5
o
T>
Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
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 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 City of Lowell was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant and two brownfields
cleanup grants. Located along the Merrimack River 30
miles northwest of Boston, Lowell (population 105, 167)
surged to prominence during the Industrial Revolution
and continued to grow into the early 20th Century. The
city declined after World War I, and more recently,
businesses have relocated due to the lack of suitable
expansion sites. The city has been left with abandoned
industrial structures that pose potential threats to
human health and the environment. Closures and
relocations have cost the city nearly 20,000 jobs in the
last two decades. Today, Lowell is a federally desig-
nated Renewal Community. It has a growing minority
population, many of whom live in the targeted JAM
(Jackson, Appleton, Middlesex Streets) and Acre
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Lowell for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to perform up to
ten Phase I and up to four Phase II environmental
site assessments, and support community out-
reach activities around the city.
Cleanup Grants
$400,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Lowell for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Grant funds will be
used to clean up 351 Jackson Street in the
Hamilton Canal District. This two-acre site was
used as a railroad yard, agricultural materials
storage facility, and used car lot. It is contami-
nated with metals and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Grant funds also will be used to clean up 291
Jackson Street in the Hamilton Canal District.
This site is contaminated with metals and volatile
organic compounds. Funds from both grants will
be used to 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: City of Lowell, MA
978-970-4252
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)
EPA 560-F-07-099
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
-------
Urban Renewal areas. The poverty rate in these
neighborhoods is significantly higher than the city rate.
Assessment of brownfields will help promote develop-
ment that will create much-needed jobs, housing, and
greenspace. Cleanup of the sites on Jackson Street will
allow the city to begin development of a new mixed-
use site in the Hamilton Canal District project. The
project will include up to 1,000 housing units, create at
least 175 new permanent full-time jobs, and generate
millions in tax receipts.
------- |