55 o T> 13 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 ------- |