By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — A combined $400,000 has been allocated for the Northern Maine Development Commission to help member communities asses brownfields in their cities and towns that resulted from hazardous substances or petroleum.
An informal survey done by NMDC officials indicated that its 14-municipality membership readily knew of 72 potential brownfields, defined as a property that contains a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant which hinders the potential to reuse or redevelop the land. According to NMDC Environmental Planner Connie Akerson, those potential brownfield sites include former drycleaners, gas stations, warehouses, fertilizer plants and petroleum storage facilities.
“This program offers municipalities and property owners the opportunity to potentially redevelop brownfield sites for new uses, which will hopefully mean the addition of new jobs and an increase the tax base for communities,” Akerson said.
This is the first time NMDC has been allocated funding for hazardous substance assessments and the second time its been awarded a $200,000 federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant for petroleum brownfield assessment. The first grant, awarded for 2007-10, enabled the development commission to successfully complete nine Phase One brownfield assessments throughout Aroostook County and four Phase Two assessments.
As Akerson explained, NMDC’s first brownfield grant allowed nearly 55 acres in Aroostook County to be assessed for petroleum contamination.
“Two of the assessed properties were sold and are currently being reused, and two additional properties were entered into the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Voluntary Response Action Program,” she added
As funding was just recently allocated, organizers anticipate the program will not be opening until October.
NMDC was one of eight Maine entities to receive an EPA Brownfield grant; total funds allocated for Maine totaled $3.8 million in both brownfield assessments and cleanup.
“We are pleased that the EPA has designated these sites throughout Maine as recipients of the vital federal funding for Brownfield cleanups,” Sens. Snow and Collins said in a joint press release on Friday. “These investments will provide economic opportunities in Maine, while helping to protect the integrity of the environment for future generations.”
Additional information regarding NMDC’s brownfield assessment program can be obtained by calling 498-8736.
