5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Ronceverte, 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 this 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Ronceverte was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located along the Greenbrier River in southeastern West Virginia, Ronceverte (population 1,557) is a rural town that was once the center of commerce for southeastern and east-central West Virginia. Many industries were once located there, including the world's largest softwood lumber mills. Today, all but one of these mills have closed, and most, if not all, of the city's industrial, electronics, and chemical plants have closed. The city's median household income is more than 55 percent below the national average, and 31 percent of residents live below the poverty level. The city is challenged by actual and perceived contamination left behind by its Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Ronceverte for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to conduct a brownfields inventory and up to 10 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to support 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 3 Brownfields Team 215-814-3129 http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs Grant Recipient: City of Ronceverte, WV 304-647-5455 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. former industries. Brownfields assessment is expected to help Ronceverte determine the extent of environ- mental contamination at selected sites and catalyze investment in brownfields redevelopment. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-08-061 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |