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Brownfields 2003
Grant Fact Sheet
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Metropolitan Planning Commission,
Northern Panhandle, WV
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
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 con-
taminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W.
Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief
and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the
Brownfields 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 Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning
Commission was selected to receive an assessment
grant. The commission has targeted about 30 potential
brownfields in two rural counties in the northern
panhandle of West Virginia, also know as Appalachia.
Most of the brownfields are the result of the demise of
steel and other industries in the region. A 70 percent
reduction in jobs has occurred from the loss of the steel
industry alone. Hancock County has the slowest
growth rate of all West Virginia counties, and per
capita income in the two counties is lower than the
national average. Assessment and cleanup of targeted
areas will encourage redevelopment of properties,
create greenspace, and address health concerns in a
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Brooke-Hancock-
Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission for
a brownfields assessment grant. The commis-
sion will identify, inventory, and prioritize
brownfield sites in Brooke and Hancock counties
of West Virginia. Grant funds also will be used
to conduct Phase I environmental assessments
and a limited number of Phase II assessments on
selected sites based on Phase I results. Grant
funds also will be used to conduct 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 at:
www.epa.gov/brownfields.
EPA Region 3 Brownfields Team
215-814-3129
http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm
Grant Recipient: Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson
Metropolitan Planning Commission, WV
740-282-3685
Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commis-
sion has not received brownfields grant funding.
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
are subject to change.
region with one of the highest cancer rates in the
country. A task force created by the commission will
continue to reach out to community-based organiza-
tions to involve citizens in assessment and reuse issues.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 500-F-03-060
June 2003
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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