w5 Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Windham Regional Commission, Southeast Vermont 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 February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, and create or save millions of jobs. This law provided stimulus funds to the Brownfields Program to award grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial and commercial sites. Under this law, EPA will provide financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Community Description The Windham Regional Commission was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The Commission serves 27 southeastern Vermont towns (combined population 46,449). Assessment activities will target densely settled downtowns and villages, especially Brattleboro and Bellows Falls, which are towns with historic commercial and industrial centers. Shifting economic patterns, a reduced need to be near water for power, and a shrinking rail industry have led to industrial decline in the region. Many regional industries have closed or relocated, leaving behind vacant and underused buildings. Brattleboro contains 68 hazardous substances and 20 petroleum brownfield sites. Bellows Falls contains 28 hazardous substances and 21 petroleum brownfield sites. The per capita incomes in these targeted towns are significantly lower than the county, state, and national levels. Additionally, 15.3 percent of Brattleboro's residents and 12.6 percent of Bellows Falls' residents live below the poverty level. The assessment of brownfields is expected to be the first step in site cleanup and redevelopment. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances (Recovery Act Funding) $200,000 for petroleum (Recovery Act Funding) EPA has selected the Windham Regional Commission for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct five Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to inventory brownfields, conduct cleanup planning, and 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 1 Brownfields Team (617) 918-1424 EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/regionl/bro wnfields ) Grant Recipient: Windham Regional Commission,VT (802) 257-4547 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-09-135 Protection Agency Response (5105T) May 2009 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |