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Brownfields 2008
Grant Fact Sheet
Canovanas, PR
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 Municipality of Canovanas was selected to
receive two brownfields assessment grants.
Canovanas (population 43,335) is located in northeast-
ern Puerto Rico. The territory is dominated by moun-
tains, coastal plains, and riparian flood zones. Part of
the municipality lies within the Caribbean National
Forest. While the municipality has seen a population
boom in the last five years mainly due to the construc-
tion of a new highway, it has significant economic
hardships. For over a decade, the municipality had a
strong economy based on agriculture and industry. In
recent years, the agricultural sector has disappeared,
and there has been a sharp decline in industry. The
unemployment rate is 21.1 percent, and more than 50
percent of residents live in poverty. There are three
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Municipality of Canovanas
for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to conduct up
to eight Phase I and four Phase II environmental
site assessments, develop a site inventory, and
support community outreach activities. Petroleum
grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks
at sites with potential petroleum contamination.
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 2 Brownfields Team
212-637-4309
http://www.epa.gov/region2/brownfields
Grant Recipient: Municipality of Canovanas, PR
787-256-6878
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.
vacant industrial parks, and 11 manufacturing plants
have shut down. These vacant properties are now
being used for illicit activities such as illegal dumping.
Assessment of brownfields is expected to help the
municipality identify and quantify potential human
health and environmental risks at these sites, facilitate
planning for addressing risks, and promote sustainable
redevelopment.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-08-045
April 2008
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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