Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Centra/ City, PA 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 Borough of Central City was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located in Somerset County, Central City (population 1,258) is in the Appalachian coal region of southwestern Pennsylvania. During the early 1900s, the coal mining industry transformed this small rural community into a boomtown. After the Korean War, the coal mines closed, jobs were lost, and mounds of coal waste were left behind. Central City has identified 28 priority brownfield sites. The mountains of coal waste and metal-laden soil cause acid-mine drainage that contaminates once pristine streams and the Dark Shade Watershed. The sites are close to residential communities, threaten the health and welfare of area residents, and deter investors. The loss of jobs and a dwindling tax base are impacting the borough"s ability to deal with the sites. Brownfield assessments are expected to facilitate cleanup of former coal mine sites and catalyze site redevelopment and reuse. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Borough of Central City for a brownfields assessment grant. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct five to seven Phase I and three to five Phase II environmental site assessments, and prepare five to seven property-specific cleanup plans. Grant funds also will be used to 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 3 Brownfields Team (215)814-3129 EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf-lr) Grant Recipient: Borough of Central City,PA (814)754-8290 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-10-053 Apr 10 ------- |