Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact
Sheet
Holyoke, MA
RECOUERY.GOV
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. On
February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into
law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The
Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our
economy, and create or save millions of jobs. This law
provided stimulus funds to the Brownfields Program to
award grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial
and commercial sites. Under this law, EPA will provide
financial assistance to eligible applicants through four
competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving
loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants.
Community Description
The City of Holyoke was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Holyoke (population 39,838)
contains many abandoned and underused properties with
potential contamination. The decline in manufacturing
resulted in more than 80 vacant buildings across the city.
There is a significant discrepancy between the city and
state median household incomes, and 26 percent of city
residents live below the poverty level. The target site is
located in a rural, densely wooded area within a sole
source aquifer. It is surrounded by open space that serves
as habitat for rare and endangered species. Heavy metals
contamination at the site poses a threat to humans,
animals, and plants. Cleanup of the site will reduce
environmental threats and is expected to allow the city to
move forward with its redevelopment plans. The city's
plans include dedicating 15 acres of the site for
greenspace that could be linked to a major national scenic
trail, and developing the 4 remaining acres for
much-needed housing.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
(Recovery Act Funding)
EPA has selected the City of Holyoke for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the former
Mountain Road Firing Range at Parcel
199-00-013 along Mountain Road. For over 50
years, this 19-acre site was used by the
Massachusetts National Guard as a small arms
practice firing range. The site is contaminated with
heavy metals, including arsenic and antimony.
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: City of Holyoke,MA
(413) 322-5575
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-09-060
May 2009
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