^ Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
^ Somerville, MA
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 Somerville was selected to receive three
brownfields cleanup grants. Located just north of
Boston, Somerville (population 77,478) was home to
heavy industry for much of its 160-year history,
including leadworks, brickyards, glass factories, and
chemical storage facilities. Although most of these
industries have left the city, many current Somerville
residents live near former industrial sites. The city's per
capita income is lower than the state and national
averages, and the city is facing serious challenges
during the current economic downturn. Cleanup efforts
will focus on the Union Square area, an area for which
the city has created a long-term redevelopment plan that
includes a transit station to extend the Green Line.
When the target sites are cleaned up, the city plans to
reuse them as an interim parking and staging area that
will enable several other large-scale projects to be
developed near the property. The city plans eventually
to redevelop the target sites as part of a major
mixed-use development. This redevelopment is
expected to provide local jobs and increase property
taxes and revenues.
Cleanup Grants
$600,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Somerville for three
brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up three parcels at
the former Kiley Barrel property: Parcel 82-D-37 at
20-22 Prospect Street, Parcel 82-D-34A at 14 Bennet
Street, and Parcel 82-D-3 at 9 Milk Place. The
property was a barrel storage, cleaning, refinishing,
and distribution center from the late 1920s through
1989. The three parcels are contaminated with
PCBs, volatile organic compounds, and heavy
metals. Grant funds also will be used to conduct
community involvement 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 1 Brownfields Team
(617)918-1424
EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site
(http: //www. epa.gov/region 1 /brownfields)
Grant Recipient: City of Somerville,MA
(617) 625-6600 ext 2561
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-128-006
May 11
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