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News Releases from Region 04

EPA Awards $679K in Brownfields Grants to Cleanup and Revitalize Communities in North Carolina

05/28/2015
Contact Information: 
Davina Marraccini (marraccini.davina@epa.gov)
404-562-8293, 404-562-8400

ATLANTA - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of four new grant investments totaling $679,000 in the towns of Princeton and Williamston, N.C. These investments will provide the communities with funding necessary to assess, clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost their local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.

EPA's Brownfields grants provide resources early, which is critical for communities to succeed and be able to leverage additional partnerships and resources. Community leaders-represented by local governments, states, tribes, quasi-governmental organizations, and non-profit entities-have demonstrated strong partnerships and plan to leverage the EPA grants with other public-private investments. They use an inclusive process to help spur the redevelopment of vacant, former manufacturing and commercial sites for broader revitalization in their downtowns. This results in a transformed economy and environment while addressing poverty and economic distress.

"Brownfield sites-because of their locations and associated infrastructure advantages-are community assets and a key component of the Obama Administration's efforts to provide tools to sustainably revitalize communities and foster economic development," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "These communities have demonstrated a plan to leverage their grants and partnerships to achieve economic and environmental revitalization to meet their needs for jobs. The grants will help transform brownfield sites, such as former manufacturing and mill sites, into productive end uses which directly benefit community residents and create opportunities including increased housing options, recreational spaces, and jobs."

In North Carolina, EPA has selected the Town of Princeton for two brownfields assessment grants totaling $200,000 each. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to prepare a brownfields inventory, prioritize sites, and conduct environmental site assessments. Community-wide petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination.

EPA has also selected the Town of Williamston for two brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances grant funds totaling $140,000 will be used to clean up the former Royster-Clark site at 722 River Road. Petroleum grant funds totaling $139,000 will be used to clean up the former Windsor Oil site at 738 River Road. The Royster-Clark site was formerly used as a storage and distribution facility for fertilizer, and is contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. The Windsor Oil site was formerly used for the bulk storage and distribution of petroleum products, and is contaminated with benzene, naphthalene, and other petroleum products.

This latest funding advances EPA's broader commitment to making a visible difference in communities by better coordinating federal investments to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically distressed communities address local priorities. Communities selected this year demonstrate a high level of preparedness to undertake specific projects as they have firm commitments of leveraged funds to move projects forward.

Since the inception of the EPA's Brownfields Program in 1995, cumulative brownfield program investments have leveraged more than $22 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged per EPA brownfield dollar expended. These investments have resulted in approximately 105,942 jobs nationwide. EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.

More information on EPA's brownfields:
Program http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Success Stories http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm
Grants by region: http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/pdfs/2015-AC-grant-fact-sheets.pdf

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