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EPA PLEDGES MORE THAN $150,000 TO SUPPORT PROVIDENCE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

Release Date: 06/13/1997
Contact Information: Leo Kay, Press Office, (617)918-4154

BOSTON -- As part of its urban agenda, the New England office of the Environmental Protection Agency pledged to award $154,000 today in grants and services to the City of Providence and other local organizations to address environmental issues plaguing the city's inner-city neighborhoods.

During a press conference today at City Hall, EPA's New England Administrator John P. DeVillars presented Mayor Vincent Cianci with grants which will be used to establish a city-wide environmental strike team, revitalize abandoned vacant lots and continue to fund a community environmental organizer in Olneyville.

"This is a smart investment for EPA. For too long, inner city residents have had to shoulder a disproportionate share of our society's environmental hazards," said DeVillars. "By working together with the city, state and community, we can help improve many of the conditions that endanger the public health and safety of residents in neighborhoods stretching from Olneyville to South Providence."

Today's announcement builds on $135,000 in grants and services EPA-New England provided to Providence entities last September. The funding comes under the region's Urban Agenda, which seeks to improve the quality of life for New England's inner city residents.

Since teaming up with city and state officials last year, more than 200 of the Providence's 3,500 vacant lots have been revitalized. In adddition, a community environmental organizer has been hired in Olneyville and the City has created a first-of-its kind "environmental court" to deal specifically with Providence's problem polluters.

The following is breakdown of the different grants announced today:

$40,000 -- Providence Department of Public Works to Create a Providence Environmental Strike Team (PEST)
Funds will be used to create an inter-agency government and community education and enforcement team through the Department of Public Works that conducts targeted enforcement actions and surveillance in areas that have high incidents of illegal dumping of demolition debris, automobile parts, tires and oils, and other solid wastes. The team will also conduct multi-lingual public outreach in cooperation with community agencies.

$20,000 -- Providence Planning Department to Fund a Vacant Land Coordinator
The coordinator will be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the Vacant Land Report, as well as organizing and coordinating with various neighborhood groups and the city to ensure that vacant lot issues are properly addressed.

$69,000 -- Community Environmental Organizer and Environmental Education Diversity Forum
This grant will allow the existing community environmental organizer -- which EPA funding helped create last year -- to continue to assist Olneyville residents to identify, priortize and address urban environmental concerns at a grassroots level. The Forum will form a coalition of community based organizations, environmental organizations, local groups, government agencies, businesses, churches, and grant makers to empower individuals through environmental education and awareness.

$15,000 -- Groundwork/Providence - Keep Providence Beautiful
Project Groundwork will seek to restore a "brownfield" that was created recently when an industrial site in a low-income community of South Providence burned down.

$10,000 -- City Year
This grant will build on funding that the EPA provided last year that allowed City Year to help perform fish tissue sampling in the Woonasquatucket River, transform vacant lots into community gardens and serve as environmental mentors to school children.