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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant Fact Sheet

             Valley,  AL


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 Valley was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. Valley (population 9,022)
sits along the Chattahoochee River on the eastern
border of Alabama. Its history dates back to the  1860s
when textile mills were built along the river. By the turn
of the 21st Century, five of the six mills had closed, and
the sixth has experienced severe cutbacks. Since 2001,
the city has lost approximately 1,900 jobs. In addition to
an increase in unemployment, the city experienced a
dramatic decrease in its tax base. Once the target sites
are cleaned up, the city plans to convert the Langdale
and Riverdale Mill sites into a downtown center with a
variety of features, including housing, retail space, a
hotel, and a learning center. This redevelopment is
expected to create jobs in the area, and increase the
local tax base and property values.
Cleanup Grants
$235,000 for petroleum

EPA has selected the City of Valley for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Petroleum grant funds
will be used to clean up the Langdale Mill property
at 5910 19th Street and the Riverdale Mill property
at 50 Middle Street. Starting in 1860, the mills were
used to manufacture textile products. Spills from
old above-ground storage tanks at the Langdale
site threaten the nearby Chattahoochee River and
the soil around the site. Spills and overfill from an
above-ground storage tank at the Riverdale site
have impacted the soil at the site. Grant funds will
be used to plan and oversee the cleanups, remove
the tanks, and analyze and dispose of impacted soil.
Grant funds also will be used to support 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 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8792
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf

Grant Recipient: City of Valley, AL
334-756-5220

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-08-063
                        April 2008
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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