DOVER – Governor Jack Markell and DNREC Secretary David Small were joined by DelDOT Deputy Secretary Nicole Majeski, EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Specialist Jake Schmierer, state legislators, business developers, environmental groups, and members of the community today to announce revitalization milestones at the former NVF manufacturing site in Yorklyn. The event highlighted site remediation – including toxics removal and flood mitigation – along with new public amenities and plans for continued redevelopment.

“Yorklyn’s revitalization is a shining example of how much we can accomplish when we roll up our sleeves, work across public agencies, and engage with non-profit and private sector partners,” said Governor Markell. “The result of this collaboration and shared investment is a mixed-use residential, commercial, and recreational neighborhood that will help drive economic growth and improve the quality of life in our state.”

The redevelopment of the site creates an innovative model whereby the state and private sector are co-developing under a single master plan, resulting in a residential and destination community where the state retains ownership of a portion of the site dedicated to recreational use.

“Yorklyn is being revitalized as a vibrant and scenic centerpiece while still retaining its mill town heritage,” said DNREC Secretary Small. “We have made major strides in transforming the area while removing nearly of century of contamination. We’ve also reduced flooding in the area while preserving and restoring historic features. The partnerships and business opportunities being forged are a testament to the tremendous support and commitment of everyone involved.”

The partnership includes private developers, neighboring organizations, and DNREC’s Divisions of Parks & Recreation, Waste & Hazardous Substances, Watershed Stewardship, and Water. Partners include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the EPA, local, state and federal legislators, business developers and strong support from neighboring property owners, as well as conservation and recreational organizations in the Yorklyn area. The collaboration is one of the most inventive undertaken in Delaware and can serve as a national model for other similar projects.

“Some people might think that Delaware is at a disadvantage because of our small size, but in fact that is what gives us a great advantage when it comes to getting things done,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “The coordinated effort to clean up and revitalize the NVF site in Yorklyn is a true example of what happens when the public and private sector come together for the good of the community.”

“This partnership between both public and private entities is outstanding evidence of what can be accomplished when they work together for the good of the public,” said Sen. Chris Coons. “The project also exemplifies our state’s commitment to our state’s greatest resources, nature.”

“Today’s event is about new opportunities in a changing economy,” said U.S. Rep. John Carney. “For more than a century, Delawareans came to work here every day making paper and specialty products for NVF. When the facility closed in 2009, NVF left a crumbling building and years of environmental damage. The amount of work that’s gone into cleaning this site up by federal, state, and private partners is remarkable. And we’re on the cusp of some very exciting housing and business development. I’m looking forward to seeing this as a clean, vibrant, and revitalized community once again.”

Environmental Clean-up, Reducing Flooding and Improving Water Quality
The site is undergoing an environmental cleanup of nearly a century of historic contamination, the creation of a series of wetland and flood mitigation sites, and a comprehensive stream restoration that will not only improve water quality and protect fish in the Red Clay Creek, but will also remove contaminant sources and reduce severe flooding that has resulted in significant economic impacts to Yorklyn.

DNREC’s Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances’ Site Investigation and Restoration Section is leading the remediation of the brownfield site, including building demolition, asbestos removal and cleaning up decades of zinc contamination in the soil and groundwater. More than 233 tons of contaminants have been removed from the property.

Flooding problems are being addressed by the Divisions of Parks & Recreation and Waste & Hazardous Substances through the creation of several wetlands this year and into 2017 that will filter contaminants and lessen the effects of flooding.

DNREC’s Divisions of Watershed Stewardship and Water are assisting in the efforts, working with FEMA, monitoring flood-reduction efforts and water quality of the Red Clay Creek.

“This project represents collaboration between federal, state and local partners to make a substantial impact in the state of Delaware,” said FEMA Region III Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “By working with our partners at DNREC, as well as the state of Delaware, the US Environmental Protection Agency and others, we were able to mitigate the flood risk to this property, acquire and demolish an office building in the flood plain, and assist with site restoration to help transform the NVF site into a beautiful public space.”

