Brownfields Area-Wide Plannini
i
Pilot Project Fact Sheet
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communi-
ties, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent,
assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brown-
fields. A brownfield 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. In 2002, the Small
Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization
Act was passed to help states and communities around
the country clean up and revitalize brownfields sites. Un-
der this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible
applicants to assess and clean up brownfield sites.
Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot
Program
EPA is piloting an area-wide planning approach to com-
munity brownfield challenges, which recognizes that
revitalization of the area surrounding the brownfield site(s)
is just as critical to the successful reuse of the property as
assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of an individual
site. The pilot program will help further community-based
partnership efforts within underserved or economically
disadvantaged neighborhoods by confronting local envi-
ronmental and public health challenges related to brown-
fields, while creating a planning framework to advance
economic development and job creation.
Pilot Project Description
EPA has selected the City of New Bern as a Brownfields
Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program recipient. New Bern is
targeting the Five Points neighborhood, an area adjacent
to the city's downtown historic district. The area is home
to 7,726 people. Once a vibrant area of residential and
commercial activities, Five Points has experienced years
of disinvestment, and many properties have been aban-
doned. More than 30 percent of residents live below the
poverty level. The Five Points neighborhood contains at
least 39 brownfields, including abandoned gas stations,
former dry cleaners, and many underutilized buildings.
New Bern, NC
Pilot Program Description
EPA is awarding approximately $4 million
in total across 23 recipients. Recipients will
each receive up to approximately $175,000 in EPA
cooperative agreement and/or direct technical assis-
tance. Assistance will help recipients initiate develop-
ment of an area-wide plan and identify next steps and
resources needed to implement the plan.
Contacts
For additional information, brownfields news and
events, and publications and links, visit the EPA
Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields).
EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
(202) 566-0633
Assistance Recipient: City of New Bern, NC
(252) 639-7586
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the project proposal; EPA cannot attest to the ac-
curacy of this information. The cooperative agreement
and/or direct technical assistance have not yet been
negotiated. Activities described in this fact sheet are
subject to change.
More than 30 percent of the retail space is vacant. The
area-wide plan for the Five Points neighborhood will
identify best uses for brownfields based on environmental
data and community input, and assess current infrastruc-
ture needs to support reuse. Development of the plan is
expected to facilitate community involvement in brown-
fields assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment, connect
brownfields reuse to new job opportunities, and increase
transit opportunities for the community.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-10-003O
October 2010
www.epa.gov/brownfields
------- |