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Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Wyoming County
Economic
Development
Authority, WV
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 Wyoming County Economic Development
Authority was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. Located in southern West Virginia,
Wyoming County (population 24,698) was once a
thriving community with an economy based on coal
mining. The decline of coal mining and other indus-
trial jobs in the county has had major economic and
environmental impacts on the community. Since 1950,
the region has lost 34 percent of its population. The
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Wyoming County Economic
Development Authority for a brownfields assess-
ment grant. Hazardous substances grant funds
will be used to conduct community involvement
activities, identify sites, perform at least five
Phase I and three Phase II environmental site
assessments, and prepare cleanup plans for mine-
scarred areas in the Wyoming County portion of
the Upper Guyandotte Watershed.
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 3 Brownfields Team
215-814-3129
http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm
Grant Recipient: Wyoming County Economic
Development Authority, WV
304-732-6707
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
average household income level is far below state and
national averages, and the poverty rate is approxi-
mately 23 percent. Coal refuse "gob piles" dot the
county, and vegetation cannot be re-established in areas
impacted by acid mine drainage and other contami-
nants. There are 130 documented abandoned mine
lands in the watershed area, and more than 160 miles of
streams in the area watershed are listed as impaired by
metals from polluted mine drainage. Assessment and
eventual cleanup of brownfields sites will help address
the environmental and human health threats posed by
these properties. The county plans to redevelop mine-
scarred lands into marketable properties that will
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-068
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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attract new businesses and investments to the area.
generate jobs, and enhance the quality of life in the
Wyoming County region.
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