EPA To Contribute Nearly $160,000 of Work to Kentucky Rail Heritage Center

For Immediate Release

September 19th, 2018

Ravenna, Kentucky-

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation is spearheading a major economic development project in Estill County, Kentucky. The proposed Kentucky Railway Heritage Center is to be located on a 100-year old rail yard currently owned by CSX Transportation, and the purchase of a property of this type requires a major amount of work during the due diligence period.

KSHC and CSX signed a purchase/sales agreement in May, and part of the process of closing on the property has involved Kentucky Steam covering all our bases, especially when it comes to protecting ourselves and the community from potential environmental issues. With the cooperation of CSX, Kentucky Steam has been awarded nearly $160,000 worth of work by the EPA through the Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program, thus ensuring liability protection to KSHC, and helping to target and remedy any potential environmental risks on the site.

Kentucky Steam sat down with Bob Rosen, EPA Brownfields Project Manager, to discuss what this all means. We hope this helps shed some light on what it is the EPA has contributed to this endeavor!

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KSHC: How is the EPA supporting the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation’s Rail Heritage Center project?

-BR: The EPA is providing support through the Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) program; each EPA office receives discretionary funds in order to support a limited number of assessments. TBAs are conducted at no cost to the applicant, who must be either a government entity or a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. TBA is designed to help communities obtain assessments in order to expedite moving the property through assessment, possibly cleanup, then reuse/redevelopment.

KSHC: How much is allocated for this specific project?

-BR: We have a statutory cap of $200,000 per assessment, but we rarely approach that amount simply because it represents a rather substantial portion of our annual TBA budget. In your instance, we are investing a bit more than usual because of the promise this project brings to Ravenna and the surrounding area. We anticipate the project will end up costing approximately $160,000, making this one of our more expensive assessments.

KSHC: Who is doing the work?

-BR: EPA has two dedicated contractors who perform a very wide range of duties including; emergency response to oil spills and hazardous materials releases; emergency response to disasters such as BP and hurricanes; technical assistance and oversight at Superfund removal actions; Superfund remedial site assessments; and Targeted Brownfields Assessments, among other duties. For this project, I have selected TetraTech EMI. TetraTech has a great deal of experience and expertise in conducting assessments and also has a strong presence in Kentucky.

KSHC: Why is this necessary?

-BR: Assessment is necessary for a number of reasons. First, when you conduct a Phase I assessment prior to obtaining a potentially contaminated property (a Brownfields site), the Phase I provides federal environmental liability protection. This means you can purchase or receive the property without becoming a federal responsible party under the CERCLA law. Although you obtain liability protection, you still may have to conduct some level of cleanup of environmental contaminants, depending on your proposed land use and the contaminants present. A Phase II assessment is conducted in order to determine what contaminants are present, where they are present (soil, sediments, groundwater, building materials, etc), and the levels of contamination. A Phase II provides the information necessary to determine what contaminants may need to be cleaned up or remediated, or otherwise addressed through land use protection or engineering controls (such as caps).

KSHC: What does this all do for the Kentucky Steam Heritage’s project?

-BR: As I already described, the Phase I shows you have performed your due diligence prior to obtaining the property, which absolves you of federal environmental liability (provided you do not further contribute towards site contamination), and defines the level and extent of contamination on the site. Additionally, after the Phase II results have been compiled, we prepare an Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) which is really just a set of cleanup/remediation alternatives based on the contaminants found and the proposed land use. The ABCA will spell out approximate costs for various options so you can determine the best fit for your needs and budgetary constraints.

KSHC: Anything else you’d like to add? We appreciate your comprehensive answers and we are grateful for the help that the EPA is contributing to make this project a success!

-BR: Sure! EPA Region 4 Brownfields is pleased to be able to conduct a Targeted Brownfields Assessment for the Kentucky Rail Heritage Center. Our hope is that the assessment work we perform will be an important step in the process of obtaining the property and eventually redeveloping it for the purposes stated in the TBA application. Our goal is to help communities take Brownfields properties and move them back into productive use and in a manner that supports the local community.

Plans For the Kentucky Rail Heritage Center Released

For Immediate Release

September 3rd, 2018

Ravenna, Kentucky-

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation (KSHC), a 501(c)(3) public charity - in conjunction with Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects - has released preliminary plans for The Kentucky Rail Heritage Center, a proposed multi-use rail-based attraction to be located in Estill County, Kentucky.

SCB Architects, a well-respected regional firm, has worked in close conjunction with KSHC Board members to craft the initial vision for the 45+ acre project, a gateway economic development initiative which will spearhead efforts to revitalize the economy of Eastern Kentucky.

KSHC President Chris Campbell said the site plan and renderings have already helped engage potential partners and donors in just a few short days.

“We are excited to be able to finally share the vision for what will become a landmark project both for the revitalization of the Region, and for the rail preservation industry,” said Campbell, President and Founder of the Lexington-based charity.

“Special attention was given to functionality, keeping long-term development and short-term utilization of the property in mind. We wanted to make historic trains the star of the show, but also to integrate their presence naturally into a multi-faceted attraction that will attract a wide variety of visitors. We know the plans will change some over time, but the overall vision is there. The team of professionals at Sherman Carter Barnhart immediately latched onto the concept, and the results speak for themselves.”

KSHC has already begun work on the 45-acre site in Estill County, thanks to a temporary lease provided by CSX Transportation who still owns the land. CSX and Kentucky Steam inked a purchase agreement in May, and announced the project in a public press conference held in Ravenna. CSX announced the donation and refurbishment of a vintage C&O caboose at the event. The closing of the sale is anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Site plans and renderings were completed just days before KSHC’s submission for Federal funds through an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER grant, a highly-competitive program to help provide capital for projects in coal-depressed communities. KSHC Vice President Chad Harpole said that while the group can’t count on getting the project funded this round, he feels optimistic about the prospect of Federal grant dollars eventually aiding the project.

“The ARC program is a perfect fit for our initiative, but that’s not a guarantee for funds,” he said.

“Though there are many worthwhile projects in the Region competing for the same program, we are cautiously optimistic that the Kentucky Rail Heritage Center’s unique slant on re-using current infrastructure will put us at the top of the list for qualifying for granted capital in a Federally-designated coal-depressed community.”

Government awards are key to getting the project off the ground, but private donations have been the driving force behind the genesis of the Rail Heritage Center project, and Harpole sees the continued support of donors to be integral for sustenance in the early going.

“We couldn’t have gotten to where we are without the generous donations from individuals from all over the Nation. We are grateful to everyone who has made a contribution so far, no matter how big or small,” he added.

Kentucky Steam Heritage will begin a formal fundraising campaign for the Center this fall, and will kick off the festivities on September 22nd at the Ravenna Railroad Festival, a yearly community celebration held in Estill County. KSHC will showcase the plans for the property and board members will be on hand to answer questions about the future development of the project - as well as the restoration of two steam locomotives - Nickel Plate Road 587, and Chesapeake and Ohio 2716.

Tax-deductible donations can be made through the web at https://www.kentuckysteam.org/contribute

or by mail to Kentucky Steam Heritage PO Box 23971 Lexington KY 40523

To learn more about the festival, visit https://www.facebook.com/RailroadFestival/

Media Contact: Chris Campbell info@kentuckysteam.org

Kentucky Steam to Partner With Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects

For Immediate Release

July 30th, 2018 - Lexington Kentucky

The Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation (KSHC), a 501(c)(3) public charity announced Monday that they will be collaborating with Lexington-based Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects (SCB) in creating the long-term vision for the Kentucky Rail Heritage Center.

The Kentucky Rail Heritage Center project was announced in May, when KSHC unveiled a partnership with CSX Transportation to purchase a large tract of decommissioned ex-L&N rail yard in Ravenna, Kentucky for economic development.

The Rail Heritage Center will be a living restoration shop, showcasing the rehab and maintenance of historic steam locomotives. The sprawling campus will creatively integrate a rail-based tourist attraction featuring train excursions with recreational space, technical skills training component and a regional community center complete with restaurants, shops, and lodging.

Chris Campbell, KSHC President, looks forward to the partnership with the highly-acclaimed Architectural firm.

“Sherman Carter Barnhart is the perfect fit for helping us craft the long-term vision for this region-changing economic development project,” he said in a statement Monday. “We are hoping to create a progressive environment while utilizing design components that harken to the region’s industrial past. The goal is to produce a modern campus that’s timeless as well as distinctly Appalachian. SCB’s body of work makes them a perfect fit for this exciting endeavor.”

Sherman Carter Barnhart is based in Lexington with offices in Louisville and Paducah. They have been designing award-winning projects for civic, educational, institutional, and private clients throughout the region since they opened in 1979. They have earned a reputation for design sensitivity to both the site and project context by creating buildings tailored to their surroundings and function, yet sensitive to the environment. The firm has won over 120 design awards, including the Kentucky Society of Architects Distinguished Firm Award, and their work has been published in numerous trade and professional journals.

Newby Walters, Business Development Director for SCB, provided encouraging words for the partnership.

“Sherman Carter Barnhart is proud to be working with KSHC on this exciting project which we all hope will spur economic development in this region. We are always interested in designing projects that will showcase the history of Kentucky and this rail-based campus, showcasing historic steam locomotives, will be an exciting project to work on with KSHC and CSX. We look forward to beginning our collaboration.”

Initial renderings and site plans will be developed over the next few months. More information will be published when available.

For more information on the project, contact KSHC President Chris Campbell at info@kentuckysteam.org

Visit https://www.scbarchitects.com/ to learn more about Sherman Carter Barnhart