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EPA Funds to Support Brownfield Sites in Hartford, Shelton and Waterbury

June 6, 2017

LARSON, BLUMENTHAL, MURPHY, DELAURO, HIMES, ESTY APPLAUD $450K IN BROWNFIELD FUNDING

(Hartford, CT)—Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (CT-1), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Jim Himes (CT-4) and Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) announced $450,000 in federal funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support brownfield sites in Shelton, Waterbury, and Hartford.

The City of Shelton will be receiving $200,000 for a brownfields assessment grant to help assess sites in the Shelton Canal and Industrial District, prepare cleanup plans, and conduct community outreach. The cities of Hartford and Waterbury will each be receiving $125,000 in technical assistance funding to assist with current brownfield site work.

President Trump's most recent budget proposal would cut almost $35 million from the brownfields program, a severe decrease of nearly 23% from the current funding level.

"Every dollar that goes toward a brownfield is a dollar well spent. This funding will help turn eyesores into economic generators—creating jobs, revitalizing neighborhoods, and protecting public health and the environment in Shelton, Waterbury, and Hartford. We will continue to fight misguided budget cuts and support smart federal investments that enrich and enliven communities across Connecticut," said Larson, Blumenthal, Murphy, DeLauro, Himes, and Esty.

In New England, since the beginning of the Brownfields program, EPA has awarded 382 assessment grants totaling $103.9 million, 73 revolving loan fund grants and supplemental funding totaling $90 million and 290 cleanup grants totaling $69.9 million. These grant funds have paved the way for more than $2.4 billion in public and private cleanup and redevelopment investment and for nearly 15,499 jobs in assessment, cleanup, construction and redevelopment.