5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Rutland Regional Planning Commission, VT 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 Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located in western Vermont, the RRPC assists 27 towns (combined population 63,400) with land-use planning and economic development efforts. The region includes rural towns and sub-regional centers around the City of Rutland, the economic and social hub of the county. The city and many of the sub- regional hubs developed around industrial and manu- facturing operations, including slate, marble, and iron mining; foundry operations; clothing factories; and Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Rutland Regional Planning Commission for a brownfields assessment grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform seven Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, and develop four Phase III cleanup plans in the Rutland region of Vermont. Grant funds also will be used for redevelopment assistance, and public outreach and involvement. 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: Rutland Regional Planning Commission, VT 802-775-0871 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. mills. Many industrial towns in the region experienced sharp population losses after an overall decline in industrial activity in the first half of the 20th Century. Growth in per capita income has remained stagnant over the past 30 years. The region contains 277 identified petroleum sites, including abandoned gas stations, auto shops, and fuel oil facilities in even the most rural towns. The City of Rutland has the highest concentra- tion of sites, including 80 underground storage tanks. When the brownfields are revitalized, they will be used for commercial and employment purposes. Brownfields redevelopment is expected to help the region strengthen its local town centers, retain agricultural land use, add to the tax base, and create jobs. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-06-031 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |