Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Jefferson County Development Authority, WV 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 Jefferson County Development Authority was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Jefferson County (population 51,615) is about 80 miles from Washington, B.C. The Development Authority will clean up a site in Shepherdstown, a historic village on the Potomac River. The targeted former Shepherdstown Dump site is known to contain carcinogens. The site is adjacent to parcels used for a range of conference, residential, and religious purposes. Rapid population growth in the county in the last 10 years has made available and affordable land scarce. The county has a per capita income lower than the national average, and the poverty level is 15.3 percent. Cleanup of the target site will reduce risks to human health and the environment and is expected to allow the Development Authority to move forward with plans to reuse the site as a public library. The new library is expected to create jobs and improve literacy programs for local residents. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Jefferson County Development Authority for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the former Shepherdstown Dump in Shepherdstown. The site was used for land disposal of municipal solid waste from 1954 through 1969, and portions of the site were used for commercial apple orchards until 1975. Site soil is contaminated with arsenic, pesticides, and other contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to support 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 3 Brownfields Team (215)814-3129 EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf-lr) Grant Recipient: Jefferson County Development Authority,WV 304-728-3255 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) E PA 560-F-128-035 May 11 ------- |