Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet ™ Ea/tA7 Conservancy, Nanticoke City, PA 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 Earth Conservancy (EC) was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The EC is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes conservation and land revitalization in Wyoming Valley (population 94,228) in northeast Pennsylvania. Wyoming Valley has a rich coal mining history. When the coal mining industry declined, companies went bankrupt, mines were abandoned, and strip mines and coal waste were left behind. The targeted Hanover 9, Phase I site is in Nanticoke City (population 10,341), where the median household income is significantly lower than the national median. More than 23 percent of area residents are 65 or older. The target site has blighted the neighborhood for many years. It has been a source of acid mine drainage to the area's watershed, and has attracted illegal dumping. Cleanup of the site will reduce acid mine drainage and help protect the long-term health of the community and the Susquehanna River Watershed. The EC's Land Use Plan has earmarked the site for commercial and industrial use, which is expected to create much-needed jobs in the area. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Earth Conservancy for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up 37 acres of the Hanover 9, Phase I site on Kosciuszko Street in Nanticoke City. The Blue Coal Company used the site as a strip mine area until it declared bankruptcy in the mid-1970s. For years, the site has been contributing acid mine drainage, which contains dissolved metals and other contaminants, to the area's watershed. 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 -Ir) Grant Recipient: Earth Conservancy,PA (570)823-3445 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-09-027 May 2009 ------- |