All News Releases By Date

Arkansas Groups to Receive more than $3.4 Million from EPA

Release Date: 5/10/2005
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     Four Arkansas groups have been selected to receive $3,450,880 in Brownfields grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene announced today.

     "Brownfields grants help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use," Greene said. "I am glad that EPA can support the good work Pulaski County has begun and I look forward to applauding its achievements."

     "For some time, our Department has been working with local government leaders across Arkansas to help them make the state Brownfields program another essential tool in their redevelopment efforts," Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Director Marcus C. Devine said. "We are elated that the Environmental Protection Agency has rewarded our initiatives with several significant grants to some of these communities."

     Pulaski County will receive $3 million to establish a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund. This grant will increase funding options available to developers in this area and complement ADEQ's Brownfield Revolving Loan Program funded by EPA in 2003. The County formed a coalition with Little Rock and North Little Rock to offer funding and technical assistance for cleanup planning and remediation of Brownfields.

     Pulaski County has identified two potential loan candidates.  Audubon Arkansas, a local nonprofit organization, plans a community center and education facility for Fourche Creek Restoration project, an Urban River Initiative Pilot.  Main Street Argenta, a local nonprofit organization, is interested in redeveloping North Little Rock along the Arkansas River.  

Main Street Argenta is also a recipient of an EPA Brownfields cleanup grant of $200,000 to address a Smarthouse Way property. The site will be developed into condominiums adjacent to a proposed minor league baseball stadium.

     Two other Arkansas entities will receive EPA Brownfields grants. Ark-Tex Council of Governments plans to use its hazardous substances assessment grant of $200,000 to assemble a Brownfields inventory, conduct environmental site assessments, host community outreach meetings, and allow for health monitoring for neighborhoods surrounded by priority Brownfields sites.  The Camden Port Authority will receive a cleanup grant of $50,880 for the Thrower's Site, a closed gasoline service station site contaminated with petroleum and asbestos. The cleanup will allow the Camden Port Authority to extend its Adams Avenue Redevelopment program.

     A Brownfield is a property which may have expansion, redevelopment or reuse challenges from hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants. EPA's Brownfields program is designed to help stakeholders prevent, assess, safely clean and sustainably reuse these properties.  Reinvesting in Brownfields increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, uses existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off undeveloped land, and improves and protects the environment.

     Four categories of Brownfields grants are being awarded nationwide today to 218 applicants selected to receive 302 grants totaling $75.9 million.  More information about EPA's Brownfields program and the grant recipients is available at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/. An audio clip is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/radio.htm.