Brownfields 2010 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
Pawtucket, Rl
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 Pawtucket was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Pawtucket (population
70,086), located in northern Rhode Island, was a
thriving industrial center throughout the 19th century.
Its economy has been struggling since the 1950s, when
it began losing its manufacturing businesses. The loss
of industry left a cluster of 20 former industrial sites
along the Pawtucket River. These brownfields threaten
the health of the river and are impeding economic and
recreational reuse of the riverfront. Pawtucket is now
one of the most socioeconomically challenged, densely
populated, and diverse cities in Rhode Island. The
unemployment rate is almost 15 percent. Thirty-six
percent of residents are minorities. Almost completely
built out, the city must redevelop its brownfields to
revitalize its economy. When the target site is cleaned
up, the city plans to reuse it for open space and public
access to the river as planned for in Pawtucket"s
community-based Riverfront Master Plan.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Pawtucket for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the State Pier
site located on Tim Healy Way on the east side of
the Pawtucket River. The site has been used as a
storage facility, freight house, and marina. The site
is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons and other hazardous substances. 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
(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 Pawtucket,RI
(401) 724-5200
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)
EPA 560-F-10-030
Apr 10
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