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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

      Redevelopment

  Authority ofEaston,

                   PA


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. A brownfield 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 Redevelopment Authority of Easton was selected
to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in
Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania, Easton
(population 26,263) has a long history of industrial
activities,  including textile manufacturing, metal
fabrication, and transportation. The nationwide decline
of these activities has negatively affected the city's
economy.  Eastern's poverty rate of 16  percent is more
than twice the county-wide rate, and the city's unem-
ployment rate is 7.2 percent. The decline  of industrial
activities also has resulted in the creation of many
                   Cleanup Grant
                   $200,000 for hazardous substances
                   EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
                   Easton for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous
                   substances grant fluids will be used to clean up the
                   11-acre former Simon Silk Mill site at 671 North
                   13th Street. Site contaminants include metals,
                   poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and PCBs.
                   Grant funds also will be used to support 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 3 Brownfields Team
                   215-814-3129
                   http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs
                   Grant Recipient: Redevelopment Authority of
                   Easton, PA
                   610-250-6651
                   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 mis fact
                   sheet are subject to change.
                  brownfield sites. The former Simon Silk Mill site,
                  Easton's largest brownfield site, represents the city's
                  most significant redevelopment opportunity. At the
                  height of its operations, which began in 1883 to
                  manufacture silk, the mill employed 1,200 people.
                  When the former mill site is cleaned up, the Redevel-
                  opment Authority ofEaston plans to redevelop the site
                  for commercial, residential, and community uses,
                  including public open space along Bushkill Creek.
                                                Solid Waste and
                                                Emergency Response
                                                (5105T)
                                          EPA 560-F-08-259
                                          July 2008
                                          www.epa.gov/brownfields

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