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  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

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