^ Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet East Providence, Rl 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 East Providence was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. East Providence (population 48,779) is located on Narragansett Bay between the urban center of Providence and rural southeastern Massachusetts. Much of the city's waterfront has been home to industrial facilities, including petroleum and chemical storage and distribution facilities. However, economic changes over the last 50 years have left behind vacant structures and land parcels, and environmental contamination. As part of the East Providence Waterfront Special Development District Plan, the city is planning to transform over 300 acres of these underutilized lands into commercial, residential, and recreational uses. The community surrounding the targeted Riverside Square site is a commercial center located in the heart of an underserved residential community. Fifteen percent of the city's brownfields are located in this area. Cleanup of the site will reduce health hazards and is expected to create jobs and lead to the redevelopment of the property into affordable housing. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of East Providence for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Riverside Square Project at 336-348 Bullocks Point Avenue and 12 Fenner Avenue. The site was a jewelry plating and manufacturing facility from 1960 until 2002, and has been vacant since 2002. It is contaminated with trichloroethylene, heavy metals, and inorganic contaminants. 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 1 Brownfields Team (617)918-1424 EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/regionl/bro wnfields) Grant Recipient: City of East Providence,RI (401)435-7535 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-09-073 May 2009 ------- |