Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet

Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, Northern Panhandle, WV

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.

ASSESSMENT GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission for a brownfields assessment grant. The commission will identify, inventory, and prioritize brownfield sites in Brooke and Hancock Counties, West Virginia. Grant funds also will be used to conduct Phase I environmental assessments and a limited number of Phase II assessments on selected sites based on Phase I results. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission was selected to receive an assessment grant. The commission has targeted about 30 potential brownfields in two rural counties in the northern panhandle of West Virginia, which is part of Appalachia. Most of the brownfields are the result of the demise of steel and other industries in the region. A 70 percent reduction in jobs has occurred from the loss of the steel industry alone. Hancock County has the slowest growth rate of all West Virginia counties, and per capita income in the two counties is lower than the national average. Assessment and cleanup of targeted areas will encourage redevelopment of properties, create greenspace, and address health concerns in a region with one of the highest cancer rates in the country. A task force created by the commission will continue to reach out to community-based organizations to involve citizens in assessment and reuse issues.

CONTACTS

For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 3 Brownfields Team
215-814-3129
http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm

Grant Recipient: Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, WV
740-282-3685

Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission has not received brownfields grant funding.

The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.