Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Wilmington, NC 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 City of Wilmington was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in eastern North Carolina, Wilmington (population 101,350) was incorporated in 1739 on the banks of the Cape Fear River, approximately 10 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It has flourished as a major East Coast port for more than 250 years. Although the port is still in operation, the shipping and railroad industries in the city have declined. Mills, warehouses, railroad lines, and factories have been abandoned or are underused. Currently, the poverty rate in the city is nearly 20 percent. Brownfield assessments are expected to support the city's ongoing efforts to prevent contamination and reduce habitat destruction by redeveloping areas with existing infrastructure. Assessments also are expected to facilitate the conservation of nearby sensitive coastal and estuarine environments. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Wilmington for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform 10 Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct a brownfields inventory, community outreach activities, and cleanup planning. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf) Grant Recipient: City of Wilmington, North Carolina 910-342-2779 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-128-056 May 11 ------- |