Brownfields 2003 Cleanup Grant  Fact Sheet
               Somerville, 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 City of Somerville was selected to receive a
cleanup grant. The city has targeted a city-owned
property in a densely populated urban area. Somerville
has approximately 376 known brownfields. The poverty
level in this city of 77,478 people is 25 percent higher
than the state average, and the minority population
increased 110 percent between 1990 and 2000.
Following cleanup, Somerville, with its
disproportionately low percentage of open space, has
slated the target site to become a neighborhood park
that includes a "tot lot" for children. Neighborhood task
forces that meet regularly to discuss local issues will be
involved in the ongoing revitalization process.
                   Cleanup Grant

                   $200,000 for hazardous substances

                   EPA has selected the City of Somerville for a
                   cleanup grant. The cleanup grant will target the 30
                   Allen Street site, which is a former industrial site
                   adjacent to a residential neighborhood with an
                   affordable housing development in close proximity.
                   Vinyl chloride has been found at the site, which has
                   been vacant since 1950 and subject to illegal
                   dumping. Grant funds also will be used for cleanup
                   planning and community involvement 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 1 Brownfields Team
                   (617)918-1424
                   EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site
                   (http: //www. epa.gov/region 1 /brownfields)

                   Grant Recipient: City of Somerville,MA
                   (617) 625-6600 ext 2106

                   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)
EPA500-F-03-184
        Jun 03

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