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Eight Brownfields Grants Awarded in Connecticut; Part of $75.4 Million Funded Nationwide

Release Date: 06/15/04
Contact Information: Contact: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Involvement Office, (617) 918-1064

For Immediate Release: June 15, 2004; Release # 04-06-11

BOSTON -- Eight grants totaling more than $1.6 million were awarded today to Connecticut communities and regional councils to help them assess, clean and redevelop abandoned, contaminated parcels known as Brownfields. The funding is among $75.4 million of Brownfields grants announced this week by EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt, including $8.6 million to New England alone.

"These grants will help spur the cleanup of abandoned, contaminated parcels all across New England, and here in Connecticut," said Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator of EPA's New England regional office.

The grants announced today were made to:

• Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments - $125,000
• City of Bridgeport - $400,000
• Capital Region Council of Governments - $200,000
• Hockanum Industrial Development Venture Corporation - $200,000
• City of Torrington - $199,130
• Town of Vernon - $100,000
• City of Meriden - $200,000
• Town of Griswold - $200,000

EPA's Brownfields funds help communities assess contamination at abandoned and vacant sites and estimate the costs of cleaning up sites for redevelopment. Municipalities and select organizations can also receive funding for cleanup grants and to establish revolving loan programs that provide low interest loans for cleanups.

The funding for this and other projects is a direct result of Brownfields legislation signed by President Bush in 2002. In addition to making more sites eligible for cleanup, including petroleum contaminated sites, the legislation greatly increased funding to assist nonprofit groups, municipalities, regional agencies and states in various tasks associated with restoring and revitalizing Brownfields properties, of which there are thousands across New England. The law authorizes up to $250 million in funds annually for Brownfield grants, including up to $50 million for assessment and cleanup of low-risk petroleum contaminated sites.

Since 1995, EPA New England has provided more than $91 million for grants, site evaluations, job training and cleanup loan programs to dozens of communities and agencies, including more than $19.9 million to Connecticut. Federal funding has leveraged another $150 million in private investments to cleanup and redevelopment. With that was the addition of some 2000 new jobs in the state. EPA estimates that every acre of reclaimed Brownfields saves 4.5 acres of greenspace and every greenspace created, on average, has doubled the value of surrounding properties.

The Brownfields program reflects a new model in environmental protection which is locally-based, forges strong public-private partnerships and promotes innovation and creativity. This approach empowers state and local environmental and redevelopment officials to oversee Brownfields activities, ensuring that local solutions are created to solve local problems.

EPA seeks to ensure that all citizens enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment and better quality of life, and that no community or neighborhood bares a heavier burden of environmental risks that may impact their health.

Related Information:
NE Brownfields Web site
Smart Growth
NE Brownfields Success Stories