5
o
T>
Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Pioneer Valley
Planning
Commission, 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 Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) was
selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants.
The PVPC has targeted the Quaboag Hills region
(population 84,665) for hazardous substances assess-
ments. This is a 415-square-mile area comprised of 15
small towns in western Massachusetts. Two water-
sheds and four major river systems traverse this once
industrial region. Many of the mills that once domi-
nated the local landscape are now vacant. There are 73
brownfields in the Quaboag Hills region. Assessment
and eventual cleanup of these sites will help reduce
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Pioneer Valley Planning
Commission for two brownfields assessment
grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be
used to develop a brownfields program and
steering committee, select and evaluate sites,
perform up to six Phase I and three Phase II
environmental site assessments, and conduct
community outreach activities in the Quaboag
Hills region of the Pioneer Valley. Petroleum
grant funds will be used to create a database, map
sites, initiate community outreach activities, and
conduct five Phase I and several Phase II environ-
mental site assessments in the Hilltown region of
the valley.
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: Pioneer Valley Planning
Commission, MA
413-781-6045
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
potential health risks and free up at least six sites for
redevelopment. These sites will accommodate develop-
ment of greenspace, affordable housing, and commercial
or light industry. The PVPC also has targeted the 13
contiguous towns in the Hilltown region (population
16,403) for petroleum site assessments. The average
weekly wage for workers in the region is 58 percent less
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-06-013
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
-------
than the average weekly wage statewide. There are 15
potential brownfield sites in the Hilltown region.
Assessment and cleanup of these sites will facilitate
economic growth in the region's struggling communi-
ties. The region expects to redevelop at least five sites
as greenspace, affordable housing, and commercial and
industrial space.
------- |