News Releases from Region 04

EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Five Communities in Alabama

Funding for brownfields assessment and cleanup included in President Trump’s Budget

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected 172 communities across the country including five in Alabama to receive funding for brownfield site revitalization to help local governments redevelop vacant and unused properties, transforming communities and local economies.

“EPA is committed to working with communities to redevelop Brownfields sites which have plagued their neighborhoods. EPA’s Assessment and Cleanup grants target communities that are economically disadvantaged and include places where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "These grants leverage considerable infrastructure and other investments, improving local economies and creating an environment where jobs can grow. I am very pleased the President’s budget recognizes the importance of these grants by providing continued funding for this important program.”

The following communities in Alabama were selected to receive grant funding for community-wide Brownfields assessment activities and cleanup planning:

• Bay Minette - $300,000 ($150,000 for hazardous substances, and $150,000 for petroleum) to conduct seven Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and support community involvement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Douglassville Neighborhood area.

• Dothan - $300,000 ($150,000 for hazardous substances, and $150,000 for petroleum) to conduct 10 Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and support community outreach activities. Assessment will focus on Census Tracts 406, 412, and 414.

• Selma - $300,000 ($150,000 for hazardous substances, and $150,000 for petroleum) to prioritize brownfield sites, update a GIS database, create a cleanup plan, conduct 10 Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and support community outreach activities.

• Sheffield Redevelopment Authority - $200,000 for hazardous substances, Funds will be used to clean-up the Lady Ensley Furnace/Old Dump/Former Shooting Range site.

• Tarrant - $400,000 for hazardous substances. Funds will be used to clean up the Bethel Avenue Clow, and the Georgia Street Clow, both part of the Tarrant Industrial Complex. Funds will also be used to continue participation in the state Voluntary Cleanup Program, develop cleanup plans, and conduct community outreach and education.

View the list of the FY 2017 applicants selected for funding here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-list-fy17-grants-selected-funding

Overview of the Funds Being Announced Today:

• $25 million to communities who are receiving assessment and cleanup funding for the first time

• $17.5 million of the assessment and cleanup funding will benefit small and rural communities with populations less than 10,000

• Recipients will each receive approximately $200,000 - $600,000 in funding to work on individual sites or several sites within their community.

• These funds will provide communities with resources necessary to determine the extent of site contamination, remove environmental uncertainties and clean up contaminated properties where needed.

Studies have shown that residential property values near brownfields sites that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15.2%. and can increase property values within 1.24 miles of that site. A study analyzing data near 48 brownfield sites shows that an estimated $29 to $97 million in additional tax revenue was generated for local governments in a single year after cleanup. This is two to seven times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to those brownfields.

As of May 2017, more than 124,759 jobs and $24 billion of public and private funding has been leveraged as a result of assessment grants and other EPA Brownfields grants. On average, $16.11 was leveraged for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 8.5 jobs leveraged per $100,000 of EPA brownfields funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements

About EPA’s brownfields program: https://epa.gov/brownfields

Successful Brownfields stories: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories

Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4

And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast

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