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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 Bellows Falls Historical Society, Inc., was selected to
receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in Windham
County in southeastern Vermont, Bellows Falls
(population 2,900) contains five known brownfield sites,
including several near the target site. The Bellows Falls
area contains an additional 49 potential brownfields
covering more than 50 acres. These sites negatively affect
public health, public perception, and economic investment
in the community. All are located in areas with a high
percentage of low-income residents. Bellows Falls is
faced with a declining population, low income levels, and
high poverty levels. The per capita income in the Bellows
Falls area is $15,276, which is lower than the state and
national averages. Cleanup of the target site will minimize
public exposure to contaminants. Its eventual reuse as
public access to a historic riverfront park and trail system
will provide much-needed greenspace and a community
gathering place.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Bellows Falls Historical
Society, Inc., for a brownfields cleanup grant.
Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
clean up the Bellows Falls Historic Riverfront
Park and Trail System on Mill Street. The
property historically was a paper manufacturer and
grist mill. Currently, a historical museum operates
out of the grist mill building, but the rest of the
property is unused. Site soil is contaminated with
volatile organic compounds, dioxin, and
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Grant funds
also will be used to conduct community outreach
activities, and update and maintain institutional
controls.
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: Bellows Falls Historical Society,
Inc.,VT
(802) 463-9333
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-10-031
April 2010
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