Brownfields 2011  Assessment Grant  Fact Sheet
               Williamston, NC
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 Williamston was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in eastern North
Carolina, Williamston (population 5,900) plans to focus
on the River Road area, where properties are adjacent or
close to the  Roanoke River. This area has a long history as
a major river port and thriving center of commerce. In
1882, the Williamston and Tarboro railroad line opened
and immediately began to divert freight traffic away from
the river. Highway construction also contributed to the
diversion of river freight traffic, forcing steamship service
to end in the 1930s. Once  a vibrant, working waterfront,
the area is now a mix of abandoned industrial properties
and operating industrial and commercial facilities.
Brownfields along the riverfront are inhibiting new
businesses from moving into the area. The town's poverty
rate is 24.6 percent, and the median household income is
lower than the national average. Brownfield assessments
are expected to facilitate cleanup planning and catalyze
redevelopment of the River Road area.
                     Assessment Grants

                     $200,000 for hazardous substances
                     $200,000 for petroleum
                     EPA has selected the Town of Williamston for two
                     brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
                     hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
                     conduct 10 Phase I and six Phase II environmental
                     site assessments. Community-wide petroleum
                     grant funds will be used to conduct 10 Phase I and
                     seven Phase II environmental site assessments.
                     Grant funds also will be used to inventory
                     brownfields, conduct community involvement
                     activities, and develop cleanup plans.
                     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 4 Brownfields Team
                     (404) 562-8792
                     EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site
                     (http://www.epa.gov/region4/was te/bf)

                     Grant Recipient: Town of Williamston,NC
                     252-792-5142

                     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)
E PA 560-F-128-057
       May 2011

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