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  Brownfields  2004

  Grant  Fact Sheet

      Ogdensburg,  NY




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 Ogdensburg was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Ogdensburg (population
12,364) has not shared in the economic gains enjoyed
by other communities across New York. Ogdensburg's
population declined 8.6 percent between 1990 and
2000, and 14 percent of its residents are living in
poverty. Ogdensburg's unemployment rate is 7 percent,
one of the highest in the state. Once a thriving com-
mercial port and manufacturing base, over half of
Ogdensburg's developable waterfront is made up of
known or suspected brownfields. Dramatic declines in
business activity have reduced the tax revenues,
further straining the city's ability to maintain its aging
infrastructure.
                      Assessment Grant
                       $20,000 for hazardous substances
                       $180,000 for petroleum

                       EPA has selected the City of Ogdensburg for a
                       brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
                       stances funds will be used to conduct Phase I and
                       Phase II assessments at a city-owned vacant
                       building, once the site of a drycleaning business
                       that is suspected of being contaminated. Petro-
                       leum grant funds will be used to conduct Phase I
                       and Phase II assessments on three vacant water-
                       front parcels along the St. Lawrence River that
                       were contaminated during previous use as a tank
                       farm and terminal. Funds also will be used for
                       community involvement and for cleanup planning.
                       Once cleaned up, part of the waterfront will be
                       turned into a public park allowing access to the
                       river.
                       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 2 Brownfields Team
                      212-637-4314
                      http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/
                      brownfields/

                      Grant Recipient: Ogdensburg, NY
                      315-393-7150

                      The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                      yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
                      in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                                            EPA560-F-04-164
                                            June 2004
                                            www.epa.gov/brownfields

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