Service: Brownfields/Redevelopment

Brownfields are defined as real properties whose reuse or redevelopment may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these Brownfields takes development pressures off of undeveloped land, and both improves and protects the environment. Currently many Brownfield projects are considered 'in-fill' development opportunities in urban areas.

Since 1989 The Reynolds Group (TRG) has been helping Brownfield stakeholders, including property owners, their advisors, attorneys, and community redevelopment agencies bring Brownfields back to productive use.

Beginning with the Due Diligence process, TRG is expert at identifying potential environmental liabilities and assets that impact property redevelopment. Because of its extensive experience with thousands of properties, TRG can advise clients on the economic costs, schedules, regulations, and potential funding sources for environmentally impaired real estate. Working hand-in-hand with legal counsel as appropriate, TRG can advance projects independently or in conjunction with the formal regulatory process. TRG's background and knowledge in the areas of development and business principles allow it to craft solutions that create win-win situations for buyers, sellers, financiers and developers.

TRG is respected by the regulator community and the person assigned to your project will be someone who knows how the regulators work. This knowledge is vital when assessing options for development of properties.

Human Health Risk Assessment (6425XIII)

Client:	SILVERCREEK PROPERTIES
Proj Mgr:	Dwayne Ziegler	Completed:	08/01/2005
Industry:	Real Estate Developers	Service:	Health Risk Assessments Brownfields/redevelopment Soil Remediation Regulatory Response & Negotiation
TRGs involvement in a major shopping center development saved the owner of the project potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars. Two environmental issues arose during the development of an orange orchard into a large retail shopping center in Corona. One was associated with the past use of the land as an orchard and the other was associated with electric transformers formerly located on the property. During grading activities, soil heavily stained by oil was encountered. TRG tested the soil and confirmed the substance was smudge pot oil based on the chemical make-up and the former land use. The burning of oil in smudge pots helped prevent frost from forming on the fruit in the orchard. There had been extensive remediation of smudge pot oil at the site prior to the recent purchase of the property. However, the newly discovered stained soil was outside of the boundaries of the area cleaned up in the past. The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB) was the lead regulatory agency on the past and current smudge pot issues. While TRG was assessing the smudge pot oil, the construction activities at the site caught the attention of representatives of the County of Riverside, who later contacted the owner and informed him of a former electrical substation that used to be on the site. The substation transformers had exploded and the potential of PCB contamination was never properly investigated to the Countys satisfaction. TRG engaged the County and the SARWQCB on the substation issue as well. The SARWQCB conceded oversight of both issues to the County. TRG performed a Health Risk Analysis for both issues and was able to show that leaving the contamination in place would not pose an elevated health risk to the future occupants of the site. By using this approach, TRG obtained closure for the site and saved the project $100,000 of unforeseen costs.

USEPA Funded Remediation for Non-Profit (6737.III)

Client:	LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE
Proj Mgr:	Daniel Nunez	Completed:	In Progress
Industry:	Real Estate Developers City, County, State And Federal Agencies Non-profit Organizations	Service:	Brownfields/redevelopment Soil Remediation Regulatory Response & Negotiation Soil Vapor Extraction
The property, acquired by a non-profit dance studio in South Central Los Angeles, was found to be impacted by gasoline from former Underground Storage Tanks (USTs). Concerns about property value and health risks lead the property owner to obtain a Brownfield Grant. TRG was selected to advance remediation work under the oversight of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA), and the City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). After successful cleanup activities and health risk assessments, case closure is being negotiated for the property.

100 ACRE OIL FIELD REDEVELOPMENT (5616.III)

Client:	ESTATE WITH LARGE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS
Proj Mgr:	Ed Reynolds Jr.	Completed:	08/13/2008
Industry:	Real Estate Developers	Service:	Brownfields/redevelopment Soil Remediation Health Risk Assessments
TRG performed excavation and bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-impacted soils, asbestos abatement, and disposal of mercury-containing soils. During this work, TRG responded to many unexpected issues such as the assessment and removal of radioactive piping. Soil vapor surveys were used to assess potential health exposure risks. All of this work was performed at the same time as the decommissioning of the active oil field which required intense schedule coordination. The work of TRG staff resulted in 75 acres being developed for residential use. The remaining acreage was developed for commercial and industrial use.

