Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant
Fact Sheet
Steelton, PA
RECOUERY.GOV
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. On
February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed
into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to
jumpstart our economy, and create or save millions of
jobs. This law provided stimulus funds to the
Brownfields Program to award grants to evaluate and
clean up former industrial and commercial sites. Under
this law, EPA will provide financial assistance to
eligible applicants through four competitive grant
programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund
grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants.
Community Description
The Borough of Steelton was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Located on the east side
of the Susquehanna River just south of Harrisburg,
Steelton (population 5,858) was founded in 1871
around the steel industry. At its height, the steel mill
employed more than 9,000 workers. Today, the mill
employs approximately 600 workers. Except for the
steel mill, Steelton's industries never were centralized in
one area. Many industrial properties are next to
residential neighborhoods, day care centers, parks, and
senior housing facilities. Abandoned and underused
properties blight the borough. To date, over 50 potential
brownfield sites have been identified in Steelton, many
in the heart of downtown along the Front Street
corridor. More than 3 1 percent of Steelton residents are
African-American, and the poverty and unemployment
rates are significantly higher than in neighboring
communities. Brownfield assessments will provide the
borough with information to reduce environmental
threats and will contribute to the momentum of
Steelton's plans for revitalization.
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for petroleum (Recovery Act
Funding)
EPA has selected the Borough of Steelton for a
brownfields assessment grant. Community-wide
petroleum grant funds will be used to expand
Steelton's inventory of brownfield sites and conduct
8 to 10 Phase I and 3 to 4 Phase II environmental site
assessments. 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 3 Brownfields Team
(215)814-3129
EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf-lr)
Grant Recipient: Borough of Steelton,PA
(717) 939-9842 ext 13
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-09-145
May 09
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