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Brownfields 2008
Grant Fact Sheet
Woonsocket, Rl
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 Woonsocket was selected to receive three
brownfields cleanup grants. Woonsocket (population
43,224) is an American Heritage River community with
an industrial past that is characterized by its numerous
underutilized and abandoned mill complexes. There are
over 320 brownfields, amounting to over 440 acres of
land, throughout the city. Brownfields tend to be
concentrated along the Blackstone River and within the
city's densely populated urban core. About 20 percent
of Woonsocket residents live at or below the poverty
level. The cleanup sites are located in a neighborhood
characterized by high numbers of unemployed, minor-
ity, and elderly residents. Cleanup of the sites is part of
a plan underway to redevelop the area into a new
educational campus. Once the sites are cleaned up, the
city plans to construct two new, state-of-the-art middle
Cleanup Grants
$600,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Woonsocket for three
brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the former
FDS Industries site at 138 Hamlet Avenue, the
former ACS Industries site at 71 Villa Nova Street,
and the former Florence Dye Works site at 168
Florence Drive. Since the early 20th Century, these
sites were used for the processing, dyeing, and
storage of textiles. In addition to the various acids,
solvents, and other hazardous materials related to
textile manufacturing, there is evidence of contami-
nation related to fill materials, such as coal and ash,
on the sites. Grant funds will be used to remove
and treat contaminated materials, install caps on
the sites, and conduct ongoing monitoring 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/regionl/brownfields
Grant Recipient: City of Woonsocket, RI
401-767-1418
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.
schools to replace its existing one. This redevelopment
project is expected to improve the city's public school
system, attract private investment to the community,
and increase surrounding property values.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-08-038
April 2008
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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