Brownfields 2003 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Weir Economic Investment Revitalization Corporation, Taunton. MA 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. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields 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 Weir Economic Investment Revitalization Corporation was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. A one-mile area around Weir Village, the targeted neighborhood, contains approximately 15 identified hazardous waste sites, a legacy of the industrial heritage of a once bustling seaport. The neighborhood encompasses two Community Development Block Grant Target Areas, where the household income is 20 percent lower than the city as a whole, and where 45 percent of the city's African Americans and 49 percent of the city's Hispanics reside. Revitalization plans call for the redevelopment of the 140,000-square-foot historic mill building and the 6.5-acre site, resulting in 64 units of affordable housing, commercial space for small businesses, and recreational space along the Taunton River. This project is expected to create new permanent jobs and stimulate additional investments and economic activity in the community. Cleanup Grant $52,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Weir Economic Investment Revitalization Corporation for a cleanup grant. The cleanup grant targets the Robertson on the River project at 120 Ingell Street in the City of Taunton. The funds will be used to conduct cleanup activities on the former mill site, which is contaminated by polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lead. 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 1 Brownfields Team (617)918-1424 EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region 1 /brownfields) Grant Recipient: Weir Economic Investment Revitalization, MA (508) 821-9347 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 500-F-03-211 Jun 03 ------- |