I jBt; | Brownfields 2003 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Port Jervis, 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. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields 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 Port Jervis was selected to receive two brownfields cleanup grants. Located in western Orange County near the junction of Pennsylvania and New Jersey on the Neversink and Delaware Rivers, Port Jervis is geographically isolated and residents must rely upon local jobs and resources. Port Jervis's population is under 8,900. The city has one of the lowest median incomes in Orange County, and 18 percent of residents have incomes below the poverty line. During the first half of the 20th century, Port Jervis's economy relied on railroad and related industries. However, failure of the railroad industry in the 1960s brought a decline in jobs and population, eroded the economic base, and left a legacy of environmentally contaminated properties. Cleanup Grant $325,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected Port Jervis, New York for two cleanup grants totaling $325,000. The grants will be used for cleanup of the former Erie-Lackawanna Railroad yard on the Roundhouse site and the former State Wide Oil property, both now abandoned and contaminated with petroleum wastes. Both sites are now owned by the city. Cleanup of the two major brownfields in the heart of the city will make room for a new Head Start school, development of a historic park and construction of an educational and workforce development center. Cleanup of these sites is expected to enhance the marketability of a neighboring retail area, sustain new business development, and reduce downtown vacancy rates. 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) 637-4309 EPA Region 2 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region02/br ownfields/) Grant Recipient: City of Port Jervis, New York (845) 858-4024 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 c Environmental anri Fmpflpn™ EPA 500-F-03-162 Protection Agency Response (5105T) June 2003 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |