United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA500-F-99-017
March 1999
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
PA Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilot
Nashua, NH
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower States, communities, and other
stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and
sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and
an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. Since 1995, EPA has funded more than 200 Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilots, at up to $200,000 each, to support creative two-year explorations and demonstrations of
brownfields solutions. The Pilots are intended to provide EPA, States, Tribes, municipalities, and communities with
useful information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified approach to site
assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment.
BACKGROUND
EPA has selected the City of Nashua for a Brownfields
Pilot. With a population of 83,000, Nashua is the
second-largest city in New Hampshire. The city is
currently in the midst of a $36.5 million project to
create the Broad Street Parkway, a two-mile-long,
four-lane parkway that will connectthe main highway
to the downtown area. As part of environmental
studies prepared for this project, more than 33
contaminated industrial sites were identified in the
vicinity of the project area. Although the city's
economy is strong (with unemployment rates of only
2.5 percent), 16.5 percent of the households in this
area are below the poverty level.
Approximately one-third of the contaminated
properties identified lie just beyond the parkway
project's scope. Although the new parkway will
greatly increase their value by improving their
accessibility, uncertainties regarding site
contamination have discouraged new businesses from
returning these sites to use. The Pilot will address as
many as ten of these properties, and has already
targeted three sites totaling 43.4 acres. All three
properties have unknown contamination and unpaid
back taxes that could lead to the city taking ownership.
Pilot funding will allow the city to define the nature
and extent of contamination on these and up to seven
additional sites, and develop strategies for their
eventual cleanup and reuse. The community will
PILOT SNAPSHOT
Date of Announcement:
March 1999
Amount: $200,000
Profile: The Pilot targets six to
ten contaminated sites in a 95-
acre area located in the vicinity
of the Broad Street Parkway.
Nashua, New Hampshire
Contacts:
City of Nashua
Community Development
Department
(603) 594-3379
Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA-Region 1
(617)918-1209
Visit the EPA Region 1 Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/region01/remed/brnfld/
For further information, including specific Pilot contacts,
additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and
publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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influence Pilot strategies, just as it has played a
significant role in the Broad Street Parkway project.
The environmental issues raised in public debates
concerning the parkway project will be considered
when developing brownfields plans.
OBJECTIVES
Nashua's objective is to return six to ten properties in
a 95-acre area located in the vicinity of the Broad
Street Parkway proj ect to productive use. In addition
to the three sites already targeted, others will be
selected and prioritized based on contamination
issues, redevelopment potential, and input from the
community. The Pilot will perform environmental
assessments when necessary, depending on the level
of site information already available. An
informational brochure will be distributed to
surrounding communities to explain the brownfields
project and how the public can participate. Public
meetings will allow residents to provide input on site
selection, assessment, and cleanup plans. The Pilot
will also create an information resource center to
store assessment data gathered through the
brownfields proj ect for use by the public and potential
investors and developers.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:
• Identifying and prioritizing sites within the target
area, in addition to the three already selected
(Mohawk Tannery, Whitney Screw, and Bennett
Street);
• Assessing environmental contamination at the top
six to ten priority sites;
• Planning cleanup activities based on assessment
results;
• Performing studies regarding assessment, cleanup
and redevelopment issues; and
• Performing community involvement activities to
explain the brownfields project and receive input
on site selection, assessment, and cleanup strategies.
The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated;
therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Nashua, New Hampshire
March 1999 EPA 500-F-99-017
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