United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response(5101) EPA500-F-99-126 June 1999 www.epa.gov/brownfields/ Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Neville Township, PA 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. EPA is funding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years), to assess brownfields sites and to test cleanup and redevelopment models;job training pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affected by brownfieldstofacilitatecleanupofbrownfieldssites and preparetrainees for future employmentintheenvironmental field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund programs (each funded up to $500,000 over five years) to capitalize loan funds to make loans for the environmental cleanup of brownfields. These pilot programs 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 Township of Neville for a Brownfields Pilot. Neville Township is an island on the Ohio River, located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The island is 5 miles long and four-tenths of a mile wide, with a population of 1,273 and a 9.1 percent poverty rate. Although there are more than 150 businesses on the island, with the eastern end containing heavy industry, the township's tax base has declined 40 percent in recent years, and it continues to decline. The island has 400 acres of brownfields, about one- third of the island's land. These brownfields are a result of a decline in the township's historical production of military vehicles and steel, scrap recycling, shipping and distribution. While the island's location, flat topography, riverfront access and sound infrastructure make it ideal for industrial and commercial redevelopment, issues regarding real or perceived contamination have hindered redevelopment to more productive uses. The island is heavily industrialized on its east side and has a small residential area on the west side. PILOTSNAPSHOT Date of Announcement: June 1999 Amount: $200,000 Profile: The Pilot targets brownfields on Neville Island on the Ohio River. Neville Township, Pennsylvania Contacts: Township of Neville (412)264-3442 Regional Brownfields Team U.S. EPA - Region 3 (215)814-3129 Visit the EPA Region 3 Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/brownfld/hmpage1.htm 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/ ------- OBJECTIVES The Pilot's objective is to improve health and safety and spur economic activity in Neville by completing environmental assessments on several of the island's brownfields sites. Cleanup and redevelopment of these brownfields are a part of the town's comprehensive redevelopment plan that includes rezoning the island, which the town anticipates will improve the town's quality of life and its economic health. The new zoning will facilitate a transition from heavy industry on the eastern end to light industry and distribution in the middle, with retail, residential, and recreational uses on the island's western end. ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANDACTIVITIES Activities planned as part of this Pilot include: • Completing an inventory of the island's brownfields; • Performing Phase I environmental assessments on approximately five sites; • Conducting Phase II environmental assessments on three to four brownfields; • Designing cleanup plans for assessed sites; and • Educating and involving the community in assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment activities. 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 Neville Township, Pennsylvania June 1999 EPA500-F-99-126 ------- |