRESENTATION
Laura Johnson, Housing Authority of Columbus VIEW PRESENTATION
Amanda Herrit, Terracon Consultants
- Session 3: Communities & Brownfields
Annie Mcilwain, PPM Consultants VIEW PRESENTATION
Heather Hussey-Coker, Groundwork Atlanta
Lee Harrop, Westside Future Fund / Don Rigger, KEMRON VIEW PRESENTATION
- PSAs
Chris Harrell – Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (TAB) VIEW PRESENTATION
Becky Taylor – Georgia Municipal Association VIEW PRESENTATION
Saralyn Stafford – Carl Vinson VIEW PRESENTATION
- Session 4: What the Coming Surge of Electrical Vehicles Means for the Future of Gas Stations in Georgia & Brownfield Implications
Jason S. Lichtstein, Akerman LLP / Tim Echols, GA Public Service Commission / Russel Griebel, United Consulting / K.C. Boyce, Escalent VIEW PRESENTATION
- Session 5: ESG Considerations for Brownfields
Rebecca Davis, Seyfarth Shaw / Rich Glaze, Barnes & Thornburg
- EPD Update
Shannon Ridley, Brownfields Coordinator / Jason Metzger, Program Manager VIEW PRESENTATION
- Session 6: Innovative Remedial Investigation Techniques for Brownfield Redevelopment
Brian Jeffers, GeoLab Drilling VIEW PRESENTATION
Andrew Kiggen, Regenesis VIEW PRESENTATION
- Session 7: Brownfield Case Studies:
A-Mill Artists Lofts – Dan Childress, Braun Intertec & Derek Schilling, Braun Intertec VIEW PRESENTATION
Former Coyne Textile Cleanup – Southside Revitalization – Keith Ziobron, CHA Consulting & Samantha Miller, CHA Consulting VIEW PRESENTATION
Once again, we will apply for up to 8 hours of CLE credits from the State Bar of Georgia and offer Certificates of Completion to professionals in other industries in need of CEs.
Thank You Event Sponsors:
Premier Sponsors:
GBA is excited to announce our call for abstracts for the ninth annual Georgia Brownfield Seminar, slated to take place in April 2023.
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2022 Brownfield Seminar
Keynote Speaker: Daniel Blackman, EPA Region 4 Administrator
SeaPoint Complex: Leveraging the Triad Approach to Optimize Site Assessment and Cleanup
- Philip Rowland, Dulaney Industries
- Jim McNamara, Georgia EPD
- Bill Anderson, Terracon
- Kimberly Hale, KMCL
Considerations for Responsible Brownfields Development in Disadvantaged Communities
- Rich Glaze, Barnes & Thornburg
- Dr. Yomi Noibi, Environmental Community Action, Inc.
- Brian L. Holtzclaw, Environmental Justice and Children’s Health Section (EJCHS), US EPA Region 4
- Phillip Reagin, Burns & McDonnell
Use of Today’s Technology for Efficient and Accurate Due Diligence
- Willy Welzenbach, NewFields
- Jacob Oehrig, NewFields
Phase I ESA New ASTM Standard for “All Appropriate Inquiries”
- Jason Lichtstein, Ackerman LLP
- Annie McIlwain, PPM Consultants
- Peter Fleury, Stantec
Leveraging the Brownfield Program: A Vapor Intrusion Perspective
- Jarrett Baggett, Geo-Hydro Engineers
- Shannon Ridley, Georgia EPD
- Jim Graham, Winter Environmental
- Jordan Knight, Land Science
- Jim Fineis, Total Vapor Intrusion
Community Engagement and Technical Assistance in Remote Coastal Areas of Georgia
- Jessica Brown – UGA Stormwater Specialist at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, River Basin Center
- Saralyn Stafford – UGA Carl Vinson Institute
- Jason Poe – US EPA Underground Storage Tanks & Brownfields
- Nick Johnson – Georgia Conservancy
- Cathy Rockwell – Woodard Curran
2021 Brownfield Seminar
Learn on Your Own Time: GBA’s 2021 Brownfield Seminar is Now Available Online
**Course Approved for 8 Hours of CLE from the State Bar of Georgia – Certificates of Completion Available for Other Industries**
Register to View Now
GBA’s 2021 Brownfield Seminar
Tuesday, June 22 and Wednesday, June 23, 2021
The 2020 GBA Brownfield Seminar was successful beyond what we could have hoped for or anticipated given the impact of
COVID and the need to postpone and pivot to a virtual event. Despite these modifications, members enjoyed joining via Zoom and hearing from an incredible slate of national, local and regional presenters. We were pleased to also have received approval from the State Bar of Georgia for participants to earn six hours of CLE credits. This was a first for our organization, and we hope to continue to offer this value-added opportunity to attorneys as well as members of other professions in need of CEUs.
