Brownfields 2009  Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
               Pawtucket, 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 Pawtucket was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Pawtucket (population 72,958)
was a thriving industrial center, but the  majority of its
industry left the city throughout the 20th century.  The
declining economy has resulted in more than 90
brownfields on 200 acres of land throughout the city.
Pawtucket is one of the most densely populated cities in
the state. Many residents live close to brownfields. The
target site is located in a historically industrial
neighborhood where 50 percent of residents are minorities
and a third of residents live in poverty. The Rhode Island
Department of Environmental Management has
designated the target site neighborhood an environmental
justice area. After the  site is cleaned up, the city plans to
partner with a local developer to  redevelop it as an
industrial or commercial facility. Site cleanup and
redevelopment are expected to reduce risks to human
health and the environment, improve public safety, and
increase the site's property value.
                     Cleanup Grant

                     $200,000 for hazardous substances

                     EPA has selected the City of Pawtucket for a
                     brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
                     grant funds will be used to clean up the former
                     Industrial Laundry Facility at 354 Pine Street.
                     From the early 1960s to the 1990s, the site was an
                     industrial laundry facility located in a historic mill
                     complex.  Site soils and groundwater are
                     contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons
                     associated with the release of solvents. Grant
                     funds also will be used to monitor engineering and
                     land-use restrictions, and 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 Pawtucket,RI
                     (401) 724-5200

                     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)
EPA560-F-09-148
      May 2009

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