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Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Norwalk
Redevelopment
Agency, CT
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. 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 Norwalk Redevelopment Agency was selected to
receive two brownfields assessment grants. The City
of Norwalk (82,951) is located in the center of
Connecticut's Fairfield County, 45 minutes from New
York City. It benefits from the rich heritage of a New
England waterfront with exceptional geographic and
economic advantages. Despite the vibrancy, most of
the adjacent neighborhoods in the urban core in South
Norwalk still experience high levels of unemployment,
poverty, and crime, and are home to the largest number
of brownfields. Within this area, 15 percent of resi-
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Norwalk Redevelopment
Agency for two brownfields assessment grants.
Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
perform up to seven Phase I and up to five Phase
II environmental site assessments in the city's
urban core, known as South Norwalk. Petroleum
grant funds will be used to perform up to seven
Phase I and up to six Phase II environmental site
assessments in the same area. Grant funds also
will be used for site inventory and prioritization,
integration of information into a geographic
information system, reuse planning, and commu-
nity 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
617-918-1424
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/
Grant Recipient: Norwalk Redevelopment Agency,
CT
203-854-7810, ext. 6786
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
dents live below the poverty level, and half the residents
are minorities. Throughout the 19th and early 20th
Centuries, the South Norwalk area was the home of a
significant number of hat factories. These factories were
notorious for their use of mercury and other heavy
metals. Consequently, the city's industrial past has
saddled South Norwalk with extensive environmental
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-004
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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concerns impeding economic development and nega-
tively impacting public health. The revitalized
brownfields will serve as a catalyst for private invest-
ment and real estate development, including mixed-use
development, retail space, and an expanded transporta-
tion hub. Brownfields redevelopment will clean up
pollution, promote economic benefits, create jobs,
promote a vibrant community, reduce blight, and
prevent future brownfields.
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