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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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