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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Brewer, 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 Brewer was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. The bankruptcy of the
city's largest taxpayer and employer, a paper manufac-
turing business that closed in January 2004 after almost
a century of operations, has placed significant pres-
sures on the entire community of Brewer (population
8,951). In 2000, the median household income of
residents in the target area around the abandoned mill
in South Brewer was already significantly below the
state average. The ramifications of the mill closure
include increased joblessness, lowering of the tax base,
increased tax burdens, reduction in city programs, and
an 18 percent poverty rate. The city hopes to clean up
the former mill site as a waterfront park, public court-
Assessment Grant
New^l
12005./I
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$350,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Brewer for a
brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
used to conduct additional Phase II subsurface
investigations at the abandoned Eastern Fine
Paper Mill site in South Brewer, remedial action
and reuse planning, and 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 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1221
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/
Grant Recipient: City of Brewer, ME
207-989-7500
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
yards, and greenspace. Redevelopment also will serve
as a catalyst to reverse the slum and blight of the area,
reduce the risk of hazardous contaminants, and dimin-
ish the stigma that has impacted property values.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-05-172
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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