CHARLESTON, W.Va. — During the annual 2018 West Virginia Brownfields Conference in Charleston last week, the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle (BDC), and its partners, Hancock County Commission and city of Chester, were recognized with the Environmental Impact Award for the top brownfield redevelopment project in the state for the former TS&T Potter site, now the Rock Springs Business Park, in Chester.

The environmental impact award, presented by the West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center, recognizes a project, organization, or community that has made a significant impact on the cleanup of environmental hazards through a single or multiple projects.

“The award, and the efforts that made it possible, are significant on many levels,” said BDC Board Chair C. William D’Alesio. “There have been years of work, behind the scenes, with the Hancock County Commission, residents of Chester, USEPA, WVDEP, and WVEDA officials that have made it possible for the BDC to acquire, remediate, and develop this former factory site.”

“From a professional basis, this is what we do in the background to make these projects happen,” explained BDC Executive Director Patrick Ford. “Everyone focuses on the public side of things, the up-front things that you see. But when you develop a project on a brownfield, you work with funders, regulatory agencies, consultants, remediation specialists, and contractors to satisfy all the regulatory and construction issues necessary to redevelop the site.”

A brownfield is a 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 Taylor, Smith & Taylor Co. (TS&T) was in operation from 1900-81 in Chester. TS&T was purchased by Anchor Hocking in 1972, and continued to produce dinnerware until it closed in 1981. The site was used as a barge cleaning operation in the mid-80s and early-90s. With the closure of barge cleaning operation, the large abandoned structures on the 9-acre site fell into disrepair. The site quickly became an eyesore and redevelopment attempts were thwarted due to the underlying soil contamination, including lead from the deteriorated ceramic debris, asbestos issues and half demolished buildings.

“With strong encouragement of the Hancock County Commission, nearby residents, and the Brooke Hancock Regional Council, the BDC decided to acquire the site and tackle the challenge of repurposing the site,” said Patrick Kirby, executive director of the West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center. “The BDC’s investments over the past six years have included over $3.1 million dollars in assessments, cleanup, and new construction.”

Hancock County Commission President and BDC Board Member Jeff Davis, appearing at the award ceremony, said the cleanup of this waterfront site was 30 years in the making.

“It is the epitome of collaboration and persistence with positive environmental impacts directly impacting the quality of life for hundreds of residents and school children that live, work or play adjacent to the site,” he said.