Trop site contamination worries state officials

Fill out this form to email this article to a friend

ST. PETERSBURG — State environmental officials have asked the city to place a deed restriction on Tropicana Field, one of two key sites in a planned $1.2-billion downtown redevelopment, because soil beneath the dome's asphalt parking lots is contaminated.

But a spokesman for the city said Tuesday the request from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is voluntary.

The city instead will continue monitoring a 10- to 12-acre section of contaminated soil to the east of the domed stadium. The site is the former home of a municipal gas manufacturing plant.

"We're not interested in pursuing something that appears to be voluntary on our part," said Mike Connors, the city's internal services administrator. "We plan to continue the monitoring program the city and DEP agreed to."

The state agency first made the request for a deed restriction in 2000. It is being renewed as the city considers selling the 86 acres to a developer as part of the Tampa Bay Rays' plan to build a $450-million stadium on the downtown waterfront.

Pamala Vazquez, a DEP spokeswoman, said the agency would not comment on the environmental requirements of a possible redevelopment until a formal application is submitted.

She also said she did not know if the proposed deed restriction would apply to the entire 86-acre property or only a portion of it.

"Until we have a formal permit application in house, we don't speculate about a property or what someone might want to do or what they might be able to do," Vazquez said.

The two developers bidding to purchase Tropicana Field have known that parts of the 86-acre property are contaminated by a former gas manufacturing plant. But the extent of the contamination has been left open to much speculation.

The city, and to a certain extent the prospective developers, have said the environmental damage remaining on the property is minimal.

People opposing the redevelopment and the larger plan to build a $450-million stadium downtown suggest the impact — and potential cost of the cleanup — is much greater.

Vazquez said the Tropicana Field site is currently permitted for industrial use. If the city or a developer wished to change that use, the state would need to sign off on the plans, Vazquez said.

The city is considering proposals to turn the 86-acre stadium property into a mix of retail, residential and office buildings.

Comments on this article

by CharlieRay	Jun 3, 2008 2:53 PM
34,000 seat stadium is outdated already. We had 36,500 last weekend. This is the worst idea in the world. 50% of the fans are seniors & can't take the heat of the summer in an outdore stadium built in the wrong place. Bild it & they will not come

by Michael Brown	May 30, 2008 4:42 PM
I'am Afro American educated, I know the rays organization well and want the Blacks community to benfit economical live inthe trop enjoy the games blk needs toget all the education it can it's the only way up to economic harmony rays,city county bay

by Michael Brown	May 30, 2008 1:35 PM
wHAT ARE THESE POW PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT,THE AREA THERE COMMENTING ON WAS ALREADY FOUND AND DOUGH UP BY THE TRUCK S TWELVE YEARS AGO AND FOUND NO MORE CONTAMINATION SO LET;S BUILD IT AND INHANCE MY LIFE .

by Laura	May 29, 2008 10:58 AM
Nice thought, Robert, but Albert Whitted has got to be pretty contaminated itself and that's not just an oxymoron!

by robert	May 28, 2008 7:29 PM
Why not close Albert Whitted Airport and build the stadium there and turn Al Lang into a park. Park space could also be built around the new stadium along with parking, stores and dining.

by Bobby	May 28, 2008 4:15 PM
Remember the original Trop development. Mr Mussett and staff budgeted 2 million for cleanup..it cost 5.7 million. That was 20 years ago! Think of inflation and fuel costs for the trucks to haul the dirt. Does anyone really TRUST these guys???

by K	May 28, 2008 4:12 PM
(second attempt to post) Why is it that Rick K, Ray, Gary Grooms etal have ABSOLUTELY NO COMMENTS or as they would say "informative posts" about this issue? This will cost us, ie taxpayers, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to resolve bc clean up is NEVER cheap!

by Jason	May 28, 2008 4:09 PM
What happens if the Rays move after not being able to build a new stadium.. At least if they were here they would pay for any costs above the 450 (which may happen if contaminated).. Wouldn't that be better than doing it ourselves years down the road

by RayF	May 28, 2008 4:07 PM
K- 10-12 acres of the site are being monitored for contamination. That leaves 74-76 acres that are fine in my 3rd grade math. Seems like an exceptable ratio to me. Of course my opinion means as much as yours though.

by Jammed up	May 28, 2008 3:59 PM
wasn't that the reason for the building of the dome to begin with. Oh, and the land will be cleaned up in the process. Oops, my bad, just throw some concrete over it and someone else can deal with it when the lease expires. not even that long!

by Alex	May 28, 2008 3:56 PM
Residential on this site? Lawsuits are probably already pending.

by Get Smart	May 28, 2008 1:56 PM
I love it. Next time I need a permit I'll say,"I'm not interested in pursuing something that appears to be voluntary on my part."

by Bill	May 28, 2008 10:29 AM
Simple solution would be to leave the trop site alone. Let sleeping dogs lie. Why must this fiasco go on? Baseball is a dying sport, Wake up folks, this is government corruption in the raw. NO NEW STADIUM! WE CAN'T AFFORD IT!!!

by K	May 28, 2008 10:29 AM
Where's Rick, Ray, Gary Grooms, Rays et al paid personnel to comment on how this is a bunch of malarky that the site is contaminated????

by JIM	May 28, 2008 10:29 AM
THEY KNEW ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION FROM THE BEGINNING. GUESS WHO WILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY THE MILLIONS FOR THE CLEANUP?? JOE TAXPAYER. NIX THE NEW STADIUM DEAL UNLESS THE RAYS PAY OFF THE DOME AND FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF IT AND THE ENTIRE NEW STADIUM

by Jimbo	May 28, 2008 10:28 AM
But the cost of building on an abandoned landfill is OK? Give me a break, people! You would need to cleanup both places, boosting the cost by more than $150M! The longer we wait, the more expensive it becomes!

by Justin E	May 28, 2008 10:09 AM
Er, uh...the contamination down there is minimal, uh...yeah, that's the ticket! (yeah right)

by LittleBro	May 28, 2008 10:09 AM
What is the proposed "deed restriction?" What would it say or do?

by Ned	May 28, 2008 10:09 AM
I think the Trop contamination is worse than the city and DEP are telling us. It sounds like part 2 of the Raytheon deal. And now they want us to pay for the cleanup so the Rays and Mayor Baker can have that shiny new waterfron stadium? No way!