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EPA ANNOUNCES NEARLY $550,000 IN GRANTS IN MAINE

Release Date: 04/09/1997
Contact Information: Leo Kay, Press Office, (617)918-4154

BOSTON -- During a tour of an environmentally responsible metal plating shop in Westbrook, Maine today, John P. DeVillars, administrator of the EPA's New England office, announced the awarding of $548,150 in grants to go toward cleaning the environment while promoting economic development in Maine.

A portion of the money will be used to help the state's metal finishers -- such as Westbrook's Southern Maine Industries -- cut down on the amount of pollution they produce in their daily operations. EPA-New England offers free, on-site audits to help participating facilities comply with environmental requirements, use pollution prevention techniques and achieve environmental excellence. The EPA, in cooperation with state and local environmental regulatory agencies, offers enforcement relief for most corrected violations.

In addition to the pollution prevention grant, funds will go toward projects ranging from redeveloping abandoned contaminated properties to assisting Maine Indian tribes institute pollution prevention programs to instilling environmental awareness in the state's school children. A majority of the funds were granted by EPA-New England's office of Assistance and Pollution Prevention -- the largest pollution prevention office of any environmental agency in the country.

"A $500,000 investment in the future of Maine's environment is $500,000 well spent", said John P. DeVillars, administrator of EPA's New England office. "Combined with the ingenuity and dedication of their recipients, these grant dollars will go a long way in protecting, preserving, and promoting this state's environment for years to come. Whether it's pollution prevention, sustainable development, or environmental education, we know we can expect a lot from Maine."

"I am very pleased that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is continuing its commitment to cleaning up environmentally hazardous sites, and to encouraging pollution prevention. These substantial grants will help preserve and protect Maine's environment, and also encourage educational efforts so that our residents are better informed on environmentally safe practices," said Olympia J. Snowe(R-Maine).

Senator Susan B. Collins, R-Me., said "These grants reinforce the principle that a clean environment and a healthy economy can coexist. Small and medium-sized businesses need information and support in their early efforts to comply with anti-pollution standards. These grants should make meaningful assistance available to Maine companies."

"These grants will go a long way in ensuring that Maine is able to maintain its reputation for environmental leadership, while also helping a number of economic development projects," said Congressman John E. Baldacci. "I am pleased that the EPA has decided to make this substantial investment in Maine's future."

"The grants EPA announced today will foster continuation of the federal, state and local partnership to protect the environment. In addition to supporting vitally important programs at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, EPA will also be assisting Maine cities, towns and businesses," said Representative Tom Allen. "I am especially pleased with the grants to the Maine CLEAN-P2 program for Maine's metal products companies, to Maine's landmark WasteCap environmental assessment program for businesses and to the City of Portland to redevelop the 'brownfield' site on Marginal Way. Each of these projects will benefit both Maine's environment and its economy."

"Maine is committed to environmental excellence. That requires substantial investments in pollution prevention, technical assistance and education," said Ned Sullivan, commissioner of Maine's Department of Environmental Protection. "We're delighted to have EPA's financial support."

The following is a breakdown of the grants the EPA is awarding to Maine municipalities, businesses and other organizations for use in 1997:

Assistance and Pollution Prevention
$108,000 --Maine Department of Environmental Protection: CLEAN for Maine Printing, Metal Finishing and Wood Products Industries; Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance for Printers and Metal Finishers
Augusta
CLEAN-P2 is a program for small and medium-sized businesses in Maine. The EPA has awarded grants to pollution prevention leaders to implement the project in partnership with industry, academia, government and non-government organizations. CLEAN-P2 offers free, on-site audits to help participating facilities comply with environmental requirements, use pollution prevention techniques and achieve environmental excellence. The EPA, in cooperation with state and local environmental regulatory agencies is offering enforcement relief for most corrected violations. (Contact: Ann Pistell, 287-2881)

