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The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) issued a November 9th news release indicating that a Brownfield Certificate of Completion will be issued to a City of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Brownfield which is the site of the former Majestic Hotel.

ADEQ will hold a ribbon cutting on Thursday (November 15th) at 11:00 a.m. to declare the site ready for “productive use again after undergoing remedial action to correct site contamination issues.”

Many states (including Arkansas) and the federal government have statutes, regulations and policies that are intended to address “Brownfields.” Brownfields are often referred to as real property (improved or unimproved), the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants. Incentive provisions, liability exemptions, action/cleanup standards have been utilized for a number of years to attempt to reduce the barriers to reuse or redevelopment of Brownfield properties.

The City of Hot Springs is stated to have acquired the five-acre site in September 2015. It had been condemned following a fire in 2014.

ADEQ states it provided assistance to the City of Hot Springs and enrolled it in the Arkansas Brownfield Program.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled to take place at the former Majestic Hotel site. Hot Springs Mayor McCabe and ADEQ Director Keogh are scheduled to speak at the ceremony.

A copy of the news release can be found here.