Last year Ann Levine, then Brownfields Coordinator at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, was searching for ways to involve volunteers in brownfields activities that would also enhance the state's brownfields response program. However, most brownfields functions require a level of technical ability or training that prohibited the use of volunteers. Then she hit upon the idea of having volunteers assist in the building of a brownfields inventory. [Recall that the 2002 Brownfields Act provided money to the states to build their response programs and creating an inventory was one of the four activities suggested by the Act.] Ann felt the advantage of using volunteers was two-fold: it gave the local community an active role in their brownfields activities and preserved funds for other brownfields program uses.

Working with the group The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI) , the ODEQ began looking for a community in which to test Ann's idea. Situated on the Columbia River about 30 miles northwest of Portland , St. Helens Oregon was chosen for its size and its established network of community organizations.

EASI and the DEQ met with civic leaders, including the City of St. Helens and the Port of St. Helens, to gain their support for the project. EASI then approached Nancy Harwood at the St. Helens office of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program ( RSVP) who recruited 4 volunteers to be trained by EASI and DEQ for the inventory task.

The creosote site (Photo by Ken Corliss)

After completing the inventory of publicly owned brownfield sites in St. Helens, the RSVP group selected two sites owned by the Port of St. Helens for further promotion through the brownfields process. One of the sites is a manufacturing facility that the RSVP group feels is not being used to its full potential. That site has received a No Further Action letter from the DEQ. The other property is the site of a former creosote plant and is located on the banks of the Columbia River. That site is undergoing cleanup.

TAB got involved with the RSVP volunteers in the Fall of 2004. Ann asked TAB to facilitate a group discussion about the St. Helens group's efforts at the September 2004 Brownfields Networking Group meeting. The networking group is a gathering of brownfields professionals from the public and private sector that meets quarterly to discuss various aspects of brownfields development in Oregon . That brainstorming session led to recommendations for next steps that the St. Helens group could take in promoting the redevelopment of their two sites.

Starting in November of 2004, TAB started attending the weekly meetings of the RSVP group, offering them outreach assistance and support. Throughout the fall of 2004 TAB has attended the volunteers' presentations before civic groups such as the Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club and League of Women's voters, answering questions and offering technical support to the volunteer group. The presentations are designed to raise public awareness and support for the brownfields projects.

Nancy and three of the volunteers

The RSVP group's efforts took a major step forward in February when they made a presentation to the Port of St. Helens , owner of the two properties. Despite the Port's initial discussions with the Oregon DEQ, due to staff and commissioner turn-over the RSVP group had never received an endorsement of their efforts from the Port or informed the Port of the extent of their activities. The presentation sufficiently piqued the Port's interest resulting in the appointment of a Port liaison to the volunteer group. Looking forward, the RSVP group is hoping to hold two open houses this spring sponsored by the Oregon DEQ for commercial real estate professionals and developers to solicit their input and raise interest in developing the two properties. Getting the owner on-board was key in making the open houses possible. TAB anticipates playing a role in the planning and execution of the open houses.

The RSVP group is very enthusiastic about their work, lending credibility to Ann's belief that local volunteers would take an active and interested role in their own community's brownfields. The original intent was to have the volunteers produce an inventory but they decided to continue to be involved through other stages of the redevelopment process. Ann credits the volunteers and especially Nancy, director of the St. Helens RSVP, for the progress they've made and the continued interest they've shown in brownfields. The DEQ hopes to recreate this program throughout the state.

If you'd like to know more about what you've read, contact Jerry Orlando by email or at 541-737-5736.