^ Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Covington, KY 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 Covington was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located at the confluence of the Licking and Ohio Rivers, Covington (population 43,082) is part of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. From the early years of the Industrial Revolution through the 1920s, the city saw its population and manufacturing sector grow significantly. Following World War II, movement to the suburbs and the decline in manufacturing activity resulted in a severe decline in Covington's economic base. There are more than 250 brownfield sites in the city, including manufacturing facilities, warehouses, dry cleaners, and machine shops. The targeted Stewart Iron Works site is in the Downtown Action Plan area, where nearly 26 percent of residents are minorities. More than 29 percent of area residents live below the poverty level. Cleanup of the target site will reduce the threats posed by contaminants and help the city move forward with planned reuse of the site as the Covington Center, a hub for employment, housing, and educational services. Cleanup Grant $175,000 for hazardous substances $25,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Covington for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up the Stewart Iron Works site at 20 West 18th Street. Since the early 1900s, the facility has been used to produce metal works for gates, fencing, and furnishings, and is contaminated with paint and petroleum products. Contaminants of concern include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and PCBs. Grant funds also will be used for 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 Covington,KY 859-292-2133 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) E PA 560-F-128-051 May 2011 ------- |