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  Brownfields 2004

  Grant  Fact Sheet

       Westbrook,  ME




EPA Brownfields Program

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
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, the President
signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields
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 pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Westbrook was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Located west of
Portland, Westbrook has 16,142 residents, of whom 53
percent are classified as having low to moderate
incomes. Approximately 13.2 percent of the city's
children live in poverty. The city is an historic mill town
struggling with the legacies of its industrial heritage and
falling short in its efforts to reclaim lost business from
the region's larger shopping areas. Most of the city's
lumber, textile, and pulp and paper mills have shut
down in recent years. Brownfields redevelopment is
expected to lead to commercial and recreational
development of the riverfront of the Presumpscot
River, which flows through the city's  center. It will also
                         Assessment Grant
                         $200,000 for hazardous substances

                         EPA has selected the City of Westbrook to
                         receive a brownfields assessment grant. Grant
                         funds will be used to conduct an inventory and
                         analysis of brownfield sites in the city. Approxi-
                         mately five to nine Phase I assessments will be
                         performed at a tire manufacturing site, an unused
                         park, and three to six other sites. At least two
                         Phase II assessments will also be conducted as
                         warranted. Grant funds also will be used to
                         develop remedial action and reuse plans for
                         selected sites.
                         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
                         617-918-1221
                         http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

                         Grant Recipient: Westbrook, ME
                         207-854-9105

                         The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                         yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
                         described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                      lead to reclamation of the downtown retail district, and
                      the creation of jobs.
                         Solid Waste and
                         Emergency Response
                         (5105T)
                                                                       EPA 560-F-04-099
                                                                       June 2004
                                                                       www.epa.gov/brownfields

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