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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Baltimore National
Aquarium, MD
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 Baltimore National Aquarium was selected to
receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The target site is
along the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, in a
predominantly industrial area of Baltimore (population
651,154). Neighboring residential communities to the
north and south of the site are low-income. For ex-
ample, the Cherry Hill community, across the river
from the site, is 98 percent minority, with an unemploy-
ment rate over 18 percent, and a median household
income 58 percent of that of the city. Cleanup of the
143,000-square-foot Central Maintenance Garage and
the property around it will support the first phase of
development for the aquarium's Center for Aquatic
Life and Conservation, a state-of-the-art animal care
Cleanup Grant
A2005
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Baltimore National
Aquarium for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant
funds will be used to clean up hazardous sub-
stances contamination at an 11-acre property,
including the Baltimore Department of Public
Works Central Maintenance Garage. Funds also
will be used to remove above ground and under-
ground storage tanks, cap with soil, and conduct
community outreach 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/index.htm
Grant Recipient: National Aquarium in Baltimore,
MD
410-659-4277
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
and conservation education center. As a research and
training institution, it is likely to attract visitors and
scientists to Baltimore and the Middle Branch region.
Strong community-based conservation education
programs will serve Baltimore City schoolchildren and
residents. New jobs will be created for local residents,
and tax revenues will be generated for the city. The
second phase of development will include wetlands
restoration, creation of a public-access waterfront trail,
and the construction of additional education and
research facilities.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-05-038
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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