2021 Participants:
This seminar will provide quality education opportunities with a wide range of participants, including leading development, legal, engineering, risk management, economic development, and other professionals throughout Georgia and beyond with a shared interest in cleaning and redeveloping contaminated properties and revitalizing surrounding areas around the state. This year, we are applying for up to eight hours of CLE credits from the State Bar of Georgia and offering Certificates of Completion to professionals in other industries in need of CEs.
Click Here to View the Program
Given the extent of this year’s programming devoted to environmental justice (EJ), community development and other issues, we are offering a limited number of SCHOLARSHIPS for community members and EJ leaders. Scholarship applications are due June 11, 2021 and can be accessed here. For additional information on scholarships, please contact Jennifer Jezyk at Jennifer@HLStrategy.com.
Thank you to our event sponsors! Your support enables us to bring this pivotal content to the brownfield community year after year.
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2020 Brownfield Seminar
GBA’s 2020 Virtual Brownfield Seminar – Oct. 6 & 7, 2020
View the Agenda
GBA hosted its sixth annual Georgia Brownfield Seminar, providing a forum for discussions about the environmental, financial, regulatory, and community factors that guide brownfield remediation and redevelopment. GBA brought together information, experience, and research to provide 200+ Seminar participants a greater knowledge and ability to help revitalize their community.
- Extended reach – to all corners of the state (and beyond!) to join us. An online format allowed us to extend our reach and include those who may not typically be able to join in person due to travel restraints.
- Recorded sessions – recorded sessions are available to those who have registered for the program until Dec. 31, 2020.
- Continuing education credits – For the first time ever, GBA submitted and received six hours of CLE credits from the State Bar of Georgia, and potentially more credits for other industries.
Participants:
This seminar provided quality education opportunities with a wide range of participants, including leading development, legal, engineering, risk management, economic development, and other professionals throughout Georgia and beyond with a shared interest in cleaning and redeveloping contaminated properties and revitalizing surrounding areas around the state.
Our 2020 GBA Brownfield Seminar line-up was presented via Zoom on October 6-7, 2020.
- Keynote Speakers: Jennifer Zeller, Strategic Solutions Manager and Ricardo Palacios, Engineering Manager; Georgia Power Community & Economic Development
- Creating Value from Surplus Properties through Brownfields Redevelopment- Steven Aufdenkampe, Norfolk Southern and Rebecca Bolden, Mohawk Industries
- Collaboration Across Georgia’s Hazardous Waste Programs – Adam Hanley of EPD’s Brownfield Unit and Mike Smilley of EPD’s VRP Unit
- Community Involvement and Environmental Health: Soil Heavy Metal Contamination in West Atlanta – Dr. Eri Saikawa
- EPA Updates
- Incentives for Brownfields Redevelopment: A Success Story with the Florida Brownfields Program – David Latham, Geosyntec and Joe Ullo, Stearns Weaver Miller
- Lessons Learned in Brownfield Redevelopment – Jim Irwin, New City Properties and John Spinrad, Arnall Golden Gregory
- Addressing the Challenges of Ongoing Owner Obligations for Type 5 Remediation – Anthony Nievera, Peachtree Environmental and Shannon Ridley, EPD Brownfields Coordinator
- PFAS Issues Related to Brownfields Redevelopment – Renea Hall, EPA Region 4 Staff Lead for PFAS Emerging Contaminants and Alabama Drinking Water Program Liaison with John Hollar, Geosyntec and Charlie Denton, Barnes & Thornburg
- EPD Updates – Sarah Visser, Assistant Branch Chief of EPD’s Land Protection Branch with Jason Metzger, Director of EPD’s Response and Remediation Program, and Shannon Ridley, EPD Brownfields Coordinator
- Status and Effective Use of GaEPD’s New Guidance Documents – Steve Ellingson, Vatten Associates
- Leveraging Georgia’s Regional Commissions for Brownfield Assessment: A Case-study of a Multi-party Brownfield Assessment Coalition Project – Nick DiLuzio, Newfields with Jim Livingston and Laura Schneider, River Valley Regional Commission
Thank You to our 2020 GBA Brownfield Seminar Sponsors
PREMIER SPONSORS
INVESTING SPONSORS
The 2019 Brownfield Seminar’s Keynote Speaker:
Chris Clark, President/CEO at Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Sessions:
Click the names below to view presentations.
PFAS Risk and Impact on Continuing Obligations: An informative discussion about how PFAS can impact Brownfield sites in various stages of development, from environmental site assessments to risk assessments to continuing obligations. II Kathi Wurzel, NewFields, LLC; Mark Benotti, NewFields, LLC; Shanna Alexander, EarthCon Consultants, Inc; Brian Smith, US EPA; Moderator: Charlie Denton, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Evolving Beyond a Traditional Remediation Approach: A conversation about approaches for reducing inherent risk associated with environmental, zoning, timing, financial, and repositioning uncertainties. Several case studies will be discussed, including a remediation project in Buckhead, GA that allowed for redevelopment into the Top Golf recreational facility. II Colleen Kokas, Environmental Liability Transfer; Moderator: Rich Glaze, Balch & Bingham LLP
Mayors Panel: Mayors from Columbus, Hapeville, and Doraville, GA will discuss their views and experiences with brownfield redevelopment in their local communities. II Mayor B. H. “Skip” Henderson III, City of Columbus, GA; Mayor Alan Hallman, City of Hapeville, GA; Luke Howe, City of Doraville, GA (representing Mayor Donna Pittman); Moderator: Amanda Herrit, Terracon
Regulatory Approaches: A panel discussion about benefits to brownfield sites offered by state and federal regulatory programs, as well as benefits that can be realized under the recently adopted risk assessment framework by the GA EPD. Speakers will also share information about the 2017 Federal Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act provisions, practical implications, and potential incentives. II Charlie Denton, Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Shanna Alexander, EarthCon Consultants, Inc; Jessica Lavandier, City of Atlanta; Jessica Turner, EarthCon Consultants, Inc.; Moderator: Camilla Warren, US EPA
EPA Brownfields Program: A panel discussion about benefits to brownfield sites offered by state and federal regulatory programs, as well as benefits that can be realized under the recently adopted risk assessment framework by the GA EPD. Speakers will also share information about the 2017 Federal Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act provisions, practical implications, and potential incentives. II Carol Monell, US EPA; Moderator: Shanna Thompson, Geosyntec
Community Engagement and Environmental Justice – A Focus on Savannah: A case study from Savannah, GA that shows how brownfield redevelopment provides an important framework to revitalize overburdened and underserved communities – transforming contaminated properties into end uses that promote environmental, economic, and health vitality. II Eric Chin, City of Savannah; Suzi Ruhl, US EPA; Mildred McClain, Harambee House; Moderator: Keith Ziobron, Cardno
EPD Regulatory Update: Regulatory, policy, and legislative updates from EPA and EPD on the Georgia environmental programs that affect redevelopment. II Shannon Ridley, Georgia EPD; Jason Mezger, Georgia EPD; Moderator: Shanna Thompson, Geosyntec
Brownfield Remediation and Risk Considerations: Case studies that illustrate approaches to Brownfield site remediation, and a discussion about identifying and managing risk at remediation sites associated with climate change. II Venkat Kolluru, ERM; Wanda Farmer, SCS Engineers; Moderator: Bill Butler, ERM
Leveraged Funding Yield Arts, Industry, and Jobs: A discussion about EPA’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA) program and how it is implemented to support land redevelopment. An in-depth case study will highlight how this funding can provide the assessment needed to spark property transfer and ultimately lead to brownfield redevelopment and job creation. II Everett Chinn, City of Greenville; Sandra Harrigan, Tetratech; Satara Thomas, Tetratech; Rob Rosen, US EPA; Moderator: Keith Ziobron, Cardno
2018 Brownfield Seminar
Thanks to all who attended the fourth-annual Brownfield Seminar, which has sold out all four years. Click below to view the agenda and speaker presentations.
Click here to download the agenda.
