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EPA TO ASSIST IN REDEVELOPING CONTAMINATED PROPERTY IN FRANKLIN, NH

Release Date: 04/07/1999
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1064

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Office announced today that the former J.P. Stevens Mill, located at 60 East Bow Street in Franklin, NH, is one of the four abandoned, contaminated sites in New England that will be assessed as part of EPA's Brownfields program. The property is a 1.4-acre former textile mill on the Winnipesaukee River, a portion of which the town is considering developing as new town offices.

EPA will invest $300,000 in this round of funding to assess environmental conditions of specific sites in three New England communities B Franklin, NH, Boston, MA, and Prospect, CT. Since January, 1999, EPA has committed a total of $1.12 million to redevelop New England Brownfields sites.

"This is an investment in New England's urban centers. Suburban sprawl threatens our environmental and economic future. One way to control sprawl is to reuse forgotten, abandoned urban properties and turn them into urban economic development opportunities," said John P. DeVillars, EPA's New England Administrator. "Brownfields redevelopment is an example of smart economics and smart growth. These site assessments are important steps towards reuse of these properties."

"As Chairman of the Superfund Subcommittee in the Senate, I am pleased to support the EPA's decision to award $75,000 to the City of Franklin to assist in the redevelopment of the former J.P. Stevens Mill," said U.S. Senator Bob Smith. "I have worked for many years to promote Brownfields redevelopment and have incorporated and expanded the Brownfields Grant Program in the Superfund Reform Bill. These much needed funds will go a long way in assisting the community's goal of making economic use of this former textile mill site."

"Rather than developing new sites for business and industry, Brownfields projects such as this one can rehabilitate abandoned sites and put them back into use," said U.S. Senator Judd Gregg. "EPA's announcement that the former J.P. Stevens Mill site in Franklin will be assessed provides another opportunity to promote economic growth in our state."

"This is great news for Franklin," said U.S. Representative Charles Bass. "The Brownfields program will help local officials turn a hazardous waste site into usable property, which will not only provide economic opportunity, but will also make Franklin a safer, cleaner community."

Under the agency's Brownfields program, environmental consultants contracted by EPA will perform the assessments B valued at approximately $75,000 each B to determine the nature and extent of contamination on the properties, and to estimate the costs of cleaning up the site for redevelopment. The assessments, which are scheduled to begin by early summer, generally take several months to complete.

Brownfields are abandoned or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is being thwarted by real or perceived environmental contamination. EPA's Brownfields program has evolved into a collaborative effort involving more than 15 federal partners.

EPA-New England has helped communities restore and develop dozens of contaminated urban properties across New England, resulting in the creation of thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in income and revenue.