Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Newport, KY 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 Newport was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Newport (population 15,766) is located near Cincinnati along the Ohio and Licking Rivers in northern Kentucky. As a key distribution port for trade between the northeastern and southern regions of the nation, Newport was a bustling center of commerce and industry dating back to the 1700s. However, a sharp decline in manufacturing during the last two decades has left a legacy of vacant, underused, and potentially contaminated properties that commonly abut residential areas. The city"s population has decreased about nine percent in the last 10 years due primarily to job losses. Nearly 21 percent of Newporf's residents live below the poverty level. In a preliminary survey, the city identified at least 19 brownfields. Assessment of brownfields is expected to begin the process of cleaning up environmental concerns at underused and vacant properties and inject new vitality into the business and historic districts along the riverfronts. Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Newport for a brownfields assessment grant. Community-wide petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites and perform eight to 10 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning and 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 Newport, Kentucky (859) 292-3652 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-10-188 Apr 10 ------- |