ML080230332

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment: Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Fact Sheet on Luzerne County, PA

ML080230332
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	03/31/2005
From:	Environmental Protection Agency
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
TAC MD3021, TAC MD3022
Download: ML080230332 (3)

Text

EPA-Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Ffind Pilot - Luzerne County, PA Page I of 3 MLS. EnvironmentalProtection Ageny Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment .

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EPA Home > Brownfields > Grants & Funding > Luzeme County, PA Brownfields Home Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Basic Information Where You Live Loan Fund Pilot Fact Sheet Newsroom Grants'& Funding Luzerne County, PA Laws & Statutes EPA's Brownflelds Economic Redevelopment Initiative Is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders In economic redevelopment to work together in a Tools & Technical timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustalnably reuse brownfields. A Information brownfleld Is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and an active potential for redevelopment oir reuse. EPA Is funding: assessment demonstration Partnerships pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years), to assess brownfields sites and to test cleanup and redevelopment models; job training pilot programs (each funded Initiatives up to $200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affected Site Map by brownfields to facilitate cleanup of brownfields sites and prepare trainees for future employment in the environmental field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund prdgrams (each funded up to $500,000 over five years) to capitalize loan funds to make loans for the environmental cleanup of brownfields. These pilot programs are Intended to provide EPA, states, tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful Information and strategies as they cotrntinue to seek new methods tompromote a unified approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment i

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PILOT SNAPSHOT BACKGROUND Date of Luzerne County is located in AnloUncem ent:

Northeastern Pennsylvania, in July 2000 the heart of the eastern "coal field" region. Anthracite coal Amount:

mining played a large role in $500,000 shaping the economy and the landscape of the county. The decline in the coal industry, as well as in the textile and steel Luzeme County, PA.

industries, has drastically BCRLF Target Area: Luzerne Cour Ity affected the lives of Luzerne County residents and have left a legacy of blighted communities and potentially contaminated land.

In this part of Pennsylvania, the inventory of abandoned and underutilized industrial and commercial properties includes abandoned minelands. The minelands of Luzerne County cover 62 square miles, or seven percent of the total land area. The ability to reuse this land in an environmentally and economically sound manner is vital to the achievement of sound land use objectives for the County.

The County is comprised of 76 municipalities in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Two-thirds of the more than 300,000 residents live in urban areas. Both the poverty and unemployment rates exceed state averages; approximately 12 percent live under the poverty level, and seven percent are unemployed.

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/html-doc/rluzerne.htm 3/31/2005

EPA.Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot - Luzerne County, PA Page 2 of 3 Luzerne County received a Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot with Lackawanna County in 1999.

BCRLF OBJECTIVES The objective of Luzerne County's BCRLF Program is to provide low interest loans to facilitate the cleanup and sustainable redevelopment of brownfield properties in the County'.

FUND STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS Luzeme County Office of Community Development will serve as lead agency and fund manager. The County has not designated a site manager.

The term and interest rates, security, equity, and duration of Luzerne County BCRLF loans will be negotiable. Ten percent of project's total loan amount will be retained until the project has been completed and approved by the brownfields site manager. The County will contribute in-kind resources and services to assist in implementing the BCRLF program.

BCRLF loan recipients will be required to participate in the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program.

LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES The BCRLF will be used in conjunction with the EPA Assessment Demonstration pilot funds. Other funding sources that can complement the BCRLF may include the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Industrial Sites Reuse Fund for site assessment, Luzerne County's Keystone Opportunity Program tax abatements, state-sponsored low income loans for remediation and/or reclamation, and private lending institutions.

Use of BCRLF Pilot funds must be in accordance with CERCLA, and all CERCLA restrictionson use of funding also apply to BCRLF funds.

CONTACTS Luzerne County Office of Community Development (570) 824-721.4 Region 3 BCRLF Coordinator-(215) 814-3246 Visit the EPA Region 5 Brownfields web site at:

http:iiwww.epa.govlreg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm For further information, including specific Pilot contacts, additional Pilot information, brownfieldsnews and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: http:/lwww.epa.govlbrownfields/

United States Solid Waste EPA 500-F-00-207 Environmental and Emergency July 2000 Protection Agency Response (5105)

Washington, D.C. 20460 http://www .epa.govlbrownfields/html-doc/rluzeme.htm 3/31/2005

EPA Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot - Luzerne County, PA Pacre 3 of 3 Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5105) Quick Reference Fact Sheet Usin~g This Site About PDF Site Archive EPA Home I Privacy and Security Notice I Contact Us Last updated on Friday, September 17th, 2004 URL: http:J/www.epa.govlbrownfieldslhtml-doc/rluzerne.htm http://www.epa. govfbrownfields/html-doc/rluzeme.htm 3/31/2005