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Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet
Washington County Authority, PA
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 this 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.
CLEANUP GRANTS
$550,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Washington County Authority for three brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Old Dietary Building, Laurel Hall, and the General Storeroom, all part of the former Western Center at 333 Curry Hill Road. Grant funds also will be used to develop cleanup plans and conduct post-cleanup monitoring. Environmental concerns include inorganic materials, solvents, and electrical equipment components made with hazardous materials.
COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION
The Washington County Authority was selected to receive three brownfields cleanup grants. Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, Washington County (population 206,432) developed around steel manufacturing and other heavy industries. The economic impacts that accompanied the loss of industry in the region were further complicated by the closing of the Western Center State School and Hospital. The Center provided critical social services in the area and employed hundreds of local residents. The county sold the Center's farmlands for redevelopment into high-tech businesses, upscale homes, and a golf course. The remaining 221 acres represent the county's largest concentration of brownfields. The county plans to redevelop the property with housing, cultural venues, and greenspace. The cleanup sites are slated to become part of the housing component of this development. When completed, the project is expected to create over 2,000 jobs and generate over $250 million in revenues.
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.
EPA Region 3 Brownfields Team
215-814-3129
EPA Region 3 Brownfields web site
Grant Recipient: Washington County Authority, PA
724-250-6418
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.