Brownfield Spill Response & Closure (7063.XIV)

Client:	7TH STREET DEVELOPMENT
Proj Mgr:	Dwayne Ziegler	Completed:	01/11/2007
Industry:	Real Estate Managers/owners	Service:	Regulatory Response & Negotiation Brownfields/redevelopment
Following the release of a significant quantity of PCB containing oils from a former electrical switching building, TRG assisted the Brownfield property owner with spill cleanup, documentation and closure activities. TRG followed protocols specified in TSCA and 40 CFR 761 to decontaminate and wipe test the building from which the PCBs were released. In addition, TRG oversaw the excavation and disposal of PCB impacted soils and solid wastes. Timing was critical at this Brownfield site because the release occurred at an abandoned building slated for immediate demolition. Without an agency release from spill response obligations, the grading and building at the site would have stopped, causing costly delays in the redevelopment. To expedite cleanup and closure, TRG informed the oversight agency (Los Angeles County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Division) of the on-going cleanup progress and confirmation testing results. Once it was decontaminated to strict regulatory standards, TRG negotiated with the LACFD to obtain an expeditious release of the building, so that it could be demolished. Closure was granted within a week of TRGs report submittal.

Remove UST's and Phase II (6961.V)

Client:	CITY OF COACHELLA
Proj Mgr:	Daniel Nunez	Completed:	In Progress
Industry:	Redevelopment Agencies City, County, State And Federal Agencies	Service:	Brownfields/redevelopment Underground Storage Tank Removals
TRG was chosen by the City of Coachella to assess and remediate groundwater contamination of an abandoned brownfield site. The funding for the assessment and cleanup activities is provided through the California Orphane Site Cleanup Fund Account. TRG has been coordinating efforts between, the City, the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board and the OSCF Account to continually advance the case toward closure. This coordination is crucial in changing this blighted property to a beneficial community asset. To date, TRG has fully assess the contaminant plumes on and off-site, cleaned up the source on-site and is coordinating with adjacent property owners to cleanup the off-site remnants of the contaminant plume.

SB989 Bona Fide Ground Tenant (7564.1)

Client:	ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY
Proj Mgr:	Daniel Nunez	Completed:	09/30/2011
Industry:	Attorneys	Service:	Brownfields/redevelopment
One attorney The Reynolds Group has worked with was instrumental in creating SB989, The Bona Fide Ground Tenant concept. SB989 allows real estate transactions under a lease to own concept to test the property and remediate the contamination. An interested buyer can enter into a lease to develop a contaminated property with an option to buy. The development can be advanced, the property can be developed, and the resulting cash flow can be used to pay for remediation. This law indemnifies the developer from the sellers contamination. The Reynolds Group teamed with this environmental attorney to evaluate SB989 for a project in the Old Town Tustin redevelopment area and facilitated the real estate transaction for a retired couple who needed the property sold for retirement liquidity. In addition, The Reynolds Group has partnered to sponsor a White Paper for a joint DTSC/EPA Region 9 Solar Energy on Landfills and Contaminated Sites Initiative. The Reynolds Group remains close to the cutting edge of legislative activity in the Brownfield area that can match financing, credits or favorable Brownfield laws towards completing assessment and remediation.

Brownfield Development (6805.III)

Client:	PRIMESTOR DEVELOPMENT
Proj Mgr:	Ed Reynolds Jr.	Completed:	01/23/2009
Industry:	Real Estate Developers Metal Finishers	Service:	Soil Remediation Site Assessment Brownfields/redevelopment
In a unique government-private partnership, TRGs client developed a major regional retail center on a brownfield property in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, CA, that contained a former glass manufacturing facility and other former industrial uses. TRG provided forensic services during demolition of the property to identify environmental concerns associated with historic uses and to locate specific areas requiring assessment. During the course of work, TRG encountered and remediated arsenic and chromium-impacted kiln brick, volatile organic compounds, numerous underground storage tanks and clarifiers, pesticides, and PCBs. TRG conducted assessment and cleanup activities as the site was being developed. By coordinating assessment and cleanup work with the general contractor, TRG had minimal impact on the scheduling and timing of the project. TRG provided further value to the project by negotiating cleanup levels based upon potential health risk in future occupied areas with lesser standards applied to parking areas.

Environmental Consulting & Environmental Contracting