\ (5 Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet Bath, 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, President George W. Bush 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. Addi- tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Bath was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Bath (population 9,266), on the shores of the Kennebec River, is the county seat and only urban area in Sagadahoc County. Although only 28 percent of county households are in Bath, the city accounts for 43 percent of county households that receive public assistance. Thirty-six percent of county residents who have incomes below the poverty level live in Bath. Many of the residents of the waterfront target area are low-income, and more than 25 percent are senior citizens. The waterfront, traditionally the home of Bath's industry, has many abandoned and deteriorated properties. A preliminary inventory of brownfields sites completed in Spring 2004 identified 45 Assessment Grant (20051 $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Bath for a brownfields assessment grant. The grant will be used to sustain Bath's established brownfields community outreach program, update its inventory of brownfields, conduct additional Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments, and develop final remedial action and reuse plans. 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: City of Bath, ME 207-443-8372 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. sites within the downtown and waterfront area. All of these sites are in prime locations, and all sit idle. Cleanup and redevelopment of the waterfront sites will reduce the threat of contamination to the Kennebec River, which is crucial to the economic and recreational life of the city; reclaim the waterfront; preserve the city's shipbuilding history; and help balance the needs outlined in the city's action plan for a transportation hub, recreational access, housing, and economic development. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-05-021 May 2005 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |