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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Franklin Regional
Council of
Governments,
Franklin County, MA
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. Additionally, funding
support is provided to state and tribal response pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The Franklin Regional Council of Governments was
selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant.
Located in the upper Connecticut River Valley in
western Massachusetts, Franklin County (population
72,334) occupies over 725 square miles and is consid-
ered the state's most rural area. Of the 26 towns in the
county, 18 have populations of fewer than 2,000.
Historically, the region's economy was based on
agriculture. As industrial innovations developed,
manufacturing facilities capitalized on the region's
Assessment Grant
L2007
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Franklin Regional Council of
Governments for a brownfields assessment grant.
Petroleum grant funds will be used to update an
inventory of underground storage tank and gas
station sites throughout the 26 towns in Franklin
County. Grant funds also will be used to conduct at
least six Phase I and three to four Phase II envi-
ronmental site assessments, and support commu-
nity 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 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1424
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/
Grant Recipient: Franklin Regional Council of
Governments, MA
413-774-1194, ext. 105
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.
hydropower and natural resource base. As large
manufacturing plants have given way to smaller
businesses, towns and village centers have struggled to
remain economically viable. Many of the communities
that once served as manufacturing employment centers
have experienced declines in population. The Franklin
Regional Council of Governments has identified 134
underground storage tank sites and 38 former gas
stations in the county. Assessment of these brownfields
will help communities facilitate their reuse. Brownfields
redevelopment will enhance local tax bases, create
jobs, and protect public health and the environment.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-07-053
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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