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  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

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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.

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