Brownfields 2010 Assessment and Cleanup
Grant Fact Sheet
Taylor B oro ugh Development A uthority, PA
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states.
communities, and other stakeholders to work together to
prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse
brownfields. A brownfield 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. In
2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help
states and communities around the country cleanup and
revitalize brownfields sites. 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 Development Authority of the Borough of Taylor
was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant
and a brownfields cleanup grant. The Borough of
Taylor (population 6,151) is located in the central
region of Lackawanna County in an area known as the
Anthracite Region. Coal mining has been a part of
Taylor since the mid-1800s. The Taylor Colliery was a
coal mining operation that included subsurface and
surface strip mining. The closure of the colliery was a
severe shock to the local economy. Nearly 700 jobs
were lost, and the heart of Taylor was left with acid
mine drainage and potentially dangerous subsurface
conditions. According to 2008 census estimates, Taylor
has lost 12 percent of its population in the last 18 years.
The lack of jobs and declining population are limiting
the borough's ability to sustain revenues and budget for
redevelopment. Brownfield assessments will allow the
borough to accurately map the areas where subsidence
occurred and identify areas where new stabilization
techniques might prevent future subsidence hazards.
Cleanup of the target site will help remove the hazards
that acid mine drainage and subsidence pose, and is
expected to fuel redevelopment and creation of
greenspace.
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Development Authority of the
Borough of Taylor for a brownfields assessment
grant. Community-wide hazardous substances grant
funds will be used to perform six Phase I and up to
two Phase II environmental site assessments and
develop cleanup plans for targeted locations,
including historic mining operations. Grant funds
also will be used to support community involvement
activities. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous
substances EPA has selected the Development
Authority of the Borough of Taylor for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the 150-acre
Taylor Colliery in the heart of the Borough of
Taylor. The former mine site operated from 1856 to
1966, and is contaminated with poly cyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons and metals. It also is compromised by
the subsurface subsidence hazards associated with
mine-scarred lands. Grant funds will be used to fill
in and inspect the void openings and treat or remove
contaminated 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
(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields).
EPA Region 3 Brownfields Team
(215)814-3129
EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf-lr)
Grant Recipient: Development Authority of the
Borough of Taylor,PA
570-562-1400 ext 10
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. The cooperative
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20450
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA 560-F-10-060
Apr 10
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agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated.
Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are
subject to change.
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20450
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA 560-F-10-060
Apr 10
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