^ Brownfields 2010 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Minster, OH 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 Village of Minster was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Minster (population 2,794), a small rural community in east-central Ohio, has faced the loss of two large employers. In 2006, a packaging company, one of the town"s top 10 tax contributors, announced it was leaving the village. The village expects to lose another 100 jobs when a billing center phases out its local operations. As a result of these losses, the village expects about a five percent reduction in general funds, leaving no funds available for cleanup of the targeted brownfield property. The cleanup site is within 1,600 feet of a municipal water source and about 1,500 feet from the public school. Cleanup of the target property will reduce health risks from petroleum products that are leaching into the groundwater. Cleanup also is expected to allow the village to create a recreational area along the historic Miami-Erie Canal. Cleanup Grant $84,600 for petroleum EPA has selected the Village of Minster for a brownfields cleanup grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up the former Minster Oil Facility on 185 W. Fourth Street. The site was a fuel service station from 1952 until about 1990 when the underground storage tanks were removed. The soil and groundwater are contaminated with petroleum-based products. 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 5 Brownfields Team (312)886-7576 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds) Grant Recipient: Village of Minster,OH (419) 628-3497 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) EPA560-F-10-124 April 2010 ------- |