7:00-8:00
Registration
8:00-8:10
Georgia Brownfield Association Opening: Adam Hayes, Wenck
8:15-8:20
Welcome to Georgia Power: Brett Mitchell, Georgia Power
8:25-9:10
EPA’s Superfund Program and Brownfields Program: An update on both programs and a discussion about how each is putting sites back into productive use in Georgia, the Southeast, and across the nation. I Bill Denman, US EPA Southeast Region; Dustin Heizer, Wood PLC; Scott Miller, US EPA Southeast Region
9:15-9:40
Reshaping Perspectives – Assessment, Remediation & Community Mitigation Project: A discussion of various legal, real estate, and regulatory perspectives covering available funding, permitting, potential legal liabilities and consensus building. I Albert Edwards, CERM
9:40-10:00
Phytoremediation Feasibility for Brownfield Sites: A discussion about why is phytoremediation, and why use phytoremediation – and how they apply to brownfield sites I Shanna Thompson, Geosyntec.
10:00-10:25
Break
10:25-11:25
Vapor Intrusion: Possible Reopening Risks and Sampling Methods Update: An examination – using hypothetical remediation site case studies – of how potential risks can be proactively managed and a review of Federal and State Guidelines. I Jim Fineis, Atlas Geo-Sampling; Justin Knight, Geosyntec; Katherine Wurzel, NewFields; Lindsay Wallace, NewFields
11:25-11:45
Rails-to-Trails Conversions for Beneficial Reuse of Underutilized Properties: Studies of abandoned rail lines being given a new purpose will demonstrate beneficial reuse. I Tom Wurzinger, Geosyntec
11:45-12:30
Lunch/Break
12:30-1:15
Keynote Presentation: An update about EPD’s recent accomplishments, current issues, and future challenges. I Director Dunn, Ga. EPD
1:20-1:50
GBA Updates: Information about GBA’s impact on the industry and information about new initiatives. I John Spinrad, Arnall Golden Gregory
1:50-2:35
Lurking Pitfalls for “Innocent Purchasers”: A conversation about the legal, environmental, and real estate development obligations – from a pre-closing environmental diligence and a post-closing management plan – to avoid or minimize risks. I Charlie Denton, Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Shannon Ridley, Ga. EPD; Katie Ross, Wenck; Scott Samples, Terra Group
2:35-3:00
Break
3:00-3:45
Broader Community Concerns and Environmental Justice Considerations: A discussion of environmental justice considerations for brownfield redevelopment from varying perspectives, addressing funding availability, local government, potential legal liabilities, private developers’ incentives, and more. I Charlie Denton, Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Patrick McShane, City of Atlanta; Deborah Ortiz, US EPA Southeast Region; Camilla Warren, US EPA Southeast Region
3:50-4:45
Pullman Yard Redevelopment – Linking the Past to the Future of Georgia: A discussion of Atomic Entertainment’s vision for a Work, Live, Play development to accommodate a growing film industry, and how the former Pullman Yard facility and property is becoming the fruition of this vision. I Len Diprima, United Consulting; Maureen Meulen, Atomic Entertainment Development; Andrea Rimer, Troutman Sanders; Adam Rosenfelt, Atomic Entertainment Development
4:45-5
Event closing: Adam Hayes, Wenck; Darlene Hawksley, Hawksley Consulting
5:15-7:30
Reception: All attendees are invited to attend.
2017 Brownfield Seminar
At the Georgia Brownfield’s third annual day-long seminar, a sold-out crowd benefitted from a range of technical presentations – and heard from Georgia economic development and environmental protection leaders.
Attending last year’s conference made Georgia Power’s Mark Berry appreciate the importance of the Georgia Brownfield Association, he said. The company’s vice president of environmental affairs welcomed the brownfield professionals gathered at the company’s headquarters, saying: “You are transforming places to productive use for our communities.”
Georgia Power’s Manager of Research and Engineering Research, Jennifer Zeller, highlighting the sites across Georgia that are attracting new and expanding businesses, cited transportation infrastructure and talent as the magnets for investment. She shared with the audience that 2016 was the strongest year on record for economic development in Georgia – and 2017 is so far outpacing 2016. Her team presented Georgia Power’s development of a GIS-based tool to identify, analyze and rank developable sites in Georgia communities.
“What you do is priceless,” Georgia Power’s Ricardo Placios told the gathered brownfield professionals, “You make sites viable, which important because we are running out of sites. Brownfield sites have invaluable infrastructure assets in place.”
And in updates from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and from the state legislators who chair the natural resources committees in the house and senate, Georgia Brownfield Seminar attendees heard:
- 2017 will be characterized as risk assessment year – reviewing how the agency can address disparity in risk assessment across all remediation programs;
- the flow of brownfield site remediation applications remains strong, which is a potential challenge in the face of proposed federal budget cuts; and
- there will be increased scrutiny of brownfield cost certifications.
