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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant Fact  Sheet

        South  Brewer

Redevelopment,  LLC,

          Brewer,  ME


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
South Brewer Redevelopment, LLC, was selected to
receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in
southern Maine, Brewer (population 8,951) was the
home of the Eastern Fine Paper Mill, located on the
Penobscot River waterfront. The mill was the city's
largest employer for 90 years. For most of that time, it
also was the city's  largest taxpayer and sewer user,
accounting for more than one-half of the wastewater
treatment facility's annual revenues. Closure of the
mill has resulted in increased unemployment, a
decreased tax base, pending reductions in city pro-
  Cleanup Grant
  $200,000 for hazardous substances
  EPA has selected South Brewer Redevelopment,
  LLC, for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous
  substances grant funds will be used to clean up
  the Eastern Fine Paper Mill site at 517 South
  Main Street in Brewer. The former paper mill site
  is contaminated with a variety of hazardous
  substances, including PCBs, semivolatile organic
  compounds, metals and coal tar. Grant funds will
  be used to remove and dispose of contaminated
  soil and conduct 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: South Brewer Redevelopment,
  LLC, ME
  207-989-7500
  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
grams resulting from the budget deficit, and increased
sewer rates. The cleanup site is located in an area where
18 percent of residents live below the poverty level and
26 percent of households earn an annual income of less
than $15,000. The waterfront area next to the mill is
affected by slum and blight conditions largely driven by
the mill closure, thereby contributing to the creation of
additional brownfields.  Redevelopment options include
a waterfront trail and additional greenspace as part of
Brewer's plan to become a high-tech, cultural, and retail
center. Brownfields redevelopment will attract jobs,
                                                Solid Waste and
                                                Emergency Response
                                                (5105T)
                         EPA560-F-06-017
                         May 2006
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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increase the tax base and property values, eliminate
conditions that encourage sprawl and blight, reduce
human health risks, and protect the environment.

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