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EPA AWARDS $200,000 IN BROWNFIELDS FUNDS FOR USE IN COASTAL NEW HAMPSHIRE

Release Date: 07/15/1998
Contact Information: Leo Kay, Press Office, (617) 918-4154

BOSTON - The Environmental Protection Agency awarded $200,000 in funds today to the New Hampshire Office of State Planning to revitalize abandoned brownfield sites in the Coastal Piscataqua River Watershed whose redevelopment has thus far been thwarted by contamination.

The New Hampshire Coastal Program plans to assist the municipalities of Dover, Durham, Exeter, Newmarket, Rochester and Somersworth that are actively trying to redevelop brownfields, but lack the resources to do so. This strategy will minimize greenfields development and concurrently solve environmental problems, such as pressures on fragile wetlands and estuaries.

The pilot will target six sites within the six Piscataqua River municipalities. These sites were selected because they are located in municipalities that have significant potential to deflect development pressures away from greenfields; are known contaminated sites; and are historically developed sites that are presently underused or abandoned.

"These investments achieve three critical objectives: they improve the health of urban neighborhoods, advance economic opportunity in our cities, and reduce sprawl by channeling development away from fields and forests," said John P. DeVillars, administrator of the EPA's New England Office. "We need to start working harder to reduce the urban sprawl that is increasingly leading to the loss of New England's precious habitats. Our brownfields program does just that. By providing incentives for businesses and developers to reuse abandoned properties in our cities and towns, we help protect virgin ecosystems from the developer's bulldozer."

Sen. Bob Smith said, "As chairman of the Senate Superfund Subcommittee, I am pleased to support this significant award for the Piscataqua River Watershed. I have worked for many years to enhance brownfields development and have included an expanded brownfields grant program in my Superfund reform bill. This New Hampshire coastal project is an important pilot in the redevelopment of contaminated sites and preservation of wetlands in the Granite State."

Senator Judd Gregg, (R-NH) stated "Many Seacoast communities have been looking for funds to help them clean up contaminated brownfields sites so this is good news for many communities. By cleaning up these contaminated sites, the goal is to encourage the reuse of previously abandoned sites and relieve the pressure to bring more and more land into commercial development."

"This grant will help jump-start efforts to turn previously unusable property into economic opportunity for many of our communities," said Rep. Charles Bass. "It clearly demonstrates that our efforts to protect and improve the environment while working hand in hand with local and state officials and the EPA are paying off. I look forward to continuing to work withe local officials, the governor, and my colleagues in the New Hampshire delegation to secure further funding for important environmental priorities in the state."

"The EPA's decision to award $200,000 to the New Hampshire Office of State Planning under the brownfields program represents a worthy investment in the future of the Coastal Piscataqua River Watershed," said Rep. John E. Sununu. "This funding will provide coastal communities with funding to help redevelop brownfield sites, prepare them for a safe and productive use, and increase local tax rolls, and create new jobs in the process."

"The reuse of brownfields sites has been a high priority in New Hampshire," said Robert W. Varney, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. "We greatly appreciate these funds which will complement DES' brownfields program and help accelerate the cleanup and reuse of these properties."

As part of today's announcement, the EPA's New England office awarded nearly $1.8 million in grants and services to New England municipalities for brownfields activities. Since the program's inception four years ago, New England towns and municipalities from Limestone Maine to Bridgeport, Conn. have now received 38 brownfields grants, valued at more than $6.5 million.

Other grants going to New England municipalities today included: Brockton, Mansfield, the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission in Fitchburg, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for work in Amesbury, and Colrain, Mass; Stamford and Middletown, Conn.; and the Central Rhode Island Development Corporation.