The Phase II assessment, conducted by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality over the last several months at the site of the former Majestic Hotel in downtown Hot Springs, is nearly complete. The purpose of the assessment was to determine if any environmental hazards existed following hotel demolition and rubble removal. The only finding was a fuel bunker containing low contaminant levels.
The city and its partners at ADEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are currently working to mitigate the fuel bunker in the most efficient and cost effective manner. A proposed timeline for this work will be forthcoming with the Phase II report. Mitigation work is likely to be completed by the end of 2017.
The public outreach and visioning process regarding future use of the Majestic property will follow soon after bunker removal.