All News Releases By Date

EPA Awards $100,000 Brownfields Assessment to Redding, Conn.

Release Date: 10/24/2003
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1014

REDDING, CONN. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is awarding a targeted Brownfields assessment valued at $100,000 to the town of Redding, Conn. to assess the Gilbert & Bennett Lagoon site for potential cleanup. Under the award, EPA will assess environmental contamination at the site to determine if the site can be used to expand the wastewater treatment plant needed to support the redevelopment of the Gilbert and Bennett site across the street.

"Towns like Redding are working very hard to make their communities productive and livable, as evidence by their commitment to the design charrette this week for the Gilbert and Bennett site," said Matt Hoagland, Chief of the Emergency Response branch for EPA's New England Office, speaking at the site today during a ceremony with town officials, planners, developers and citizens. "EPA's Brownfields program is here to support their efforts to redevelop parcels that have been used before and can be re-used again. The site assessment we're awarding today is an important step for this property, giving Redding the information it needs to move forward with cleanup and redevelopment."

In August, 2001, EPA completed a $2.3 million action at the site to excavate and treat 4,000 cubic yards of soil to prevent lead and zinc from leaching out into groundwater.

Across the country, EPA estimates there are between 500,000 and one million Brownfields – properties that are abandoned or underdeveloped because of contamination or fear of contamination. EPA has awarded $52 million in Brownfields grants across New England to date, including $24 million to communities in Massachusetts. Across New England, these grants have led to 640 completed site assessments, $300 million leveraged for redevelopment and over 2,000 jobs created.