5
o
T>
Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Meriden, CT
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 Meriden was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant and two brownfields
cleanup grants. Located in New Haven County, in the
geographical center of Connecticut, Meriden (popula-
tion 58,244) is a struggling, industry-based city. A
decline in the manufacturing sector has left numerous
brownfields around the city. The poorest, most densely
populated communities in the city are adjacent to
blighted and contaminated industrial and commercial
properties. The percentage of minority residents in
these neighborhoods is nearly double that of the city-
wide percentage, and unemployment exceeds 15
percent. Meriden is a highly built-out community with
only ten percent of its developable land vacant. As-
sessment of the city's brownfields will help create
investment opportunities that can recapture the value
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Meriden for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to prioritize sites,
perform up to five Phase I and up to four Phase
II environmental site assessments, and support
community involvement activities.
Cleanup Grants
$400,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Meriden for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Grant funds will be
used to clean up a former silverware manufactur-
ing facility at 77 Cooper Street. The facility
operated from the late 1800s until the 1970s,
contaminating the site with metals and polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons. Grant funds also will be
used to clean up the Insilco site at 104 Butler
Street. The site was used for a variety of indus-
trial and manufacturing purposes, including gun
manufacturing, machining, and forging, and is
contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocar-
bons, metals, and volatile organics. Funds from
both grants also will be used for community
involvement 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 Meriden, CT
203-630-4152
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-07-108
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
-------
of downtown properties and foster job growth. Cleanup
of the Cooper and Butler Street sites will allow the city
to create a linear park, eliminate significant flooding
problems, and improve the health and safety of neigh-
borhood residents.
accuracy of this information. The cooperative
agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated.
Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are
subject to change.
------- |