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iM? ] Brownfields 2010 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
fc- ***/ Lackawanna Valley Conservancy, Inc., Old Forge, 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 Lackawanna Valley Conservancy, Inc., was
selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The
Conservancy is located in the County of Lackawanna
(population 213,295) in the Borough of Old Forge
(population 8,798). The targeted former mine site is
located along the Lackawanna River, a tributary to the
North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The site, with
its many piles of coal mining wastes rapidly eroding
into the river, compromises water quality by introducing
heavy metals, nutrients, and sediments into the
waterways. Old Forge is a 3.4-square mile area with
much of its land consisting of former mining
operations. The lack of large tracts of land suitable for
housing development is impeding economic growth in
the borough. There also is an inadequate supply of
housing for the borough"s growing senior population.
Cleanup of the target site will reduce the threat of
exposure to contamination, reduce erosion along the
river banks, and improve water quality in the area. Once
the target site is cleaned up, the Conservancy plans to
redevelop the site with housing.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Lackawanna Valley
Conservancy, Inc., for a brownfields cleanup grant.
Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
clean up a 7.8-acre former mine site located off
Forge Road and Howard Street. From the late 1800s
to the 1970s, coal mining activities took place at the
site. Acid mine drainage, which includes heavy
metals, has impacted water quality in the County of
Lackawanna.
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: Lackawanna Valley Conservancy,
Inc.,PA
(570)347-6311
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-10-055
Apr 10
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