55 o T> 13 Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Weirton, WV 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 City of Weirton was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in the northern panhandle of West Virginia, the City of Weirton (population 20,500) has an economy that has depended on the steel industry. The Mittal Steel Company currently owns more than one third of the land parcels in Weirton. The decline of the steel industry has led to a loss of jobs. The city's population decreased almost 5.5 percent between 2000 and 2005, and more than 25 percent of the population is 65 years old or older. The Cove Elementary School site, located in the center of downtown Weirton, has been abandoned for about 15 years. When the site is cleaned up, the city plans to redevelop it into senior housing and greenspace. The greenspace will provide a central park and serve as a corridor to adjacent recreational areas. The city Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Weirton for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Cove Elementary School at 100 Cove Road. The school was used from 1911 until 1991. Contamination includes inorganic contaminants and heavy metals. 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 3 Brownfields Team 215-814-3129 http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs Grant Recipient: City of Weirton, WV 304-797-8503 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. expects the redevelopment to stimulate improvements to adjacent facilities and other revitalization efforts for the downtown area. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-08-254 July 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |