U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Cleanup Grant Application Summary October 2023
Site Specific Cleanup
BATTEY BUSINESS COMPLEX
Former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital (NGRH)
705 North Division Street, Rome, GA
Rome-Floyd Development Authority (RFDA), the joint development authority for the City of Rome and Floyd County is seeking grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct environmental cleanup of the former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital (NGRH) site, referred to as the Battey Business Complex. Environmental cleanup is the first step in converting contaminated properties into healthy and productive uses such as new industrial, advanced manufacturing, high-tech, and civic uses.
Initially utilized by the United States military in 1943 for use as Battey General Hospital, the property was conveyed to the State of Georgia in January 1947 and used as a nationally recognized tuberculosis treatment facility. The hospital grounds underwent several modifications and expansions between the 1940s and 1980s with many of the historic barracks being replaced by hospital offices, laboratory buildings, and treatment facilities. In the 1970s, the hospital was partially transitioned to a mental illness facility and renamed Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital. The campus continued to treat tuberculosis patients until 1996 when it became solely a mental health treatment facility. Now vacant, this 132.5-acre campus is located approximately 2 miles northwest of downtown.
This grant application to EPA Brownfields Program seeks funding to address the environmental contamination identified through comprehensive assessments conducted at the hospital site. The assessments conducted, including a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment in October 2021 and a Phase II ESA in September 2023, revealed the presence of asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint in several buildings. The findings highlight the urgent need for remediation and cleanup efforts to ensure compliance with environmental standards and regulations. These efforts will be executed in accordance with established environmental guidelines and procedures to ensure the safe removal and disposal of hazardous materials, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for future use.
On an annual basis, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers grants for the purpose of assisting communities in addressing contaminated brownfields. The proposal to the EPA by RFCDA will request funds for the cleanup phase which once completed, will safeguard the community from contamination and allow for the property’s reuse. If approved, an EPA cleanup grant will provide up to $2,000,000.
More Information and Public Meeting
The public is invited to review and comment on the draft EPA application at a HYBRID Public Meeting scheduled for October 27, 2023 at 10:30am with participation available via Zoom or in person at the Rome Floyd Development Authority offices located at 800 Broad Street, Suite 102, Rome, GA 30161.
Zoom Meeting Link – Meeting ID: 838 5871 3889 – Passcode: 500923
Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions, Inc. (BRS) has been hired to prepare and submit the EPA grant application on behalf of the RFCDA. Any questions or comments regarding the EPA grant application, including requests to view application drafts, should be directed to Laura Burnham at BRS, Inc. She can be reached by calling 856-780-0503 or via email at lburnham@brsinc.com.