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  Brownfields  2004

  Grant  Fact Sheet

   Norfolk County,  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

Norfolk County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant.  The targeted communities of
Franklin and Wrentham (total population 40,114) are
two of Norfolk County's (population 650,308) high-
growth communities. From 1990 to 2000, Franklin
experienced a 34 percent increase in population, and
Wrentham experienced a 17 percent increase. Be-
cause commercial and industrial growth has not kept
up with population growth, unemployment in the region
has risen, and the region's average wage is approxi-
mately 12 percent less than the average wage in the
state. Redevelopment of brownfields is expected to
stimulate economic development that will allow the
towns to diversify and increase their tax bases. Rede-
                         Assessment Grant
                         $200,000 for petroleum

                         EPA has selected Norfolk County for a
                         brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
                         used to develop an inventory, evaluate and priori-
                         tize sites, and perform Phase I and II site assess-
                         ments at sites with potential petroleum contamina-
                         tion in the towns of Franklin and Wrentham. Funds
                         also will be used to establish a brownfields
                         committee and conduct community outreach.
                         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: Norfolk County, MA
                         781-461-6159

                         The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                         yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
                         in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                      velopment also will help preserve greenspace in
                      Franklin and Wrentham, where residential development
                      already has replaced significant amounts of forest and
                      agricultural lands.
                         Solid Waste and
                         Emergency Response
                         (5105T)
                                                                       EPA560-F-04-160
                                                                       June 2004
                                                                       www.epa.gov/brownfields

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