Georgia EPD Director Rick Dunn, declaring “I am a big supporter of our brownfield program,” observed that this is a particularly good time to be focused on brownfield redevelopment. He described an opportune intersection of a national focus on investment and a market demand for walkable urban sites. What makes more sense, Director Dunn asked, than reusing existing infrastructure? And the demand is strong for investment in areas in which brownfields typically are found.
Director Dunn, observing that much of the low-hanging fruit has been picked with sites in desirable locations with relatively low contamination, challenged the gathering of brownfield professionals to work with EPD to determine how redevelopment of “browner” brownfields might be redeveloped. He asked them to consider what incentives and tools might be required. And Director Dunn similarly challenged the group to consider how to push redevelopment out to smaller towns and cities where the effect of disinvestment has been great, including putting pressure on agricultural and forest land.
PRESENTATIONS
Economic Development: An update about investment and relocation trends, as well as the current state of the market. Jennifer Zeller, Georgia Power; Jeff DeWitt, Georgia Power; and Ricardo Palacios, Georgia Power Click here and here for the presentations.
Regulatory Update: A regulatory, policy, and legislative update on the Georgia environmental programs that affect redevelopment. Beth Blalock, Ga. EPD; Jeff Cown, Ga. EPD; and Shannon Ridley, Ga. EPD Click here for the presentation.
State of GA legislative update: Senator Frank Ginn and Representative Lynn Smith
Building Demolition on Brownfield Sites: Environmental Risks: A focus on the environmental risks – as well as the sustainability aspects – of decommissioning and demolition. Robert Rivera, ERM Click here for the presentation.
Brownfields to Green: A Proposal for Redevelopment of Brownfields Property for Natural Resource Value: A discussion about how mitigation banking and solar fields could provide not only additional environmental benefits, but also an alternative profitable use for remediated sites, which could potentially bring a new type of developer to the brownfield program. Tara Disy Allden, Kimley-Horn; David Goldman, Kimley-Horn; Bill Spinner, Kimley-Horn; and Anthony Coker, Hannah Solar LLC Click here and here for the presentations.
Keynote presentation: GA EPD Director Rick Dunn
Using VRP Risk-based Features at Qualified Brownfield Sites: A discussion of the draft whitepaper that GBA submitted to GA EPD in 2016 regarding how the interpretation of the Georgia Brownfield Program (GBP) and the Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) laws could encourage even more redevelopment of brownfield properties across Georgia. Dan Grogan, Amec Foster Wheeler
Spotlight on Georgia’s Coast: An update on redevelopment along Georgia’s coast, as well as highlight a few current projects that are cleaning up contaminated properties and spurring additional economic development. Stewart Dixon, Terracon Click here for the presentation.
The East Bank of the Flats: A lesson in vapor intrusion mitigation for large-scale buildings: A case study of The East Flats, a $750 million project along the shores of the Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, showcasing how to approach a large-scale vapor intrusion mitigation project. Tony McDonald, A-Z Solutions Click here for the presentation.
Brownfields Breaking Boundaries: Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Program Expands: A discussion of the process to qualify for GRAD Shovel-Ready status including due diligence standards, third-party review, and steering committee approval and an update on the certification of Georgia’s first GRAD-certified Brownfield. Presented by: Jason Dunn, Fitzgerald and Ben Hill Co. Development Authority; Scott McMurray, Georgia Department of Economic Development; and Keith Ziobron, Resolute Environmental & Water Resources Consulting Click here for the presentation.
Sandy Spring Government Complex Case Study: Brownfield coordination for a local government public private development site: A panel discussion about controlling what can become a complicated process when state regulators, city officials, environmental consultants, and contractors together navigate through the Brownfield process. Bryant Poole, City of Sandy Springs and Russell Griebel, United Consulting Click here for the presentation.
2016 Brownfield Seminar
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Below is a recap of the 2016 Brownfield Seminar sessions, as well as links to session PPT presentations.
Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Variables, Best Practices, and Innovative Technologies: A conversation about the influence of building footprint on soil gas sub-slab vapor migration, best practices for the design and operation of effective and sustainable soil depressurization systems, and mitigation via aerated floors.
Georgia Brownfield Association’s 2015 Brownfield Seminar
Thanks to all who attended GBA’s inaugural Brownfield Seminar! It was a huge success. Click here for more information about speakers and to view their presentations.
Below are photos from the 2015 Brownfield Seminar. Click here to view speaker presentations.
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