City to unveil Brownfields Assessment Program

The City of Biloxi will hold an information meeting on Tuesday to unveil a new program to help assess any properties that may affected by hazardous substances with a goal of seeing the properties become suitable for re-development or re-use.

The project is being funded by a $400,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields program. A brownfield is a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination. The city’s grant includes $200,000 to assess petroleum-related sites and $200,000 for other sites. 

Interested property owners are encouraged to attend the meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Development Department, at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

“This is an important program that is designed to help identify any environmental issues that may exist, determine the steps to clean them up,” said Biloxi Chief Administrative Officer David Nichols, who has worked on similar programs. “This is also about economic development. Our overall goal is to turn any problem properties into usable land.”

The program on Tuesday will provide an overview of the EPA Brownfields program, and property owners will have a chance to provide feedback on site determination, community concerns, and partnership support.

Representatives from Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the city, and Covington Civil and Environmental will be available to explain the program and answer questions.
Find out more about the city’s Brownfields Assessment Program
See a flyer about the meeting on Tuesday

 

News and notes

Twelfth Night photos:  A crowd of about 200 turned out Monday night to usher in the Carnival season as part of the city’s Twelfth Night celebration. To see dozens of photos from the event, courtesy of the city’s Facebook page, click here.

Council photos: The Biloxi City Council conducted its first meeting of the New Year Tuesday evening. To see photos from the event, courtesy of the city’s Facebook page, click here.

How tweet it is: City of Biloxi news and information is also passed along on the city’s Twitter platform. Follow the city at @cityofbiloxi.