To date, more than $7 million has been spent to remediate the site, including almost $5 million in state funding, about $1.6 million from FEMA for property acquisition, building demolition and site restoration of an office building, and $426,000 from EPA for asbestos removal.

“EPA is pleased that our Brownfields grant to DNREC facilitated the cleanup of part of this site,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “Through true collaboration, this site will become a brownfields success model that stimulates the local economy and creates jobs while improving the quality of life for the local community.”

New Projects and Amenities
With the protection of 119 acres of the former NVF property, major steps have been taken toward transforming the area into a residential, commercial, conservation and recreation area.

NVF lands have been combined with adjacent state park preserve lands encompassing more than 400 acres. Approximately 90 percent of the land will be open space with a roughly six-mile country-road style trail that will be used for walking, biking, jogging and horseback riding. A new access road into the site has been completed.

Already, 1.5 miles of trails have been constructed for use by hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and vintage car enthusiasts. DNREC and DelDOT are updating plans to add new trails to the site, which will connect to nearby communities, under Gov. Markell’s Statewide Trails Initiative – the goal of which is to connect communities, reduce emissions and increase healthy lifestyles. A new trail will also be built connecting NVF with the Center for Creative Arts.

“The specific contribution DelDOT is making to the NVF partnership today is presenting a concept plan for the construction of a multiuse path along Yorklyn Road that will connect the NVF site to the intersection with Yorkridge Trail and Spring House Lane,” said DelDOT Deputy Secretary Nicole Majeski. “When complete, it will connect the NVF site to the Red Clay Creek Valley Byway with its recreational and natural assets.”

The town center will remain intact as many of the existing historic buildings are being renovated. The design and redevelopment of new buildings includes the reuse of wood, stone and other existing materials that will blend with the 1920s architectural style of the area – complementing the existing Marshall Steam Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of steam-powered cars in the country, and other landmarks. In addition, arrangements have been finalized for relocating three repurposed historic bridges from sites around the country for use on the property.

Soon to come:

• Railbikes – a recreational offering from the Rail Explorers company – will be available to the public beginning April 21. The pedal-powered bikes offer a unique and healthy experience found nowhere else in the state.
• A core residential area offering townhouses compatible with the site and the surrounding area is under contract to be constructed by DC Squared, a company owned by Drake Cattermole, Partner, Tresid Group, LLC. “Converting a contaminated and visually unpleasant factory into this wonderful concept would never occur without the forward-thinking, logical vision and private/public cooperation of Governor Markell and DNREC,” said Cattermole. “I am proud to contribute to Yorklyn Village.”
• Deteriorating buildings have been removed as part of the commercial development of the plan. Other businesses that will serve new residents, attract visitors to the area and create local jobs are in the planning stages.
• The new Dew Point Brewery Company, a micro-brewery, is already on-site, soon to be open to the public.
• Restauranteur Dan Butler, owner of the well-known restaurants Toscana, Tonic and Brandywine Prime, is developing a concept for a destination restaurant.
• The Delaware Symphony Orchestra and DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation are collaborating on plans for an amphitheater that will serve as the Symphony’s home base for summer outdoor concerts. DSO will manage the scheduling and production of presentations, including bringing other local, regional and national acts, and other artistic activities to the site. “We are excited about this partnership between the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and the Division of Parks and Recreation,” said DSO Executive Director Alan Jordan. “The project conjures images of Ravinia (summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936), where patrons can hop on a train to escape daily trials and land in an environment of fine dining, recreation, and great culture.” DSO Music Director David Amado added, “Beautiful New Castle County will have a place where people can gather under the stars listening to the wonderful Delaware Symphony play great music. How wonderful it is to know that the state and our Governor recognize the importance of the arts and culture in making our communities vital.”
• A public equestrian center adjacent to the NVF site is being planned, as the result of a10-acre land donation by local residents.
• Renovations of a new Delaware State Parks office will be complete in August.

Other new amenities will be announced as they become finalized.

