Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/09/2014

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For lands proposed to be acquired by a regional park implementing agency: A regional park implementing agency may request a Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund grant to partially finance soil contamination cleanup (remediation) or capping abandoned wells that have contaminated their ground water aquifer on land that is proposed for acquisition. See Park Acquisition Grant Fund rules in Chapter 5 for further information. System Protection - Strategy 4: Phase 1 Environment Site Assessments must be conducted for land that may be contaminated or that may have abandoned wells prior to seeking regional parks funding for acquisition. Regional park implementing agencies must conduct Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments on land that is suspected to be contaminated or land suspected to have abandoned wells as part its due diligence process for land acquisition. The Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment will determine the likelihood of soil contamination or abandoned wells, including the likelihood of contaminated groundwater aquifers. The findings of the site assessments should be included in the grant request submitted to the Council. The cost of the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment is eligible for reimbursement as an acquisition cost. Prior to the Council determining whether the contaminated land, including lands with abandoned wells, should be part of the regional park or trail corridor, the Council will make findings of fact regarding the following factors: • The likelihood and extent of the contamination • Whether the land is essential to make the regional park or trail function as intended according to a Council- approved master plan and the existence of a reasonable alternative to relocate the park or trail facilities elsewhere • Whether responsible parties have been identified who will remediate the site • Whether the estimated costs to clean up the contamination or cap the abandoned well(s) outweigh the need versus the recreational, economic and social benefits the regional park or trail would provide If the Council concludes that the land should be added to the Regional Parks System, this does not imply that the Council will use Regional Parks System funds to clean up the site or cap abandoned wells. Regional Parks System funds will only be used for contaminated soil cleanup or capping abandoned wells if the four preceding conditions have been met.