City of New Rockford (N.D.) receives $200K for cleanup of hospital site

EPA Press Release:

City of New Rockford (N.D.) receives $200K for cleanup of hospital site

Contacts

U.S. EPA: Richard Mylott, 303-312-6654

City of New Rockford: Sarah Smith Warren, 701-947-2205

(Denver. Colorado—May 8, 2013) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the City of New Rockford as the recipient of a $200,000 Brownfields cleanup grant which will be used to remove contamination at the old New Rockford City Hospital site at 214 Second Avenue. Today’s announcement is part of $62 million in EPA Brownfields funds awarded to 240 grant recipients across the nation to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties.

"EPA Brownfields grants open doors by helping communities like New Rockford transform blighted properties into public and economic assets," said EPA acting regional administrator, Howard Cantor. "These investments will address contamination and create new opportunities for people to live, play, and do business.”

Built in the 1940s, the Hospital site and building occupies a full city block and has been empty for nearly 20 years. The site contains inorganic contaminants, including asbestos. Plans for site redevelopment include the creation of affordable housing opportunities for families and seniors.

There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated sites in the United States. Under EPA’s Brownfields program, more than 20,000 properties have been assessed, and more than 850 properties have been cleaned up. EPA’s Brownfields investments have also leveraged more than $19 billion in overall cleanup and redevelopment funding from public and private sources. On average $17.79 is leveraged for every EPA Brownfields grant dollar spent. These investments resulted in approximately 87,000 jobs nationwide. When Brownfields are addressed, nearby property values can increase 2-3 percent.

More information on Brownfields grants by state: http://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/