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File #: 21-5346    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Miscellaneous Section Status: Passed
File created: 10/3/2021 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 10/12/2021 Final action: 10/12/2021
Title: Request for approval to enter the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) including completing and signing the VCP application and subsequent documents. This action is associated with the existing Harris County Property located at or near 1505 Commerce Street (Former Houston Gas Light Company property), Precinct 2.
Department: County Engineer
Department Head/Elected Official: Loyd Smith, P.E., Interim County Engineer

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Miscellaneous Section

Project ID (if applicable): 21035MF22901
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Participation (if applicable): N/A

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to enter the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) including completing and signing the VCP application and subsequent documents. This action is associated with the existing Harris County Property located at or near 1505 Commerce Street (Former Houston Gas Light Company property), Precinct 2.
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Background and Discussion:
The project site, adjacent to Buffalo Bayou, is the location of the former Houston Gas Light Company that a manufactured gas plant (MGP) operated this property from 1860s through at least 1922. A part of the MGP operations included disposing of contaminated waste products onsite as was the standard protocol prior to Environmental Regulations for proper handling of contaminated materials. Houston Parks Board is currently in the construction phase of building a trail across the property. As construction was progressing across the property, adjacent to Buffalo Bayou, a section of the property started to fail and slip toward Buffalo Bayou causing contaminated groundwater to be released into Buffalo Bayou. Entering the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) will aid Harris County in remediating the contaminated areas and gain regulatory closure with a legal "Certificate of Closure" with the TCEQ.




Expected Impact:
This will aide in expediting the regulatory process by allowing the County Engineer or his designee to sign Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulatory documents include VCP application and necessary reports as required by the TCEQ up to and including "Certificate of Closure" ending the VCP process ...

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