Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact  Sheet
                      , SC
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 Dillon was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in rural
northeastern South Carolina,  Dillon (population 6,338)
was founded in 1888. During the mid-1900s, the city's
economy transitioned from agriculture to manufacturing.
With the decline in manufacturing, jobs were lost, and the
city's economy stagnated. The closing of two major textile
manufacturing facilities in the past several years pushed
the county's September 2008  unemployment rate to 11
percent. An informal survey conducted by the city
identified 19 potential brownfield sites, including
abandoned or underused manufacturing facilities, former
gas stations, and dry cleaners. Forty-six percent of
residents are minorities, and 26 percent live below the
poverty  level. Brownfield assessments are the first step in
reducing threats to human health and the environment.
They also are expected to facilitate cleanup and
redevelopment planning, and help address environmental
justice issues in the city.
                     Assessment Grants

                     $200,000 for hazardous substances
                     $200,000 for petroleum

                     EPA has selected the City of Dillon for two
                     brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
                     hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds
                     will be used to develop an inventory of sites and
                     conduct eight Phase I and six Phase II
                     environmental site assessments. Grant funds also
                     will be used to conduct cleanup planning and
                     support 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 4 Brownfields Team
                     (404) 562-8792
                     EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site
                     (http://www.epa.gov/region4/was te/bf)

                     Grant Recipient: City of Dillon,SC
                     (843) 464-6360

                     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-09-159
      May 2009

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