\ Brownfields 2009 Assessment and Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Greenville, SC 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 Greenville was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants and a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in northwestern South Carolina, Greenville (population 56,002) is targeting the West Greenfield/Reedy River Corridor, which grew in the 1850s with the establishment of Furman University and the arrival of the Greenville-Columbia Railroad. Cotton and fertilizer manufacturing and other commercial operations followed shortly thereafter. By the mid-20th century, the decline in the textile industry had left the area with abandoned and underused manufacturing buildings, textile facilities, and service stations. There are more than 50 brownfield sites in the area. About 34 percent of area residents live below the poverty level, and the unemployment rate is 21 percent. Eighty-four percent of residents are African-American. Brownfield assessments will reduce the environmental uncertainty associated with properties and catalyze cleanup. Cleanup of the target site will improve health conditions for area residents and remove an impediment to the city's revitalization vision for the corridor, which includes redevelopment already underway for an elementary school and community center. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Greenville for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct seven Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments on properties throughout the West Greenville/Reedy River Corridor. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning and support community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Greenville for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Smart property at 331 South Hudson Street. The site operated as a cotton warehouse from at least 1928 until 1973. Since then, it has been used for other commercial activities, including weaving and warehousing automotive textiles. It is contaminated with metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf) Grant Recipient: City of Greenville, South Carolina United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-09-122 May 09 ------- (864) 467-5707 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) EPA560-F-09-122 May 09 ------- |