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/ ------- 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 ------- |