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EPA Awards Over $1 Million in Brownfields Grants to Somerville, Mass.

Release Date: 08/20/2012
Contact Information: Paula Haschig, (617) 918-1027

(Boston, Mass. – August 20, 2012) EPA is providing over $1million in Brownfields grants to the city of Somerville, Massachusetts. The City is receiving three cleanup grants valued at $600,000 to remediate three parcels associated with the Kiley Barrel site in the Union Square neighborhood. The City is also receiving $450,000 in Revolving Loan Fund Supplemental funding to cleanup properties in the vicinity of the Kiley Barrel site. 

The cleanup funding will be used remediate contaminated soils associated with a former barrel cleaning and reclamation facility.  The City has previously received three EPA Brownfields cleanup grants in 2011 for three other former Kiley Barrel sites. A comprehensive cleanup of this area will allow the City to move forward with a transit oriented, mixed-use redevelopment that is zoned to create 300,000 SF of commercial space and 300,000 SF of residential space, 800 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs.

 “EPA Brownfields funding helps strengthen the economic foundation and is a catalyst for further growth in our communities,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA New England’s office. “Cleaning and revitalizing contaminated sites helps create jobs, and can help a community to create new businesses and neighborhood centers, while making our environment cleaner and the community healthier.”

“Union Square is one of Somerville’s most vibrant neighborhoods, and these federal EPA funds will help contribute to its growth,” said Congressman Michael Capuano. “The Brownfields Grants awarded today will help continue the transformation of the Kiley Barrel site, resulting in the creation of additional residential and commercial space, as well as hundreds of jobs.”

"As Governor Patrick and I continue to work with communities like Somerville to redevelop Brownfield sites, the U.S. EPA has been a valuable partner in driving critical funds and technical assistance to support clean up and revitalization," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.  "Through this successful collaboration, we are delivering significant funds to the former Kiley Barrel site and we are paving the way for economic development opportunities in the near future."

“We are extremely thankful to Lieutentant Governor Tim Murray and his Brownfield Support Team, the EPA, DEP and MassDevelopment for their continued support of and investment in Union Square by funding the assessment and cleanup of Kiley Barrel,” said Mayor Joe Curtatone. “With this latest round of generous grant funds, we will begin the cleanup phase which will subsequently launch our entire Revitalization Plan for Union Square, including the construction of a Green Line Station through an MOA with MassDOT and MBTA.  We have many exciting projects to look forward to in Union Square, due in large part to the support of grants like these.”

“The three contributions that MassDevelopment has made for site assessment and environmental remediation of the former Kiley Barrel site testify to the importance of this parcel in the revitalization of Union Square,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones.  “We appreciate the support from our federal funding partners at EPA, and know that this project would not have proceeded to this point without the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Murray, MassDOT Secretary Davey, and Mayor Curtatone.”

“MassDOT is pleased to participate in initiatives such as the Brownfields Support Team that promote smart growth and healthy transportation modes,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey. “With key investments made by the Patrick-Murray Administration in the Green Line Extension project, MassDOT and the MBTA will provide a new transit station at Union Square that will play a significant role in the revitalization of the Kiley Barrel site."

“These state and federal awards will help to advance the cleanup of this contaminated site, a former drum reclamation facility that is currently vacant and fenced,” said MassDEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell. “MassDEP provided assessment funds to this project in the past, and we were happy to serve as the lead agency coordinating and hosting the meetings of the Somerville Brownfield Support Team.” 

 “HUD congratulates the City of Somerville on achieving these grants,” said Kristine Foye, HUD New England deputy regional administrator.  “We’re proud to be partners with EPA in building strong sustainable communities throughout New England that connect housing with transportation, jobs and a healthy living environment.”

Since the beginning of EPA’s Brownfields Program, in New England alone EPA has awarded 296 assessment grants totaling $72.7 million, 62 revolving loan fund grants and supplemental funding totaling $68.4 million and 213 cleanup grants totaling $47 million.  These grant funds have paved the way for more than $1.45 billion in public and private cleanup and redevelopment investment and for 9,756 jobs in assessment, cleanup, construction and redevelopment on over 2200 sites across New England.

Nationally, the figures are impressive: As of August 2012, EPA’s Brownfields assistance has leveraged more than $18.3 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding from a variety of public and private sources and helped create approximately 76,500 jobs. More than 18,500 properties have been assessed, and over 750 properties have been cleaned up. These investments and jobs target local, under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.

More Information:
 

EPA Brownfields program in New England: http://epa.gov/region1/brownfields/index.html

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