PA Communities Up for Highly Competitive Grants to Remediate Sites with Potentially Hazardous Substances / Funding Could Finance Remediation, Redevelopment of Sites / Redeveloping Sites Has Potential to Boost Economic Growth, Reduce Public Health Risks
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has pushed for Pennsylvania brownfield grant applications that could aid communities in Dauphin County in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy. The communities are hoping to use the grant to remediate sites with potentially hazardous substances. The grant will finance remediation and redevelopment so that the properties can positively impact the region’s economy while protecting public health.
“These grants have the potential to transform local properties in Dauphin County from ones which contain potentially hazardous substances to ones that boost economic growth, bolstering locally driven solutions to some of the challenges that our communities face,” said Casey.” I’m hopeful this application will be considered very seriously by the EPA.”
The text of Senator Casey’s letter is below:
The Honorable Gina McCarthy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460
Dear Administrator McCarthy,
It is my understanding that the Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority, located in south-central Pennsylvania, has submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Assessment Grant program. The purpose of this letter is to urge you to give full and fair consideration to this proposal.
I have been advised that Dauphin County needs these funds in order to assess brownfield areas that potentially contain hazardous substances including petroleum. This funding will specifically be used for conducting further environmental investigations, in addition to contamination cleanup and reuse planning at the brownfield sites in the area. I have been informed that the Authority is planning to redevelop these brownfields and revitalize economically underserved neighborhoods and business districts, further encouraging development at these brownfield sites. I am told that this assessments grant will help to move the project forward from preliminary designs to complete action plans.
Thank you in advance for the consideration of my views. Please include this letter in the official record of the application. Consistent with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, I also respectfully request that you keep me informed of the status of this grant application. Finally, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me or my staff.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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