Assessment approved (10/16/2008)

An Indianapolis company has been hired to complete the final environmental assessment on a former broom factory in Portland.

Members of the Portland Board of Works voted this morning to hire BCA Consultants Inc. to conduct the third assessment of the former O'Cedar Vining factory, located between Western Avenue and Middle Street, just south of West Water Street.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of this year, Jim Perron, vice president of BCA Consultants said this morning.

BCA is asking for the full amount of the grant through the Indiana Brownfields Program, which is $43,128, Perron said. However, the entire amount may not be needed for the study, he said.

The second round of assessments cost approximately $19,000. Cost totals for phase one in the testing were not available this morning.

The building currently is occupied by Pioneer Packaging. Although the final environmental study has not yet been completed, it is safe for company employees to work there, said Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, who is a member of the board of works.

Perron said the assessment will concentrate on a portion of the building where broom handles were painted. Drilling will be done in that area, he said.

After the assessment is completed, the findings will be reviewed and any remediation work needed will begin. The purpose of the Indiana Brownfields Program is to identify and fix any environmental problems that might impede economic growth.[[In-content Ad]]