SB,
HI
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Brownfields 2003
Grant Fact Sheet
West-to-West Coalition,
Inc., Allegheny County, PA
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up,
and sustainably reuse brownfields. Abrownfield 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. Addi-
tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The West-to-West Coalition was selected to receive
a brownfields assessment grant. The West-to-West
Coalition is an economic development agency repre-
senting the interests of its constituent communities in
the Monongahela River Valley, which long served as
one of the country's primary industrial centers. The
banks of Monongahela River were once lined with
steel-making operations and other heavy industries that
relied on the river and adjacent rail lines. Between
1970 and 1990, the region lost half of its manufacturing
base, and manufacturing jobs declined by 54 percent
with the collapse of the steel industry. Some
Monongahela River Valley communities lost as much
as three-quarters of their populations as residents left
the area in search of employment. The City of
McKeesport and the Borough of Rankin are federally
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substance^,rrl.
$ 100,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the West-to-West Coalition to
receive a brownfields assessment grant. Grant
funds will be used to perform Phase II investiga-
tions for hazardous substances at three sites in
McKeesport, Clairton, and Rankin. Grant funds
also will be used to perform Phase II investiga-
tions for petroleum contamination at two sites in
McKeesport and Braddock. A portion of grant
funds will be used to support community out-
reach efforts in each target area.
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: West-to-West Coalition, Inc.,
PA
412-469-1132
Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the West-
to-West Coalition has not received funding for brownfields
grants.
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
are subject to change.
designated Enterprise Communities, and Clarion,
McKeesport, and Braddock are Pennsylvania-desig-
nated Enterprise Zones. The West-to-West Coalition
will form a Brownfields Advisory Panel in the valley,
which will engage residents in reuse planning.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA500-F-03-212
June 2003
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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