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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact Sheet

         Newtown,  CT



EPA Brownfields  Program

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders 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, President George W. Bush signed
into law the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under this 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 programs through
a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The Town of Newtown was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Located in southwest
Connecticut, Newtown (population 25,031) was
founded as a fanning community with scattered mill
developments along  several streams. Less than one
percent of the town's land contains commercial
development,  limiting its commercial and industrial
tax base. The Fairfield Hills Complex site represents
the town's largest single opportunity for the expansion
of this tax base on town-owned land. Cleanup of the
site is expected to reduce health risks to area residents
and reduce blight in the community. Once cleanup is
complete, the town plans to lease site buildings for
office and retail space. Portions of the site also are
expected to be reused for a new town recreation
center.
                   Cleanup  Grant
                   $200,000 for hazardous substances

                   EPA has selected the Town of Newtown for a
                   brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
                   grant funds will be used to clean up the 185-acre
                   Fairfield Hills Complex site on Mile Hill Road in
                   Newtown. The site contained a mental health
                   hospital from the 1930s until the 1990s and is
                   contaminated with inorganic hazardous materials.
                   Grant funds also will be used to conduct commu-
                   nity involvement activities.
                   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
                   617-918-1424
                   http://www.epa.gov/regionl/brownfields

                   Grant Recipient: Town of Newtown, CT
                   203-270-4201

                   The information presented in this fact sheet comes
                   from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
                   accuracy of this information. The cooperative
                   agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti-
                   ated. Therefore, activities described in this fact
                   sheet are subject to change.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                                          EPA 560-F-08-206
                                          July 2008
                                          www.epa.gov/brownfields

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