In 2000, the City of Hagerstown received a $100,000 award to participate in the EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI) Pilots program for the Central Chemical Superfund site on Mitchell Avenue in Hagerstown (show map). The goal of this SRI project is to organize interested parties and develop a public outreach program for the purpose of creating a future land use recommendation for the Central Chemical site. This recommendation will help guide the EPA as they determine an appropriate remediation plan for the Central Chemical Superfund site. The SRI project concluded June 30, 2003.

The project's Future Land Use Committee met 9 times with the City's consultant between Nov. 2002 and June 2003. Three public meetings were held to gain input in the re-use assessment process. The final report was presented to the City Council and the Planning Commission on July 1. For information, email planning@hagerstownmd.org

At present, the EPA and the potentially responsible parties for the Central Chemical Superfund site are finalizing the Remedial Investigation of the site and surrounding community and reviewing the Feasability Study of the clean-up options. EPA's project coordinator for the Central Chemical Superfund site is Mitch Cron in the Philadelphia office and can be contacted at (215) 814-3286 or emailed at cron.mitch@epa.gov. The public relations representative for Central Chemical's potentially responsible parties is Roberta Fowlkes of CCF Associates, LLC. Ms. Fowlkes can be contacted at (304) 346-0700 or by email at robertafowlkes@charter.net.

The remedial investigation project's Community Liaison Panel meets monthly on the second Thursday, or as needed, to review and discuss information generated during the remedial investigation and feasibility study. For more info, contact Ms. Fowlkes.