LOCATION: Moss Point, Miss.

SIZE: 1 acre

PARTNERS: City of Moss Point and Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality

COST: $3 million for Convention Center, $60,000 to address environmental issues

BACKGROUND: In 2007, the city of Moss Point requested assistance from MDEQ through its Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program to perform an environmental assessment of the former Swifty Serve gas station to evaluate the environmental conditions. Environmental assessments were conducted by contractors for MDEQ, and because the location of the USTs hindered the completion of the assessment, it was necessary for USTs, piping, and dispenser island to be removed, saving the city of Moss Point approximately $60,000. Minimal localized groundwater contamination was found, requiring institutional controls through a brownfield agreement.

PRESENT STATUS: A brownfield agreement was reached in August 2008 between the City of Moss Point and MDEQ. The city has reclaimed the fallow portion of the property by expanding its parking lot for increased capacity at the Pelican Landing Conference Center.

SYNOPSIS: This is an excellent example of coordinated efforts between the state and local government. The key to success was the establishment of a partnership between the MDEQ and the city early in the process. With a clear understanding of the intended future use of the property and the city's objectives for redevelopment, MDEQ was able to develop a strategy for the environmental assessment to be completed, for liability protection to be secured, and for the site to be redeveloped in a manner that was protective of human health and the environment.