News Releases from Region 05
EPA Announces $500,000 to Clean up Contaminated Properties in Cleveland
For Immediate Release No. 16-OPA024
EPA Announces $500,000 to Clean up Contaminated Properties in Cleveland
CHICAGO – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced $500,000 in supplemental funding to help the Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Department of Development begin removing lead- and PCB-contaminated soil from vacant properties on East 69th Street slated for redevelopment as a hotel.
"EPA’s brownfield program will help Cleveland revitalize a distressed property, improve public health, create jobs and boost local economic opportunities," said Region 5 Acting Superfund Director Douglas Ballotti. “EPA’s funds often make the difference that helps leverage private sector resources to make cleanups and reuse of properties possible.”
This will be the first step toward renovating the 2.4-acre former industrial site near the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital campus, where hotel rooms are urgently needed. EPA’s cleanup is scheduled to begin later this year.
EPA stimulates the economies of distressed communities with loans and sub-grants ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 to be used for cleanup and redevelopment at brownfield sites.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated sites in the United States. Since the inception of EPA’s Brownfields program in 1995, cumulative investments have leveraged nearly $21 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities.
More information on EPA’s Brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields
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