An updated version of the Auburn Valley Master Plan for recreation, conservation and redevelopment, along with DelDOT’s proposed trail linking NVF to Hockessin is under consideration, and the first round of the public’s input will be gathered later today at an Open House hosted by DNREC and DelDOT.

Media Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No.133

DOVER – The Recycling Public Advisory Council (RPAC) will meet from 1:30 – 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at Grotto Pizza’s Dover location, 1159 N. Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901.

Topics on the agenda include:

• Call to order, introductions
• Public comments (20-minute cap, priority given to written comments)
• Approval of minutes from Dec. 9, 2015 and Feb. 17 meetings
• Organics Task Force update
• Council by-laws (attendance, etc.)
• Universal Recycling regulations
• Grants and Loan Program announcement
• Recycling market update
• Old/new business
• Additional public comments
• Scheduling meetings May – September

The Recycling Public Advisory Council was enacted into law by Senate Bill 234 in May, 2010, and charged with advising the Governor’s Office, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority on all aspects of recycling, including: development of grant criteria and selection of applications; a methodology for measuring recycling rates; and possible outreach activities designed to achieve higher recycling rates.

For more information on the Recycling Public Advisory Council, please visit dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Info/Pages/RPAC.aspx or contact Bill Miller, DNREC Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section, at 302-739-9403.

Public Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 108

DOVER – DNREC Secretary David S. Small has issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Secretary’s Order to Sal Dellomo and Hylton’s Market, Inc., for violations of Delaware’s underground storage tank rules and regulations. The Order includes a cash penalty of $85,000 and an additional $3,489 as cost recovery reimbursement for the Department’s Tank Management Section’s expenses associated with its investigation.

Mr. Dellomo and Hylton’s Market, Inc., are owners of the owners of Hylton’s Market in Camden-Wyoming, Del., where the violations occurred.

DNREC’s Tank Management Section conducted a compliance inspection of the underground storage tank (UST) systems at the facility on June 4, 2014. During the inspection the Tank Management Section recorded 17 violations and noted that Sal Dellomo/Hylton’s Market Inc. was not maintaining the facility’s UST system.

Following inspection, DNREC provided the owners several opportunities to correct the violations and prohibited deliveries of petroleum to the facility. On March 26, 2015, the Department issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) letter to Mr. Dellomo/Hylton’s Market Inc. for the seven violations that remained.

Since that time, three of the seven violations have been corrected. The penalty addresses the remaining four violations including Sal Dellomo and Hylton’s Market, Inc.’s failure to produce tank release detection records; failure to produce monthly reconciled inventory records; failure to provide monthly routine inspection records; and failure to provide daily vapor recovery inspection and maintenance records.

The Secretary’s Order can be found on the DNREC website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders_Enforcement.aspx.

Mr. Dellomo and Hylton’s Market, Inc. have 30 days to request a public hearing regarding these matters.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 107

Site reopens Saturday, April 2 with limited operation, weekend hours only

DOVER – DNREC’s Polly Drummond Hill Road Yard Waste Demonstration Site in northern New Castle County, closed since January, will reopen Saturday, April 2 with limited operation at least through June in partnership with the Delaware General Assembly, DNREC’s Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section announced today.

The site will be open Saturdays and Sundays only, with Delaware residents able to bring yard waste from their own property in non-commercial vehicles to the site from 8 a.m. to until sunset. Again, DNREC operation of the Polly Drummond Hill Road site is Saturday-Sunday only – with the site closed Monday through Friday. In reopening it, DNREC also reminds the public that dumping of yard waste at the gate, along roadways, or other property is illegal, and is subject to fines or imprisonment. (To report violators, call the DNREC 24-hour environmental hotline: 1-800-662-8802.)

DNREC also notes that, in addition to the limited yard-waste drop-off operation at Polly Drummond Hill Road, there is in proximity a free alternative for Delaware residents dropping off their own yard waste: Holland Mulch, 1034 S. Chapel Street (Rt. 72), Newark, DE 19702. This privately-operated site – about five miles from the Polly Drummond Hill Road site – is open from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. – noon on Saturdays. For more information about Holland Mulch’s South Chapel Street site, please call 302-737-1000.

