Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission

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, the President 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 Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to inventory and assess sites throughout the 39 communities served by the commission, develop cleanup and reuse plans, and promote community involvement. Priority for Phase I and II assessments will be given to a former foundry, two abandoned mills, and a former lumber yard/wood processing plant.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Southern Maine has a population of 198,800 and is part of a federal Economic Development District. Southern Maine's rich industrial heritage, particularly in the textile industry, has resulted in the loss of over 17,000 manufacturing jobs over the past decade, a seven percent unemployment rate in some communities, and limited job growth. Redevelopment of priority sites in Biddeford, Parsonsfield, and Saco have stalled due to environmental concerns. Site assessments and cleanup planning are needed to move these and other brownfields to redevelopment, which is expected to revitalize local communities, create affordable housing, and combat sprawl that is quickly consuming local resources and destroying Southern Maine's unique heritage.

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 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1221
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

Grant Recipient: Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission
207-324-2952

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