Arkansas’ two U.S. Senators, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, along with Second District Congressman Vic Snyder and Fourth District Congressman Mike Ross all worked to secure the $3,450,880 in grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist with the  cleanup of brownfields sites across the state. 

Brownfields sites are former industrial or residential properties that have been contaminated by hazardous substances or pollutants.  The EPA’s Brownfields program provides developers the economic tools needed to clean up such properties, promoting their reuse for economic development. 

“Brownfields renewal efforts are invaluable to our communities in Arkansas,” Senator Blanche Lincoln said.  “These important funds have a lasting impact on our communities long after they’ve provided for the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites.  Federal initiatives like Brownfields create prime real estate that attracts new industry and creates new jobs.  I am proud to have worked with my colleagues from Arkansas in Washington to secure this money, because we all share the goal of making Arkansas an even more beautiful place to live.”  

“These grants to clean up brownfields sites serve as a catalyst for new development, economic growth and environmental renewal to the areas they are awarded to,” Senator Mark Pryor said.  “I’m excited to watch this funding help turn our state’s polluted areas into vibrant and healthy communities.”
 
“The Brownfields program has become an integral part of the economic and environmental renewal happening across the state,” Congressman Vic Snyder said.  “Brownfield cleanups put good use to environmentally bad areas. I am pleased that the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock received these funds – the highest grant amount of any in Region 6, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, and 66 tribes.”

“Not only will the cleanup of brownfields improve the safety and quality of life for the citizens of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Texarkana, and Camden, but cleaning up these brownfields will allow these areas to be developed which will hopefully attract businesses and create jobs.  The cleanup of brownfields is vital to securing a solid economic future for the working families of these four communities.  My colleagues and I worked hard and are proud to bring home this funding to Arkansas.”

The following four Arkansas groups received grants from the EPA’s Brownfields program:

$3,000,000 Pulaski County to establish a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund.  The grant will assist developers in Pulaski County by offering funds and technical assistance for cleanup planning and remediation of brownfields.  The grant will be used in coordination with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) Brownfields Revolving Loan Program funded by the EPA in 2003.

$200,000 Main Street Argenta, North Little Rock.  The grant will assist developers with the Smarthouse Way property, an area to be developed into condominiums next to North Little Rock’s proposed minor league baseball stadium.

$200,000 Ark-Tex Council of Governments, Texarkana.  The hazardous substances assessment grant will be used to assemble a brownfields inventory; conduct environmental site assessments; host community outreach meetings; and monitor neighborhoods surrounded by brownfields for health-related problems.

$50,880 Camden Port Authority.  The grant will fund the cleanup of Thrower’s Site, a closed service station contaminated with petroleum and asbestos.  The cleanup will allow Camden to extend its Adams Revenue Redevelopment program.

The four Arkansas groups receiving grants today are among 218 applicants nationwide selected to receive $75.9 million in Brownfields funding.