I 4B| Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Niagara County, NY 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 Niagara County was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Bordering Canada and the Niagara River to the west and Lake Ontario to the north, Niagara County (population 219,846) was once a prosperous industrial area. Facilities manufacturing steel, ceramics, and paper led to a thriving economy but also to the release of contaminants into the environment. Niagara County has inventoried and identified over 300 brownfield sites, a disproportionate number of which are located in low-income areas. The county's population has declined by nine percent since the 1960s, which is attributed to the downsizing and closing of many manufacturing facilities that employed a significant portion of the county's workforce. The median household income is lower than the state and national averages. Brownfield assessments are expected to strengthen revitalization efforts already underway. Assessments also are expected to support the Niagara River Greenway Plan that promotes sustainability, recreational opportunities, and enhanced water access. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Niagara County for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct 14 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. 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 2 Brownfields Team (212) 637-3260 EPA Region 2 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region2/bro wnfields ) Grant Recipient: Niagara County,NY (716) 278-8750 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-128-030 May 2011 ------- |