Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
              Rockingham Planning Commission, Southeast New Hampshire
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 Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) was
selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants.
The 26 communities in southeastern New Hampshire
(combined population 190,372) that make up the RPC
region have a long history of industrial activity, including
clothing and textile mills, timber processing, and machine
shops. These industries no longer exist in the region, but
have left behind vacant structures and contaminated
lands. Jobs have been lost to other regions, creating
financial hardship for residents and governments.  The
five target communities have among the lowest per capita
incomes in the region, and unemployment rates higher
than the county and state rates. Brownfield assessments
are expected to leverage successful redevelopment options
within the region, including affordable housing
opportunities and greenspace.
                    Assessment Grants $200,000 for
                    hazardous substances $200,000 for
                    petroleum
                    EPA has selected the Rockingham Planning
                    Commission for two brownfields assessment
                    grants. Community-wide hazardous substances
                    grant funds will be used to inventory sites and
                    conduct up to five Phase I and Phase II
                    environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant
                    funds will be used to inventory sites and conduct
                    up to seven Phase I and Phase II environmental
                    site assessments. The Commission is focusing its
                    assessment efforts in the communities of
                    Seabrook, Epping, Plaistow, Hampton, and Exeter.
                     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: Rockingham Planning
                     Commission,NH
                     (603) 778-0885

                     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-10-027
      April 2010

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