Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Williamsburg County, SC 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 Williamsburg County was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in the Pee Dee region of eastern South Carolina, Williamsburg County (population 35,090) was the site of important Revolutionary War battles. Agriculture played an important role in the county"s early history, but in the mid-1900s, industrial jobs moved in as farming jobs moved out. When competition drove manufacturers to relocate or close, the once booming economy of the area declined. The county is now home to several mothballed facilities, including textile mills, pharmaceutical companies, and furniture manufacturers. These sites are surrounded by residential neighborhoods. More than 66 percent of residents are African-American, and the county's unemployment rate is 16 percent. Brownfield assessments will help Williamsburg County clarify environmental concerns about former industrial properties and are expected to facilitate their redevelopment. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Williamsburg County for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and conduct seven Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop cleanup plans 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 (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: Williamsburg County, SC 843-355-9321 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) EPA 560-F-10-083 Apr 10 ------- |