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RI DEM Receives $200,000 Grant from US EPA for Environmental Assessment of Contaminated Sites in Warwick, West Warwick, Cranston, Coventry, Woonsocket, Pawtucket and Central Falls July 2007
In May 2007, the US Environmental Protection Agency awarded DEM a brownfields assessment grant in the amount of $200,000. This year, the Rhode Island brownfields grant recipients were among over 200 organizations nationally that have been awarded one of the 294 assessment, revolving loan fund, and cleanup grants totaling $70.7 million nationally. The eight Rhode Island grant awards, totaling $1.6 million, were selected from over 800 applicants across the country. This is the first year DEM applied for this competitive brownfields assessment grant. The $200,000 award from EPA will allow DEM to further collaborate with the seven targeted communities addressed by the proposal. These communities include three (3) in the Blackstone River corridor - Woonsocket, Pawtucket and Central Falls - and four (4) in the Pawtuxet River basin - Warwick, West Warwick, Cranston and Coventry. Many highly recognized brownfields projects have begun or been completed in each of these communities, and in many cases these projects have served as catalysts for further redevelopment planning. DEM plans to use the funding to carry out a total of 6 site assessment tasks, including two Phase I site assessments, two Phase II site assessments, and two cleanup planning tasks. Site selection criteria will be determined by the RI DEM Targeted Brownfields Assessment Application (revised July 2007) and assistance is available to municipalities, tribes and non-profit organizations only. The application process is a competitive process and potential sites are scored based upon numerous factors used to determine the extent to which a property is underutilized, as well as site assessment costs, existence of a reuse plan (which includes sustainable reuse), financial incentives offered by the applicant, leveraging of funds for cleanup, and the applicants community involvement process. The deadline for submitting applications is October 15, 2007. Questions and requests for assessment applications should be directed to Cynthia Gianfrancesco at 401-222-4700, ext. 7126 or cynthia.gianfrancesco@dem.ri.gov . Applications should be submitted to Cynthia Gianfrancesco, RI DEM, Office of Waste Management, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908. |
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