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  Brownfields 2007

  Grant  Fact Sheet

         Camden, ME


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 Camden was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Camden (population 5,374)
is located on the mid-coast of Maine, which has long
been a tourist destination. Although Camden's popula-
tion has been increasing, jobs in the Camden area
declined nearly 11 percent between 2002 and 2005.
Pressures to convert properties to high-end residential
use for the growing population of retirees have reduced
the number of sites available for business expansion or
development. The former Apollo Tannery site to be
addressed by this grant has been idle for nearly eight
years. Groundwater contamination from the site is
discharging to the adjacent Megunticook River.
Cleanup of the former tannery will reduce off-site
migration of contaminants, help protect the health of
the river and community, and facilitate redevelopment.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Town of Camden for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the 3.5-acre
former Apollo Tannery site located at 116 Wash-
ington Street. Beginning in 1887, the site operated
as a woolen mill for 66 years and later as a
tannery for 46 years. Site  soils and groundwater
are contaminated with solvents and organic
compounds. Grant funds also will be used to
support community involvement 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 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1424
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

Grant Recipient: Town of Camden, ME
207-236-3353

The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from  the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. The cooperative
agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti-
ated.  Therefore, activities described in this fact
sheet are subject to change.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA 560-F-07-220
                        August 2007
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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