Brownfields 2007 Grant Fact Sheet

Robeson County, NC

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders 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 GRANTS

$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected Robeson County for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, conduct health monitoring, and support community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Robeson County was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in southern North Carolina, Robeson County (population 127,586) is a diverse community with a significant minority population. It is the center of the Lumbee Tribe. Native Americans and African-Americans comprise nearly 40 and 25 percent of its residents, respectively. During the 1900s, textile mills flourished, and by the 1950s, accounted for 47 percent of total employment in the region. By 2000, textile employment had declined by more than 60 percent. The median household income in the county is below the state and national averages, and 32.9 percent of residents live below the poverty level. The county's declining industries have left behind a large number of vacant and underused facilities, including textile mills and chemical plants. Many of these brownfields are located in areas with large minority populations and low economic activity. Brownfields assessments will improve their potential for redevelopment into productive industrial, commercial, and recreational facilities. Brownfields redevelopment will increase private investment, expand the tax base, and attract new employers.

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 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8792
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

Grant Recipient: Robeson County, NC
910-671-3022

The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.