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Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Sullivan County, TN
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
Sullivan County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. The target community of Blountville
is the county seat of Sullivan County (population
153,048) in northeast Tennessee. The average per
capita, median household, and family incomes are all
well below the national and county-wide averages.
Most Blountville residents found work outside of the
community after the Davis Pipe Company, the target
site and largest employer in the community, closed in
the 1990s. The property was used to manufacture
welded stainless-steel and alloy pipe fittings. Today it
is the largest brownfields site in Sullivan County.
When the Davis Pipe Company closed, other small
manufacturing and commercial operations also closed.
Abandoned and dilapidated buildings in the target area
are constant reminders of the economic downturn of
Assessment Grant
$300,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Sullivan County for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to conduct Phase
I and II environmental site assessments of the 60-
acre Davis Pipe Property at 250 Birch Street in
Blountville. Hazardous substances of concern at
the site include methyl ethyl ketone, hydrofluoric
acid, nitric acid, caustic soda, and equipment oil
and lubricants. Grant funds will be used to
sample and characterize wastes contained in 55-
gallon drums, assess the condition of existing
groundwater monitoring wells, develop cleanup
and redevelopment plans, and conduct public
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 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8866
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm
Grant Recipient: Sullivan County, TN
423-279-7681
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
these neighborhoods. Many of these properties have or
are perceived to have environmental contamination.
After the brownfields are assessed and eventually
cleaned up, the county has proposed redevelopment of
the property as a mixed-use business park, a potential
business incubator, and walking and bike trails. This
redevelopment will increase property values, provide
jobs, and attract private investment.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-090
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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