To access Removal Action Workplan documents, please scroll to the end of this page.
Overview
To further respond to declining forest health, high risk of catastrophic wildfire, and poor socioeconomic conditions in a community that has historically had a strong presence of the timber industry, the Sierra Institute is working to redevelop an old sawmill site in Crescent Mills to a wood products campus. This campus will consist of a variety of businesses that generate value-added products out of small-diameter trees and other woody biomass.
Potential businesses include a small-scale bioenergy facility, processed wood chips for use in biomass boilers, mass timber production, packaged and dried firewood, soil amendments, and more.
This campus will provide direct benefits to communities and forests of Plumas County as it will develop a market for small diameter trees and forest restoration byproducts. Sufficient processing infrastructure and a strengthened market for forest biomass will allow for increased pace and scale of forest restoration activities in Plumas County and the Upper Feather River Watershed. At full build-out this campus could generate between 15-30 industry jobs for local residents.
Public Comment Opportunity
Sierra Institute is applying for an EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant to fund the cleanup and redevelopment of the former LP mill site in Crescent Mills, Ca. Prior to submitting the application, we will be holding a meeting to provide the public an opportunity to learn about and comment on the proposed activities.
The public meeting will be held Tuesday November 19th from 6:30-7:30 pm at Gigi's Market located at 15792 CA-89, Crescent Mills, CA 95934.
Comments to the draft ABCA and application may be made via email to dberry@sierrainstitute.us, by phone at (530) 284-1022, or in person at the public meeting.
Links to the draft ABCA and Application are provided below. These documents are also located at the Sierra Institute's office in Taylorsville, Ca.
- Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives – Preliminary Evaluation For Former Louisiana Pacific Mill Site In Crescent Mills
- Draft EPA Cleanup Application (pending)
Rural Brownfield Redevelopment
In addition to advancing development of the wood products campus in Crescent Mills, the Sierra Institute has simultaneously been navigating the pre-development hurdles associated with brownfield redevelopment and liability for the past four years. A number of site assessments have performed, demonstrating that there is some contamination in the soil–a typical scenario of any abandoned sawmill site. The Sierra Institute is working closely with the California Department of Toxic Substance Control and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the site is clean and safe prior to development.
A cleanup plan is in progress, expected to be completed in summer of 2018, with engineering and implementation of a site cleanup occurring shortly thereafter.
Removal Action Workplan (August 2019):
- Report
- Figures
- Tables
- Appendices
- A: Targeted Site Investigation (see below for full report)
- B: Southern Area Site Characterization Report
- C: On-Site Fill Investigation
- D: Screening Level Human Health Risk Assessment
- E: Ecological Scoping Assessment
- F: Dust Control and Decontamination Plan
- G: Soil Management Plan
- H: Site Safety Plan and Hospital Map
- I: Community Profile
- J: Administrative Record List and Sacred Lands File Search
- K: Grading Plan PAGE 1 and PAGE 2
Reports:
- Targeted Site Investigation Report (April 2017)
- TSI Appendices
- TSI Figures
- TSI Tables
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Updated for TSI
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (July 2014)
- Final Targeted Brownfields Assessment Report (November 2014)