] Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
~ New England Youth Theatre, Brattleboro, VT
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 New England Youth Theatre was selected to
receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The theater is
located the Town of Brattleboro (population 11,741) in
Windham County. Windham County has struggled to
recover from the manufacturing decline that began in
the 1960s. Economic challenges in the region are
reflected in the steady population decline in towns such
as Brattleboro. According to current data, this decline is
likely to continue. The median household income in
Brattleboro is significantly lower than the county and
state medians, and more than 15 percent of residents
live below the poverty level. Studies indicate that there
are between 76 and 150 potential brownfield sites in the
town. Cleanup of the former Tri State Automotive site
will reduce environmental health risks and improve the
area's image. Once the site is cleaned up, the theater
plans to turn it into a fully functional artists' live-work
space that is expected to encourage additional site
cleanup and redevelopment.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the New England Youth Theatre
for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to clean up the
approximately 0.2-acre former Tri State Automotive
site at 64 Elm Street in the Town of Brattleboro. The
site historically was used for paper and paint
manufacturing, and as a vehicle machine shop. The
site building materials and soils are contaminated
with metals, volatile organic compounds, and PCBs.
Grant funds also will be used to record an
institutional control placing use limitations on the
site, 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: New England Youth Theatre,VT
(802) 246-6398
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-09-260
May 09
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