Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Hattiesbur9>MS 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 Hattiesburg was selected to receive a brownfields assessment coalition grant. The city has formed a coalition with the City of Petal and Forrest County. Located in southeast Mississippi, Hattiesburg is the seat for Forrest County (population 78,241) and the medical, retail, and educational center for more than 250,000 residents in the area. According to the state, there are about 52 known brownfield sites in the area. These sites include former wood treatment facilities, chemical plants, dry cleaners, and rail yards. Forrest County's median household income is lower than both the state and national medians. About 26 percent of county residents live below the poverty level. Brownfield assessments will provide the coalition with information about environmental conditions in areas where reuse is hindered by uncertainties about contamination. Eventual site cleanup and reuse are expected to encourage investment designed to stimulate growth in the area. Assessment Grant $600,000 for hazardous substances $400,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Hattiesburg for a brownfields assessment coalition grant. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites and to conduct 127 Phase I and 25 Phase II environmental site assessments in targeted areas of Hattiesburg, the City of Petal, and Forrest County. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf) Grant Recipient: City of Hattiesburg,MS (601)554-1014 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-09-033 May 09 ------- |