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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact Sheet

        Wrentham,  MA


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 Wrentham was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Located midway between
Boston and Providence, Wrentham (population
10,554) is a rural community. According to the Massa-
chusetts Department of Environmental Protection,
over 60 sites in the town have some environmental
concerns. Through participation in Norfolk County's
Brownfield Assessment Program, the town has been
able to investigate its contaminated and underutilized
properties. Wrentham has recently experienced a 17.2
percent increase in population and needs developable
land. It has been looking at undeveloped parcels to
accommodate mixed housing and provide affordable
options for senior citizens and young adults. When the
target site is cleaned up, the town plans to reuse it for
mixed housing development and greenspace.
                   Cleanup Grant
                   $200,000 for hazardous substances
                   EPA has selected the Town of Wrentham for a
                   brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
                   grant funds will be used to clean up the Marra
                   property at 775 South Street. The property was
                   operated as a sand and gravel pit from 1949 until
                   the 1970s, when it was used as a junk yard. Soil is
                   contaminated with dieldrin and oilier hazardous
                   substances. Grant funds also will be used to
                   conduct community outreach 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 Wrentham, MA
                   781-461-6159

                   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-08-209
                                           July 2008
                                           www.epa.gov/brownfields

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