DNREC advises that while Holland Mulch also accepts commercial businesses, such as landscaping and lawn care companies, as well as municipalities, all of these entities will be charged a fee when dropping off yard waste. The Department also reiterates that the Polly Drummond Hill Road Yard Waste Demonstration Site is not intended for commercial businesses or for individuals using commercial vehicles to transport their personal yard waste.

Residents wishing for alternatives to recycle their yard waste may manage the material on their own property, arrange for a collection service, or use the drop-off options listed at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/yardwaste. (Businesses that wish to be added to those lists should contact DNREC’s Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section at 302-739-9403, ext. 1.) Residents living in the municipal boundaries of Wilmington, Elsmere, and Newark are reminded that those municipalities provide free yard waste collection services.

DNREC closed the Polly Hill Drummond Road site Jan. 11 of this year due to increasing costs for maintaining the site and limited funding for operating it. Since its inception as a DNREC demonstration yard waste drop-off site in 2007, the site often operated on a limited and continually-revised schedule because of ongoing funding challenges.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 99

DOVER – The annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data report from Delaware’s industrial facilities as compiled by DNREC’s Emergency Prevention and Response Section shows the state continuing to make remarkable progress in reducing toxic releases into the environment. TRI data from 2014 – the most recent year for which statistics are available – shows a significant decrease in onsite releases to both land and air, with a slight increase in onsite releases to water, all as compared to 2013 figures. Total onsite releases were down 7 percent for 2014, with releases to land down 88 percent, air down 19 percent, and releases to water up 2 percent.

The reductions reflect a continued downward trend in toxic releases over the last 17 years – since 1998, when the reporting requirements were expanded to include a larger list of reporting facilities. The reporting of nitrate compounds released to water again had a major impact on the overall onsite releases, accounting for 78 percent (2.9 million pounds) of the total onsite releases. Releases for nitrate compounds were up by 61,000 pounds compared to 2013. The major changes impacting these reductions are covered below in the Delaware TRI summary and in greater detail throughout the report.

“Manufacturing and industrial facilities in Delaware continue to demonstrate that they can keep productivity high and minimize or reduce releases to our environment,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “Enhanced technology, evolving best practices, the transparency of this TRI data, regulatory requirements and the public’s expectation for cleaner processes have all contributed to the positive trends we have seen since the inception of TRI reporting. DNREC looks forward to working with our diverse partners and stakeholders to continue this trend.”

Releases to air, land and water in Delaware are permitted by DNREC under rigorous environmental standards at both the national and state level. Permits granted by the department allow for limited discharge of pollutants within these standards that have been established for minimizing impacts to the environment and protecting public health.

Please refer to the following fact sheet for background on TRI and summary of 2014 TRI data. (The full TRI 2014 report and data are available at: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/SERC/Pages/Reports.aspx.)

Media Contacts: Debra Nielsen, DNREC Emergency Prevention and Response Section, 302-739-9405; or Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 20

FACT SHEET
Delaware Toxics Release Inventory
2014 Data and Report

What is TRI?
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a publicly available data set containing information reported annually since 1987 for toxic chemicals manufactured, processed, or otherwise used by certain facilities in Delaware and throughout the United States. TRI was established in 1986 under Title III, Section 313, of the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA 313) to provide information to the public about the presence and release of toxic chemicals in their communities. Title III is also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

Who must report?
Facilities that are required to the government under TRI must meet the following criteria:

1. The facility must be covered under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) or be a federal facility. Primarily, these NAICS codes include manufacturing facilities, oil and coal fired electric facilities, and bulk petroleum terminals.
2. The facility must have 10 or more full time employees.
3. The facility must manufacture or process over 25,000 pounds or otherwise use over 10,000 pounds of a TRI chemical. The list of reportable TRI chemicals includes of 594 individual chemicals and 30 chemical categories. Certain chemicals, such as persistent bio-accumulative toxins (PBTs), have lower reporting thresholds.

