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EPA Awards $200,000 to the City of Camden

Release Date: 01/15/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

(Dallas, Texas – January 15, 2009) The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $200,000 grant to the City of Camden, Arkansas, to provide training for residents who have been impacted by redevelopment and environmental remediation of brownfields properties. Giving priority to the underemployed and unemployed, the City of Camden plans to recruit 30 students from Camden and surrounding counties, place at least 19 graduates in environmental technician jobs, and track students for one year.

“EPA is committed to providing educational and career opportunities to students who possess a desire to learn more about science, policy, and the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “As a result of out commitment, the City of Camden will produce future environmental leaders who will have the knowledge and training to keep Camden environmentally safe and healthy for upcoming generations.”

Working in conjunction with Southern Arkansas University Tech and the Arkansas Workforce Center, the City of Camden will conduct three, 344-hour training cycles which includes coursework in groundwater remediation, disposal of remediated waste, and asbestos supervision. Upon completion of the training, twelve certifications will be offered and students will be placed in environmental jobs.

EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers states, communities and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields which are real properties, developments, or expansions that may be contaminated by hazardous substances and pollutants.

Additional information about EPA’s Brownfields Program is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields

To learn more about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/audio.htm#audio011509_cityofcamden