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  Brownfields  2004

  Grant  Fact Sheet

     New Bedford,  MA




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 New Bedford was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. New Bedford (population
93,768) is a historically diverse community where
roughly one half of its residents are Portuguese or of
Portuguese extraction. The per capita income is 60
percent of the state average, and more than 17 percent
of the families live in poverty. Both the unemployment
and high school dropout rates significantly exceed the
state's rates. The Reliable Truss site, on the banks of
the Acushnet River, lies in an Environmental Justice
area directly across a public right-of-way from a
residential area. Removal of the lead-contaminated soil
at the site will help reduce health risks. This will allow
the creation of a public park that will  provide for
                       Cleanup Grant
                       $200,000 for hazardous substances

                       EPA has selected the City of New Bedford for a
                       brownfields cleanup grant. The cleanup grant will
                       be used to clean up hazardous substances con-
                       tamination on the 2.5-acre former Reliable Truss
                       site at 246 River Road, which was once used for
                       the manufacture of wooden trusses. This site will
                       be reused as a waterfront public park and salt
                       marsh habitat.
                       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: New Bedford, MA
                       508-979-1487

                       The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                       yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
                       in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                    enhanced public access to the river, passive recreation
                    opportunities, and improved aesthetics. Restoration of a
                    low salt marsh habitat on filled tideland will help create
                    a healthier, more functional environment for local
                    residents.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                                             EPA 560-F-04-081
                                             June 2004
                                             www.epa.gov/brownfields

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