Brownfields grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offered through the Railroad Commission of Texas are helping redevelop abandoned oil and gas sites. The Midland Reporter Telegram said recently the commission’s Brownfields Response Program includes a previously abandoned oilfield site near Andrews that now is a bird-viewing park with a path and lagoon. Leslie Bruce, program coordinator, told the Reporter Telegram, “Now it’s a beautiful area for birds to swim in the lagoon, there are bird feeders all around, and it’s also a hot spot for bird watchers.”
The newspaper said a Brownfields grant of $84,680 was used to assess and remediate the site, additional state funds of $85,610 were used to remove contaminated soils, and additional money from Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife was used to redevelop the site as a bird park.