What is reported?
Facilities submit reports to Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the waste management activities for the covered TRI chemicals. These activities include:

1. Direct releases onsite to the environment. These releases are to air, water, and land.
2. Waste managed onsite, which includes recycling, treatment, and energy recovery.
3. Waste managed offsite, which includes recycling, treatment, energy recovery, or disposal.

Data from Delaware facilities is compiled by DNREC and the results are summarized in an annual report. A national analysis of the TRI data is provided by EPA’s annual report. It is noteworthy that TRI only requires reporting of releases and waste management activities, but not amounts used. The control of those releases is achieved separately through a variety of DNREC and EPA permits, laws and regulations.

Delaware 2014 TRI Results Summary

For 2014, 57 facilities submitted reports for 88 different chemicals. Approximately 3.75 million pounds were reported as being released onsite, a decrease of 278,000 pounds or 7 percent compared to 2013. Of this amount, approximately 18,000 pounds were released to land, while 800,000 pounds were released to air, and approximately 2.9 million pounds were released to water.

Onsite Releases

To Land: Onsite releases to land decreased by 134,000 pounds (88 percent) compared to 2013.

• This reduction was primarily attributable to the Indian River Generating Station for releases of barium compounds to land, which are down 86,000 pounds compared to 2013. (The barium compounds are contained in coal ash and disposed of in a state-of-the-art landfill onsite.) This facility’s reduction in releases occurred because of their shutdown of unit No. 3 at the end of 2013, and also because of the milder winter in 2014 versus 2013,
• Barium compounds were also the largest-reported release to land, with 14,000 pounds reported by Indian River Generating Station.

To Air: On-site releases to air were down approximately 194,000 pounds (19 percent) compared to 2013.

• Reductions in releases to air were reported by several companies, with the largest decrease being reported by the Indian River Generating Station of hydrochloric acid, down 114,000 pounds compared to 2013.
• Sulfuric acid was reported as the largest release to air at 298,000 pounds, with the majority being released by the Delaware City Refinery.

To Water: Total on-site releases to water increased by approximately 49,000 pounds (2 percent) compared to 2013.

• The increase in releases to water was primarily due to increases of nitrate compound releases reported by the Delaware City Refinery, up 111,000 pounds compared to 2013.
• Nitrate compounds were also reported as the largest release to water at 2.9 million pounds, with 2.74 million pounds (94 percent) released by the Delaware City Refinery and 169,000 (6 percent) released by Perdue Georgetown.

Offsite Transfers

Waste transferred offsite decreased by 584,000 pounds (4 percent) compared to 2013. Reductions in offsite recycling and waste sent to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) offset increases in offsite disposal, offsite treatment, and offsite energy recovery.

Largest Change: The largest reduction was for offsite recycling of zinc compounds by Evraz Claymont Steel, due to the closure of this facility, down 1.5 million pounds compared to 2013.

Largest Chemical Reported: Lead compounds were the largest reported chemical amount transferred for offsite recycling at 5 million pounds, with 3.3 million pounds reported by the Johnson Controls Battery Plant, and 1.7 million pounds reported by the Johnson Controls Distribution plant.

Onsite Management

Waste managed onsite increased by 95 million pounds (24 percent) compared to 2013. Increases in onsite energy recovery and onsite treatment were partially offset by a small decrease in onsite recycling.

Largest Changes: Multiple facilities reported increases and decreases of more than a million pounds for onsite management compared to 2013. The largest reduction reported was for onsite treatment of hydrochloric acid by DuPont Edge Moor, with a reduction of 4.4 million pounds compared to 2013. The largest increase was for the onsite treatment of hydrogen sulfide by the Delaware City Refinery, up approximately 97.2 million pounds compared to 2013.

Largest Chemical Reported: Hydrogen sulfide was also the largest reported chemical amount managed onsite, with 433.6 million pounds being treated onsite, with the majority of that amount being reported by the Delaware City Refinery.