Happy New Year! (better late than never).  Last year, sustainable redevelopment took a big step forward - more and more companies are choosing to transfer environmental liabilities and repurpose old industrial assets for new utilization. 

ELT has been trusted to assume environmental liabilities on behalf of some of the world's most respected companies. In this newsletter we are recapping some of our key projects from 2017 and looking forward to more success stories in 2018!

Tanners Creek Power Plant Transformation Making Progress
Coal-Fired Power Plant


In October 2016, Commercial Development Company, Inc. (CDC) purchased the 725-acre, retired "Tanners Creek" coal-fired power plant from Indiana Michigan Power. Environmental Liability Transfer, Inc. (ELT) assumed the legacy environmental liabilities at the site. 

Since that time, our group has been engaged in decontamination and demolition of the power plant - preparing the site for sustainable reuse. 

In October 2017, CDC entered into a sale contract with the Ports of Indiana who is currently exploring the viability of constructing a major inland port along the Ohio River. Redevelopment of this site has received tremendous support, including former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence who said this development "could unleash enormous economic investment throughout the southeast region of our state". 


  CDC is currently under contract to sell Tanners Creek to the Ports of Indiana, as they explore the viability of building a major inland port development at this location.
EAG Engaged in Widespread Environmental Cleanup Throughout Canada
Shell Portfolio Update

In a series of successful transaction from 2014 to 2016, Shell transferred over 150 environmentally-impacted sites and associated liabilities to ELT. 

In 2017, EnviroAnalytics Group (EAG) and EAG Canada made major strides in progressively completing environmental remediation at these sites - all in accordance with regulatory standards and contractual obligations. 

These transactions enabled Shell to divest non-core assets, transfer significant environmental liabilities to ELT, secure environmental cleanup, and reallocate capital and manpower to core operations.

  • 90% of the project milestones have been completed as of December 2017
  • 99% completion is expected within 5 years of the transfer (5 years earlier than the 10 year goal set out in the Agreement).
ELT Assumes Liabilities at Coal Power Plant in Central Missouri
Coal-Fired Power Plant


In July 2017, CDC purchased a 70-acre coal-fired power plant from Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI). The "Chamois Power Plant" delivered electricity to central Missouri for over 60 years.  AECI sought proposals from more than 50 firms for decommissioning the facility and employed a third party engineering firm to review those proposals. 

"AECI conducted an extensive national search and selected CDC & ELT due to their 25 years of experience and success in remediation and transformation of industrial sites. CDC has decommissioned a number of coal plants and has a solid record of environmental responsibility." -- Brian Prestwood, Chief Compliance Officer at AECI


Redevelopment Milestone Reached at NJ Brownfield
Urban Renewal

CDC reached a redevelopment milestone at the retired Asarco smelting site in Perth Amboy, NJ.  Since purchasing the site in 2009, CDC been engaged in a robust reclamation process at the 70-acre site:  
  • Relocated 22 tenants
  • Demolished 13 buildings
  • Removed 14,000 shipping containers
  • Rebuilt a cell tower
  • Raised the site to post-Sandy flood elevations
  • Remediated 80 years of environmental residue from past operator's metal smelting business
Paper Mill Site Cleaned and Repurposed as Bay Area Port
Brownfield Reutilization

In 2016, ELT assumed assumed environmental liabilities and CDC purchased real estate at a  108-acre former paper mill site in Antioch, CA. Environmental impact had limited redevelopment options - CDC provided a vision for reclamation and fully-funded cleanup plan which gave new potential to the site. 


Today, environmental impact has been resolved and the site has been leased to AMPORTs - a premier automotive services company and port terminal operator.
Environmental liabilities resolved to make way for new  utilization by AMPORTs 
ELT Facilitates Multiple Distressed M&A Transactions
Remove Environmental Deal Breakers

Throughout last year, ELT played a critical role in absorbing unwanted assets and liabilities during distressed M&A transactions. 

ELT is able to carve out environmental liabilities that prevent risk averse deal partners from closing transactions. ELT assumed environmental liabilities for multiple transactions during 2017.  Read More ยป

Environmental liabilities absorbed during M&A deals involved multiple sites in 2017.
ELT Assumes Environmental Liabilities at Chemical Manufacturing Facility
Corporate Indemnification 

ELT assumed environmental obligations and purchased real estate assets at a former chemical manufacturing plant in Hudson Valley, NY. Through this transaction, the Seller/Transferer was provided a corporate indemnification by ELT and fair market value for real estate assets. Environmental remediation is expected to take 12-14 months, followed by new development activity. 

From Quarry to Mixed-Use Development
20-Year Reclamation Project in St. Louis

This year, CDC reached a major milestone in the reclamation of the Des Peres Quarry property in St. Louis County. Twenty years ago, the 27-acre, 160 foot deep quarry was an orphaned property and a blight to surrounding municipalities. CDC purchased the site in 1994 and began an environmental reclamation process that has transformed the area and prepared it for new economic development. 


Today the site is home to a first-class Assisted Living Center, a 254-room Luxury Apartment Complex, a new Class-A Office Complex (new CDC HQ), and a 211-Room Marriott Hotel. 

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2014
 
2017

ELT Assumes Liabilities at Retired GM Automotive Plant
Janesville Assembly Plant


In December 2017, ELT  agreed to assume the environmental liabilities at the retired General Motors Assembly Plant in Janesville, Wisconsin. Real estate assets have been purchased by  Commercial Development Company, Inc. (CDC).

CDC plans to invest significant resources to reposition the 250-acre industrial property for new utilization. Preliminary activity is expected to include asbestos abatement, demolition of some or all facilities, environmental remediation, and extensive redevelopment planning.


With 4.8 million sq/ft of buildings under roof, the "Janesville Assembly Plant" was once the largest General Motors automotive plant in the world.


Currently Seeking to Assume Environmental Liabilities and/or Purchase Retired Assets in All Industrial & Energy Sectors 

If distressed real estate is impacting your operations, transactions, or balance sheet, please contact us for a no-cost site assessment.  ELT will consider acquiring real estate assets and environmental liabilities at all price points. 

Phone: 314-835-2813

Environmental Liability Transfers


Brownfield Real Estate Purchase

Liability Transfer + RE Purchase

Guaranteed Cost Certainty

Corporate Indemnification

Maximum Value For Retired Assets

Sustainable Redevelopment Planning

Preservation of Legacy & Brand

Meet ELT at 2018 Conferences

Our team will be participating at multiple industry conferences in 2018. Our spring calendar is listed below. If you are attending any of these events, we would love to hear from you and find a time for introductions. 

About Our Group

Commercial Development Company, Inc. (CDC), Environmental Liability Transfer, Inc. (ELT), and EnviroAnalytics Group LLC (EAG) comprise one of North America's most impactful brownfield redevelopment and environmental remediation and consulting firms. Our focus is finding win-win solutions to environmentally-impacted real estate and helping clients navigate the complexities of environmental liabilities within the areas of real estate development, environmental liability transfers, sustainable redevelopment planning, risk management, and environmental remediation. 

To learn more about our group, download our Brownfields Brochure or follow the links below.

Acquire & Develop Real Estate
Transfer Environmental Liabilities
Environmental Remediation




Contact Us

For more information about anything in this newsletter or to schedule a confidential discussion regarding your environmental liabilities, please contact us. 

Phone: (314) 835-2813