5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Pembroke, NC 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 Town of Pembroke was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located in Robeson County, North Carolina, Pembroke (population 2,399) developed along the intersection of two railroad lines. Most business activity in the area was related to agriculture and the railroads. Pembroke has been recognized as the political, economic, and social center of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. The town is part of a federally designated Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community. It was home to several oil and chemical plants and facilities that supported textile manufacturing activities in neighboring com- munities. As the textile industry declined in response to globalization and changing market forces, the chemical plants and facilities were abandoned, leaving potential petroleum contamination. Pembroke has Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Town of Pembroke for a brownfields assessment grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfields sites, perform Phase I and II environ- mental site assessments, develop cleanup and reuse plans, and conduct health monitoring and community 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 4 Brownfields Team 404-562-8866 http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm Grant Recipient: Town of Pembroke, NC 910-521-9758 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. identified several potential brownfields sites near residential communities that negatively impact the community's economic growth and environment. More than 80 percent of Pembroke's residents are members of the Lumbee Tribe. The median household income in Pembroke is 47 percent of the state median, and the unemployment rate is more than twice the state rate. Assessment of the town's brownfields sites will help the town provide information about petroleum contami- nation to community groups, business leaders, and other stakeholders. Redevelopment of Pembroke's brownfields properties will improve the environment, bring new job opportunities to the community, and increase the town's tax base. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-06-082 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |