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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact Sheet

        Lawrence,  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 this 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 programs through
a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Lawrence was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Located in Essex County
along the Spicket River, Lawrence (population 72,043)
was founded in 1845. For years, the city's economy
was supported by textile mills and shoe factories. The
legacy of this industrial past has left brownfields
scattered throughout the city's federally designated
Renewal Community. Lawrence is the 23rd poorest
city in the United States, and city residents have the
lowest per capita income in the state. About 21 percent
of families live below the poverty level, and the unem-
ployment rate is more than 10 percent. When the
target site is cleaned up, the city plans to redevelop it
as a neighborhood park.
Cleanup Grant
$150,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Lawrence for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the former
Lawrence Thermal Conversion Facility at 85
Manchester Street. The site, also known as the
Covanta Site, has a long industrial history dating
back to the 1800s, including use as an icehouse,
power generation and manufacturing facility, and
railroad yard. Site soil is contaminated with a
variety of hazardous substances, including poly-
nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and
dioxins.
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/regionl/brownfields

Grant Recipient: City of Lawrence, MA
978-620-3527

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)
                        EPA560-F-08-013
                        April 2008
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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