Port Projects

Whitman County Site Reuse & Revitalization Program

The Port of Whitman County is proud to announce the receipt of a $500,000 grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lead a community-wide brownfields assessment through September 2027. With community input, this grant aims to assess potential site inventories, conduct environmental site assessments, and plan for the improvement and reuse of potential brownfield sites across Whitman County.

Upcoming Meetings

Economic Development Informational Meeting, September 25, 2024: This meeting will include a brief update to local economic development stakeholders and the public about this grant.
Community Workshop, Fall 2024 (Date to be determined): This meeting will include a presentation to the public summarizing the Port’s goals and general timeline. This will also provide a chance for community input and participation.

Nominate a Brownfield Site

Do you know a property in Whitman County that might be a brownfield? The success of our brownfields assessment project depends on community participation and input. By nominating a site, you can help identify areas that need attention and contribute to the revitalization of our community.

To nominate a site, submit a Site Nomination Form to kara@portwhitman.com. Nominated sites will be reviewed by Port staff and a Brownfields Advisory Committee. Selected sites will undergo further assessment to determine eligibility and necessary steps for cleanup and redevelopment.

Brownfields and environmental site assessments

Underused or abandoned land can scar neighborhoods and restrict economic opportunity. Examples of a brownfield site can include former industrial sites, gas stations and auto shops, dry cleaners, and agricultural sites. By redeveloping these sites, we reduce health and environmental hazards, enhance the tax base, and create new amenities for neighborhoods and new sites for job creation and investment.

An environmental site assessment is a first step toward redevelopment. There are multiple phases to the assessment. In Phase I, historical research identifies past uses of a property and the potential contamination it may have caused. Phase II involves sampling and testing to determine whether contaminants are present, which contaminants are present, and where they are located on the site.

Project Timeline

The project will be implemented through September 2027, with key milestones including:

Establishing the Brownfields Advisory Committee, initiating public outreach, and selecting priority sites.
Conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments and continuing community engagement.
Developing cleanup plans and beginning reuse planning.
Completing cleanup and reuse plans and commencing the transformation of selected sites.

Successful Brownfields Redevelopments in Whitman County

Several communities in Whitman County are already home to successful brownfield redevelopments, which were supported by state and federal brownfields grants.

Two communities in Whitman County communities were recipients of EPA's Phoenix Award, a highly competitive national award given every two years in recognition of brownfields redevelopment success. For a rural county to receive one of these awards is a significant achievement. To have received two awards sets Whitman County apart on the national stage.

The Rosalia Visitor Resource and Interpretive Center is located in downtown Rosalia on the site of a former Texaco gas station.

Built in 1923 by Charles Hall on the site of his previous blacksmith shop, the gas station operated until 1980. In 2000, the Hall family donated the land and building to the Rosalia Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber conducted environmental site assessments, cleaned up, and redeveloped the site for $133,500. Funding came from federal, state, and county grants, with the town of Rosalia donating labor and materials.

Today, the site serves as a stopping point for tourists and communicating local history.

EPA awarded the project a 2005 Phoenix Award in the special category of Community Impact Underground Storage Tanks.

Palouse Brewing Company and TLC Animal Care are located on a former fuel depot in downtown Palouse.

Originally a blacksmith and livery stable, the site became a gas station in 1955, and served as a Palouse Producers agricultural fuel depot from 1977 to 1985.

The City of Palouse acquired the property for $1 and used multiple state and federal grants to clean it up for roughly $1.46 million.

In 2019, the City sold the property to local development team to transform the property into the place it is today.

The EPA honored Palouse with a Phoenix Award in 2023, one of only 12 awarded nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a brownfield?

A brownfield is a property where the presence, or potential presence, of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants can complicate its expansion, redevelopment, or reuse. These sites can range from former industrial properties to abandoned buildings, and even vacant lots that may be contaminated.

Common types of brownfields include former:

Factories
Mills
Refineries
Warehouses
Dry Cleaners
Gas stations

Why is it important to address brownfields?

Revitalizing brownfields is crucial for several reasons:

Cleaning up brownfields reduces pollution and safeguards local water sources.
Remediation eliminates hazards that could pose risks to human health.
Restored brownfields can boost local economies by increasing property values and expanding the tax base.
Reuse of brownfields can provide new spaces for housing, recreation, and business, enhancing community amenities and quality of life.

What will the grants fund do?

The grant funds a program to address brownfields in Whitman County. Program components include:

Engaging with stakeholders such as local residents, businesses, community and civic organizations and property owners to gather input and keep the community informed about the project’s progress.
Developing a Brownfields Advisory Committee to guide the project and ensure community voices are heard in decision-making processes.
Collaborating with property owners and the community to compile a comprehensive list of potential brownfield sites.
Conducting Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments on selected properties to determine the extent of contamination and necessary remediation efforts.
Developing detailed cleanup plans for selected properties based on the assessment results.
Creating reuse plans for key sites to support redevelopment into valuable community assets.

Get Involved

Your involvement is vital to the success of our brownfields program. There are many ways you can participate and make a difference:

Attend public meetings to learn about the program's progress, upcoming activities, and how you can contribute.
Participate in community open houses. In addition to environmental site assessments, this grant supports the Port’s effort for site-specific reuse planning. The reuse planning is supported by identifying community priorities, local infrastructure needs, market feasibility, and environmental conditions, which will help determine viable future uses for brownfields sites.
Provide feedback, ask questions, and share your ideas to help shape the program direction.
Submit a site nomination form. The Port is seeking nominations for potential eligible sites. Final site selections will be guided by public input and collaboration between property owners and the Port.
Check our Events Calendar for upcoming public meetings and community open houses.
Help us spread the word about the brownfields program and engage with your neighbors.
Follow us on social media and check this website for updates. This site will be updated periodically; last update was 09/06/2024.

Together, we can transform brownfields into usable spaces that benefit Whitman County. Your participation and support are essential to our success.