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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact Sheet

    East Hampton,   CT


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 East Hampton was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Located in central Con-
necticut along the banks of the Connecticut River, East
Hampton (population 11,300) became a major indus-
trial center of the Northeast during the 1800s, manu-
facturing 90 percent of the world's sleigh bells. Other
manufacturers were located in what is now the Village
Center, where 24 brownfield sites are located. The
town's per capita income and job growth rate are
below the state averages, and there is a heavy tax
burden on residential property owners. Sustainable
reuse of former mills will make the village  more
attractive to developers and small business  owners,
and will improve the quality of life for residents. The
contaminated Summit Thread site, targeted for
cleanup, is located in a neighborhood that includes day
  Cleanup Grant
  $200,000 for hazardous substances
  EPA has selected the Town of East Hampton for a
  brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
  grant funds will be used to clean up the Summit
  Thread Powerhouse at 13 Watrous Street, which
  is contaminated with chlorinated solvents, PCBs,
  and metals. The site had been the powerhouse for
  the Summit Thread and Artistic Wire Companies
  beginning in the 1800s, the site for various
  industrial and manufacturing operations, and an
  automotive repair shop. Funds also will be used
  for 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 1 Brownfields Team
  617-918-1424
  http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/

  Grant Recipient: Town of East Hampton, CT
  860-267-4468

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
care centers and senior centers, and an elementary
school. When the site is cleaned up, a private company
is planning to renovate the property and expand its
business there. Redevelopment of the old powerhouse
site is expected to attract new businesses, increase the
commercial tax base, relieve the heavy tax burden on
residents, create jobs, and remove blight.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                          EPA 560-F-06-002
                          May 2006
                          www.epa.gov/brownfields

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