Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet La/ces Region Planning Commission, North Central New Hampshire 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 Lakes Region Planning Commission (LRPC) was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The LRPC serves 30 municipalities (population 106,428) in north-central New Hampshire. Historically, the region's economy was based around industrial mills built during the 1800s. Most of these mills are now underused, abandoned, or condemned. Mill closings between 200 land 2002 cost the region 931 permanent jobs, 77 percent of which were manufacturing-based. Many mills are located in downtown areas of the municipalities served by the LRPC. There are about 250 brownfields in four target communities. Uncertainties regarding the type and extent of contamination at these sites pose potential risks to the public and limit the region's economic potential. Brownfield assessments will clarify environmental and human health concerns, and are expected to encourage and facilitate site redevelopment. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Lakes Region Planning Commission for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory brownfield sites in the target communities of Ashland, Bristol, Franklin, and Laconia. Hazardous substances grant funds also will be used to conduct four Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning and 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 1 Brownfields Team (617)918-1424 EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region 1 /brownfields) Grant Recipient: Lakes Region Planning Commission,NH (603)279-8171 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-09-095 May 09 ------- |