I 'O UJ O Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet Bath, ME 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, 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 pro- grams through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Bath was selected to receive a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. Bath (population 9,266), on the shores of the Kennebec River, is the county seat and only urban area in Sagadahoc County. Although only 28 percent of county households are in Bath, the city accounts for 43 percent of county households that receive public assistance. Thirty-six percent of county residents who have incomes below the poverty level live in Bath. Many of the residents of the waterfront target area (population 1,585) are low-income, and more than 25 percent are senior citizens. The water- front, traditionally the home of Bath's industry, has many abandoned and deteriorated properties. Cleanup and redevelopment of the waterfront sites will reduce Revolving Loan Fund Grant $750,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Bath for a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. Grant funds will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund, from which the city will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with hazardous substances through- out Bath, particularly in the northern waterfront 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 1 Brownfields Team 617-918-1221 http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Bath, ME 207-443-8372 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. the threat of contamination to the Kennebec River, which is crucial to the economic and recreational life of the city, reclaim the waterfront, preserve its shipbuild- ing history, and help balance the needs outlined in the city's action plan for a transportation hub, recreational access, housing, and economic development in the area. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-04-105 June 2004 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |