W5 +> c PR0^ Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Wayne County, NC 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 Wayne County was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Between 1999 and 2009, nine industries closed in Wayne County (population 115,644) due to globalization and job outsourcing. Located in east-central North Carolina, the county was flooded in 1999 by Hurricane Floyd. The county"s poverty rate is 17.4 percent. Poverty is more prevalent in rural areas and in the City of Goldsboro, the county seat and largest municipality. Due to the exodus of businesses from Goldsboro when the U.S. 70 bypass was built, parts of the city have significantly declined. Left behind are numerous abandoned brownfield properties, such as scrap yards, a fertilizer facility, and gas stations. The Air Force base in Goldsboro plans to expand and eliminate older base housing. The community wants to attract development of private housing to accommodate base personnel. Assessment of brownfields, especially in Goldsboro, is expected to spur redevelopment of brownfield sites that have existing infrastructure and increase new housing opportunities. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Wayne County for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites and perform about 10 Phase I and three Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites and perform about 10 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct health monitoring, cleanup planning, and 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region4/was te/bf) Grant Recipient: Wayne County, North Carolina 919-731-1168 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 560-F-10-079 Protection Agency Response (5105T) April 2010 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |