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   4^7 ]   Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
         *   Hampton,  VA
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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 Hampton was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in the
Tidewater region at the southern tip of the Virginia
peninsula, the  City of Hampton (population 146,439)
encompasses about 136 square miles, most of which is
water. Brownfield sites on waterfront properties
represent a risk of contamination to aquatic
environments. Hampton's economy historically relied
on industry, commerce, and the military. Downsizing
and closure of several major local employers have
resulted in increased unemployment in the area. The
planned closure of Fort Monroe by 2011 will further
impact the economy with the loss of over 3,000 on-base
military and civilian personnel. In Hampton's targeted
downtown area, more than 90 percent of residents are
minorities, and about 23 percent of households live in
poverty. Brownfield assessments will identify potential
threats to public health and the environment, and are
expected to facilitate  site redevelopment plans.
                                                 Assessment Grants

                                                 $200,000 for hazardous substances
                                                 $200,000 for petroleum

                                                 EPA has selected the City of Hampton for two
                                                 brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
                                                 hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will
                                                 be used to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites
                                                 and to conduct about 12 to 14 Phase I and about 5 or
                                                 6 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant
                                                 funds also will be used to  conduct cleanup planning
                                                 and support 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 3 Brownfields Team
                                                 (215)814-3129
                                                 EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site
                                                 (http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf-lr)

                                                 Grant Recipient: City of Hampton,VA
                                                 (757)728-5177

                                                 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-09-042
        May 09

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