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Three Baton Rouge Groups to Receive $436,696 from EPA

Release Date: 7/20/2005
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     Today, three Baton Rouge area groups received simulated checks representing a total of $436,696 in Brownfields grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The city of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, Main Street USA, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority will use the grants to assess or address hazardous materials at underused sites in the Baton Rouge area.

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

     "This is another example of the Department of Environmental Quality and EPA partnering in an effort to improve Louisiana's environment," DEQ Secretary Mike McDaniel said. "The number of grants and the additional funding are positive steps in the Brownfields initiative. The redevelopment of these areas of concern will advance the state's economic development efforts."

     The city of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge will receive $200,000 to assess approximately 28 sites suspected to contain petroleum contamination from underground storage tanks.

     Main Street USA, Inc. will receive $178,000 to address hazardous substances at the 1201 Main Street property and expand redevelopment in the "Spanish Town" neighborhood in Baton Rouge.

     East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority will receive $58,696 to address petroleum contamination and prepare the 1705 Highland Road property in Baton Rouge for redevelopment.

     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.
 
     More information on the grant recipients is available at https://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/archive/pilot_arch.htm, and more information on Brownfields in general is at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields.