Brownfields 2010 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
™ Preston Redevelopment Agency, CT
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 Preston Redevelopment Agency was selected to
receive three brownfields cleanup grants. Located in
southeastern Connecticut, Preston (population 4,688) is a
rural community that occupies 33 square miles.
Agriculture remains a significant business in the area, but
the employment opportunities lost with the closure of the
former Norwich State Hospital and the decline of
manufacturing in Preston have not been replaced. The
property that includes the three target sites provides the
only town-owned access to the Thames River. Parcel C
provides the town's only access to the State Hospital Pond
and Poquetanuck Cove. The deteriorated and
contaminated condition of the property has required the
town to prohibit public access to the river. The town has
created a Conceptual and Management Plan for
redevelopment of the former hospital property with a mix
of residential, commercial, and light industrial uses. When
the target sites are cleaned up, the city will be able to
provide access to the Thames River with a new greenway
and move forward with its redevelopment plans.
Cleanup Grants
$600,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Preston Redevelopment
Agency for three brownfields cleanup grants.
Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
clean up Parcels A, B, and C of the 390-acre
former Norwich State Hospital property on Route
12. The former psychiatric hospital closed in
1996. Parcel A is 50.8 acres and contains three
buildings. Parcel B is 70.6 acres and contains 50
buildings. Parcel C is 205.5 acres and contains
four buildings. All three parcels are contaminated
with PCBs, mercury, and other metals. Grant
funds also will be used to support community
involvement 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/regionl/bro wnfields)
Grant Recipient: Preston Redevelopment
Agency,CT
860-887-5581
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-10-007
April 2010
------- |