Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact  Sheet
               Ranson, WV
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 Ranson was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Ranson (population 4,700)
and Charles Town (population 4,600) are adjacent small
cities that comprise the urban center of Jefferson
County, located in the Eastern Panhandle of West
Virginia. The 35 to 40 brownfield sites in the area are in
the Commerce Corridor, which is at the heart of the two
cities. In Ranson, the individual poverty rate is more
than double the national average, and per capita and
median household income levels are lower than national
levels. During the past several years, Ranson has lost
more than 1,500 jobs and several major employers. The
former Kidde Fire Fighting Foundry site, situated less
than a quarter mile from Ranson's city hall, is one of the
most significant brownfields in the Commerce Corridor.
The site may have contaminated the Evitts Run Creek.
When the site is cleaned up, the city plans to redevelop
it as Powhatan Place, an integral part of Ranson's
downtown revitalization plan.
                   Cleanup Grant

                   $200,000 for hazardous substances

                   EPA has selected the City of Ranson for a
                   brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
                   grant funds will be used to clean up the former
                   Kidde Fire Fighting Foundry at 215 North Mildred
                   Street. The currently vacant 5.5-acre site operated as
                   a brass and aluminum foundry that manufactured fire
                   suppression equipment. The site is contaminated
                   with heavy metals and inorganic contaminants. Grant
                   funds also will be used for 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: City of Ranson,WV
                   304-725-1010

                   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-128-034
         May 11

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