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  Brownfields  2007

  Grant  Fact Sheet

         Holyoke,  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. Addi-
tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Holyoke was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant and a brownfields
cleanup grant. Located between the Connecticut River
and the Mount Tom/East Mountain Range, Holyoke
(population 39,838) is the poorest community in Massa-
chusetts. The median household income is $20,000
lower than the state median, and the percent of
residents living below the poverty level is three times
the state rate. The unemployment rate is almost 50
percent higher than the state rate. There are many
abandoned or underused properties throughout the city
with potential environmental issues. In addition to
posing a threat to public health and safety, these sites
deter investment in the city. Assessment of the city's
brownfields will help clarify potential cleanup needs
and risks, and ultimately promote investment that will
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances

EPA has selected the City of Holyoke for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to complete
seven to ten Phase I and two to three Phase II
environmental site assessments and support
community outreach activities.
Cleanup Grant
$96,000 for petroleum

EPA has selected the City of Holyoke for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Petroleum grant funds
will be used to clean up the former Adams
Pakkawood facility at 191 Appleton Street. The
site was first used for textile manufacturing and
later was home to a company that manufactured
wood products associated with kitchenware.  Site
investigation has indicated the presence of
petroleum contamination in the soil. Grant funds
also will be used to support community involve-
ment 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: City of Holyoke, MA
413-322-5575

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-07-075
                        May 2007
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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elevate property values and increase tax revenues.
Cleanup of the Adams Pakkawood property will
reduce risks to human health and facilitate its redevel-
opment into a recreational area for use by residents.

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