[Vision2020] PR: Brownfields Award

[Stephanie Kalasz]

Press Release - City of Moscow Receives $475,000 EPA Grant

 

To:      Interested Media

From:  Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor

            206 E. 3rd St., Moscow, Idaho 83843

Telephone: (208) 883-7006; Fax: (208) 883-7018

E-mail: griedner at ci.moscow.id.us

c:         Mayor, City Council, All City Users

Re:      City of Moscow Press Release

Date:   April 19, 2010

 

 

For Immediate Release:

 

City of Moscow Receives $475,000 EPA Grant

 

Moscow, Idaho - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced
today that it has selected $78.9 million in brownfields grants to
communities in 40 states, four tribes and one U.S. Territory, with a
$475,000 award to the City of Moscow.  This funding will be used for the
assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields properties,
including abandoned gas stations, old textile mills, closed smelters and
other abandoned industrial and commercial properties. 

 

The brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America's estimated
450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites.  As of March 2010, EPA's
brownfields assistance has leveraged more than $14 billion in cleanup
and redevelopment funding, and 61,277 jobs in cleanup, construction and
redevelopment.  These investments and jobs target local, under-served
and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods - places where
environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.  Cleaning up our
communities is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's priorities,
which leads not only to health and environmental benefits but also
economic development and prosperity. 

 

"To strengthen our economy, we must first strengthen our communities,"
said Administrator Jackson.  "Cleaning up and revitalizing these
contaminated sites opens doors to new businesses, new homes and new jobs
for American workers while making our environment cleaner and the
community healthier.  This shows that what is right for the environment
is right for the economy." 

 

In total, EPA is selecting 304 grants through the Brownfields
Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grants programs: 

 

*	188 assessment grants, totaling $42.56 million, will conduct
site assessment and planning for cleanup at one or more brownfields
sites as part of a community-wide effort. 
*	17 revolving loan fund grants, totaling $17 million, will
provide loans and subgrants for communities to begin cleanup activities
at brownfields sites.  Revolving loan funds are generally used to
provide low interest loans for brownfields cleanups. 
*	99 cleanup grants, totaling $19.36 million, will provide funding
for grant recipients to carryout cleanup activities at brownfield sites
they own.

 

Since the beginning of the brownfields program in 1995, EPA has awarded
1,702 assessment grants totaling $401 million, 262 revolving loan fund
grants totaling more than $256.7 million, and 655 cleanup grants
totaling $129.4 million.  As part of Administrator Jackson's commitment
to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase of $215
million for brownfields with a focus on planning, cleanup, job training
and redevelopment.

 

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields
Revitalization Act were passed.  The brownfields law expanded the
definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now
focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum or sites
contaminated as a result of manufacturing and distribution of illegal
drugs (e.g. meth labs). 

More information on the FY 2010 grant recipients:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

 

More information on EPA's brownfields program:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

 

Brownfields success stories:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm

 

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