May 20, 2014
Baton Rouge - Today, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of New Iberia celebrated the completion of a Brownfields and Ready for Reuse project for the Timeless Treasures site in New Iberia. Plaques were awarded to the city of New Iberia and the Brownfields participants in the remediation: Acadiana Regional Development, KourCo Environmental Services, Inc., Leaaf Environmental and Berard Habetz & Associates, Inc. A Ready for Reuse determination letter and certificate signifying that the land has been cleaned and can be put back into use was presented to New Iberia Mayor Hilda Daigre Curry.
The EPA Brownfields Program issued grants to assist with the assessment and remediation process for Timeless Treasures, which took about four years and $300,000. A Certification of Completion was issued by the DEQ Voluntary Remediation Program once site work was completed in October 2012. The Ready for Reuse Determination letter Mayor Curry received is an acknowledgment by DEQ and EPA that environmental conditions on the property are protective of human health and the environment based on its current and anticipated future use.
Located within walking distance from New Iberia’s historic downtown, the property at 121 Bridge St., formerly known as Timeless Treasures, is a rhomboid shaped lot approximately 0.18 acres in extent. Although the property is small, it has an 80-foot front across from the old Mt. Carmel School. The scenic Bayou Teche runs less than 100 feet away, and land use in the area is mostly residential. The property was transformed into a beautiful public green space that can now positively impact the lives of area residents as well as New Iberia’s historic downtown.
“This Brownfields project and Ready for Reuse determination is a testament to the work many people put into reclaiming this property for New Iberia,” said DEQ Secretary Peggy Hatch. “The EPA and DEQ Brownfields Programs are beneficial for economic reasons and the Ready for Reuse Program certifies that the site can be reused because the contamination was addressed in a way that meets state and federal standards.”
For more information about DEQ’s voluntary remediation program, please visit www.deq.louisiana.gov or www.epa.gov to learn about EPA’s Land Revitalization Action Agenda.