West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
Public Information Office
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
304-926-0440
PUBLIC NOTICE –
RECEIPT OF
VOLUNTARY
REMEDIATION
APPLICATION
PUBLIC NOTICE NO.:
VRP #24005
NEWSPAPER:
The Intelligencer
PUBLIC NOTICE DATE: August 13, 2024
Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau has submitted an application to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) to participate in a voluntary environmental cleanup at the Wheeling Gateway Center (a.k.a., former Knights Inn) property, under the Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Act. The site is located at 949 Main Street , Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, and is approximately 1.03 acres in size.
Known history dates to at least 1884 when the property was developed for residential and commercial use. A 1902 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map is the first record of the property being developed as a hotel. The hotel went through several name changes, including the Severn Hotel, the Downtowner Motor Inn, Elby’s Wheeling Inn Motel, Elby’s Best Western, Wheeling Inn, and Knights Inn Wheeling. The Knights Inn Wheeling ceased operation in 2022.
Site investigations will be completed to understand if contaminants from historic fill exist and if subsurface migration of contaminants from offsite properties are impacting the property. If impacts are confirmed, a risk assessment and subsequent remedial action will be completed.
The existing building is to be demolished prior to these investigations.
The Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) at the WVDEP has negotiated a Voluntary Remediation Agreement with the applicant to address environmental conditions associated with the site. The agreement includes provisions for assessing potential environmental contaminants; evaluating human health and ecological risks; establishing remediation standards; and, performing any cleanup necessary to meet the standards. At project conclusion, the applicant will submit a Final Report, documenting that all work is complete.
Application No.:
VRP #24005
Applicant:
Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau
1401 Main Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Site Location:
949 Main Street
Wheeling, Ohio County, WV
Current Site Use:
Vacant former hotel
Suspected Contaminants:
Contaminants of potential concern include heavy metals and organics typical to historic fill and volatile organic compounds typical to off-site petroleum and dry cleaner releases.
Proposed Cleanup Method and Methods to Control Possible Health Exposure:
Combination of Institutional and/or Engineering Controls, based on the results of environmental and risk assessments.
Application Availability: Interested individuals may review and/or copy the Voluntary Remediation Program application at the following locations:
Ohio County Public
Library
52 16th Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: 304-232-0244
WVDEP – Office of Environmental Remediation
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
Phone: 304-926-0499, ext. 00097
Questions or Comments:
Questions or comments regarding this application should be directed to either:
Lydia M. Work, Licensed Remediation Specialist
Montrose Environmental
2501 Chapline Street, PO Box 6562
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: 304-552-1442
or
W. Matthew Gadd
WVDEP
131A Peninsula Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: 304-926-0499, ext. 00097
Int. Aug 16, 2024