EPA Provides $1 Million to New York City and North Hempstead, Long Island to Support Assessments, Cleanups and Revitalization of Contaminated Properties

EPA News Release:

EPA Provides $1 Million to New York City and North Hempstead, 
Long Island to Support Assessments, Cleanups and 
Revitalization of Contaminated Properties

Contact: John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – May 8, 2013) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing nearly $1 million to New York City and North Hempstead, Long Island to help those communities clean up abandoned and contaminated sites. The funding was awarded through EPA’s Brownfields Program, which helps communities assess, clean up, redevelop and reuse contaminated properties. Brownfields are properties where moderate contamination threatens environmental quality and public health and can interfere with productive re-use of the sites.

“Cleaning up brownfields sites protects people’s health and the environment, revitalizes neighborhoods and create jobs,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “Brownfields cleanups and the reuse of formerly contaminated properties improve the lives of those who live and work in these communities.”

"Brownfields redevelopment is an important program for New York State environmental and economic goals," NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens said. "We welcome the federal participation in this program, in partnership with State and local governments and private developers."

The EPA’s Brownfields funding will be awarded communities in New York City and Long Island as follows:

New York, NY – $800,000
• Revolving loan fund from which the City of New York will provide seven loans and nine grants to support cleanup activities for sites contaminated with hazardous substances. Grant funds will also be used to oversee cleanups and support community outreach.

North Hempstead, NY – $200,000
• Clean up the Grand Street School site at 252 Grand Street in Westbury. The former school has been abandoned for over 20 years and is contaminated with inorganic contaminants and metals. Grant funds will also be used for community outreach.

The EPA has announced a total of more than $62.5 million in new investments across the country that will redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and help create jobs while protecting public health.

Since its inception, EPA’s brownfields investments have leveraged more than $19 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding from a variety of public and private sources and have created approximately 87,000 jobs. The 240 grantees receiving grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup Grants programs include tribes and communities in 45 states across the country.

Information on grant recipients can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields.

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