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Brownfields 2010 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
Parsonsfield, ME
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 Parsonsfield was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. Located in western Maine,
Parsonsfield (population 1,735) is bordered on the west
by New Hampshire and the north by the Ossipee River,
which historically provided water power for the town.
In the late 1880s, the town had at least seven sawmills
and seven gristmills. By the late 1990s, the Robinson
Mill had been converted to storage, and many of the
other manufacturing employers had shut down. In
addition to the two mill sites targeted for cleanup, the
town contains 14 brownfields that cover at least 50
acres. Many of the sites are in low- and
moderate-income neighborhoods. The per capita and
median household incomes are lower than the state and
national averages, and older residents lack affordable
housing. The town"s low annual budget limits its
financial ability to clean up the target sites. When the
target sites are cleaned up, the town plans to redevelop
them with 40 affordable housing units. Redevelopment
is expected to create jobs, increase the tax base, and
preserve the historical character of the region.
Cleanup Grants $400,000 for hazardous
substances
EPA has selected the Town of Parsonsfield for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up Lot 2 of the
Robinson Mill at 0 Federal Road, and Lot 7 of the
Robinson Mill at 10 Mill Street. The lots are part of
a site that was formerly used as a textile mill and
yarn manufacturing facility. Lot 2 contains the boiler
house for the mill complex and is contaminated with
metals, volatile organic compounds, and inorganic
contaminants. Lot 7 contains the mill building and
three outbuildings, and is contaminated with
tetrachloroethylene, metals, and volatile organic
compounds. Grant funds also will be used to
implement institutional controls and conduct
community involvement 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 1 Brownfields Team
(617) 918-1424
EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site
(http: //www. epa.gov/region 1 /brownfields)
Grant Recipient: Town of Parsonsfield,ME
207-625-4558
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.
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