Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Glocester, 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 Town of Glocester was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in the northwest corner of Rhode Island, Glocester (population 9,948) is a rural town with limited commercial and industrial properties. The town is targeting the Chepachet River Park site in the small Village of Chepachet. The site is adjacent to the village's only commercial district and a working class neighborhood. It also is next to the Chepachet River and within a floodplain. The 200 years of industrial activities at the site have left behind a legacy of heavy metals and other contaminants. There is potential for the migration of contaminants to negatively impact human health, wildlife, and properties downstream from the site. Site cleanup will reduce the threat of contaminant exposure to the public, environment, and drinking water sources. Once the site is cleaned up, the town intends to reuse it as a community park with recreational opportunities that are expected to attract visitors and commerce. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Town of Glocester for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the 17-acre Chepachet River Park site along the east side of Putnam Pike and Oil Mill Lane in Chepachet. The currently vacant site has a 200-year history operating as a cotton mill, blacksmith shop, oil mill, and textile mill. Site contaminants include heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 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: Town of Glocester,RI (401) 568-6206 ext 2 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-09-123 May 2009 ------- |