$85,000 -- Maine Metal Products: CLEAN-P2
Portland
This grant builds on previous funding to implement CLEAN-P2 for metal finishing businesses, and will work in concert with a similar grant going to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. CLEAN-P2 offers free, on-site audits to help facilities comply with environmental requirements, use pollution prevention techniques and achieve environmental excellence. (Contact: Stan Eller 871-88254)

$60,000 -- Maine Department of Environmental Protection: Pollution Prevention in State Government Agencies
Augusta
This grant will fund a staff position to run an initiative for state government agencies (Transportation, Corrections, Mental Health, University) to insure compliance and promote pollution prevention. The new position will conduct advanced staff training in integrating pollution prevention into job functions. (Contact: Ann Pistell, 287-2881)

$58,000 -- Passamaquoddy Build Regional Recycling
Perry
The Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe will develop the infrastructure for regional recycling and processing collected materials for the market. (Contact: Heidi Leighton, 853-2600)

$50,000 -- Passamaquoddy Identify Illegal Dumps
Princeton
The Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe will assess and inventory illegal dumps on Passamaquoddy Tribal trust lands. The findings will be integrated with GIS maps. (Contact: Veronica Smith, 796-5611)

$21,500 -- B&I NH Wastecap Support Grant
Augusta
WasteCap of New Hampshire and Maine assist and encourage companies and institutions to drive costs out of their operations through improved production and solid waste management practices. WasteCap conducts free, confidential, on-site waste assessments, provides technical assistance over the phone and publishes quarterly newsletters to further solid waste reduction. In addition, WasteCap assists clients in designing or improving a recycling program and establishing effective materials procurement practices. (Contact: Gayle Briggs, 865-6621)

$20,000 -- Houlton Band: Pollution Prevention Techniques for Tribal Households
Houlton
Train tribal members to change behavior in three areas that affect their environment and well-being -- 1) energy conservation (tribe lives in HUD housing constructed with electric heat); 2) water conservation (affects burden on tribal wastewater treatment plant and Meduxnekeag River); and 3) prevention of nonpoint source pollution of river through yard care techniques, erosion control, and improving/developing buffers. (Contact: Sherri Venno, 532-4273)

$10,000 -- ME CC&BA Develop Waste Material List
Augusta
WasteCap of Maine has partnered with the Maine Materials Exchange under this grant to identify types and volumes of non-virgin, surplus materials produced by industries and develop an ongoing catalog of materials. The exchange will match generators of this material with a secondary manufacturer or user of those materials. (Contact: Gayle Briggs, 865-6621)

Economic Redevelopment
$90,000 -- Brownfields Grant to City of Portland
The grant will be used to redevelop the Marginal Way Site, one of about 140 brownfields sites in the city. To overcome the environmental risks and uncertainty causing disinvestment in the former scrap metal yard, the city's Department of Planning and Urban Development plans to conduct market research and an environmental assessment in preparing a redevelopment plan for the site that will address such obstacles as regulations, insurance and financing. (Contact: Joseph Gray, Jr. 874-8300)

$15,000 -- Site Assessment for Old Town
In Old Town, EPA will perform a site assessment of a former pie plate manufacturing company contaminated with PCBs, hydraulic fluid and other compounds that local officials are working to redevelop. The town would like to acquire and clean up the former Lily Tulip Plant and transform it into green space and possibly waterfront development. (Contact: Ron Singel, 827-3965)

Environmental Justice
$16,000 -- Penobscot Nation
Old Town, Maine
The funds will be used to address the Penobscot's concern about mercury contamination in tribal waters. The nation will collaborate with University of Maine researchers to expand an ongoing study of mercury in the Penobscot river watershed to focus on two impoundments within tribal waters. (Contact - Richard Hamilton, 827-7776)

Environmental Education
$9,650 -- Aroostook Literacy Coalition
Houlton
A program will be establsihed to educate the general public on how to be more environmentally conscious in making informed decisions and taking responsible actions. (Contact: Ervin MacDonald, 532-6554)

$5,000 -- Houlton High School
Houlton
A project titled "Yard Waste: Community Service and Experimental Curriculum" will be launched with