Montana DEQ revitalizing historic buildings for redevelopment

HELENA — Montana Division Of Environmental High quality is partnering with stakeholders to deal with hazardous substance and petroleum Brownfields websites throughout Montana

In Helena, the Brownfields coordinators are serving to the developer of the previous Ming Theater or now the Algeria Shrine Temple entry the potential air pollution.

“We’re simply at first of exploring some renovation levels they usually have been simply important in serving to us with the environmental facet of that renovation,” mentioned Larry Nielsen, President of the Board of the Nice Lodge of Montana.

Nielsen says that he hopes to have the Algeria Shrine Temple turn out to be a venue for occasions and theatre.

“We predict our facility has is a singular gem within the metropolis of Headland and we wish to see the Neighborhood use it much more,” mentioned Nielsen.

Proper now, the redevelopment on the Shrine Temple is in section two the place DEQ is assessing each linoleum tile, and portray to make sure that there isn’t a lead or asbestos.

The Montana DEQ Program Coordinator Sarah Seitz says that many of the air pollution and dangerous supplies in Brownfield websites are generally asbestos, lead paint and even previous petroleum tanks.

“With the intention to do some improvement on this space, they should assess the environmental situations and see what might happen. It is sometimes these environmental situations are like lead paint or asbestos. It might be previous tanks on the positioning. On this case it is primarily lead paint and asbestos,” mentioned Seitz.

The DEQ Brownfields program is funded by the EPA and even grants, just lately Montana DEQ was awarded 2 million {dollars} to finish environmental web site assessments throughout the state, which for Brownfields Coordinator Jason Seyler is a crucial for restoring historical past.

“Reusing historic buildings is phenomenal use of Brownfields and assessing them and getting over these environmental hurdles which is able to permit these properties to be put again into useful use,” mentioned Seyler.

DEQ is all the time in search of extra redevelopment alternatives for older buildings.

“We are actually right here as a useful resource to you to assist redevelop your venture,” mentioned Seyler.

In case you are a developer and would love DEQ to evaluate potential hazardous supplies yow will discover contact info on their web site.