Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Wilson, NC 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 City of Wilson was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located along Highway 301 in eastern North Carolina, Wilson (population 48,433) is in a geographic area that favors tobacco farming. By the 1920s, Wilson had become the world"s largest bright leaf tobacco market, and industry and commerce flourished along the Highway 301 corridor. Declines in tobacco and other industries during the latter half of the 20th century left a legacy of vacant and contaminated properties. Construction of Interstate 95 and the Highway 264 bypass shifted industry and commerce away from the 301 corridor. According to an informal inventory, the city has 72 potential brownfields, 44 of which are in the 301 corridor area. Wilson"s poverty rate is more than double the state rate, and more than 53 percent of Wilson residents are minorities. Brownfield assessments are expected to help determine the extent of suspected contamination and encourage site cleanup and redevelopment in the city"s 301 corridor and downtown areas. Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Wilson for a brownfields assessment grant. Community-wide petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites and conduct at least eight Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to perform cleanup planning and 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf) Grant Recipient: City of Wilson,NC 252-296-3398 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 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) EPA560-F-10-191 Apr 10 ------- |