I JBt; | Brownfields 2005 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet V*V Haverhill, MA 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 Haverhill was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in northeastern Massachusetts, Haverhill (population 58,969) was founded in 1640 and was an international center for shoe production through the middle of the 20th Century. Haverhill is now struggling with many of the same economic development problems facing other historic industrial cities of the Merrimack Valley. It has a poverty rate of more than 21 percent, and a 26 percent minority population. Of the 183 hazardous waste sites in Haverhill, the city has identified 11 potential brownfields sites in the targeted downtown area, collectively occupying ten acres. Of particular concern are contaminants related to shoe manufacturing, such as salts, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds. Petroleum contamination from former gas stations that occupied downtown sites is also a concern. Redevelopment of these abandoned sites will improve the quality of life within the city center, reduce sprawl and pollution, and create jobs. Currently, there is no greenspace within the target area, and the city will redevelop one or more of the vacant sites into "pocket parks," enhancing the quality of urban life for downtown residents. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Haverhill for two brownfields assessment grants. The grants will allow the city to create a comprehensive database and GIS maps of potential brownfields, expand its program of bilingual community outreach, and conduct Phase I and II environmental site assessments within the downtown area. 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: City of Haverhill,MA (978) 374-2347 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-05-169 Protection Agency Response (5105T) May 2005 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |