ARCATA AWARDED $300,000 U.S. EPA GRANT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield Program awarded a $300,000 grant to the City of Arcata. The funds will be used to perform environmental assessments and remediation planning on brownfield sites throughout the City. Brownfields are former industrial or commercial sites whose future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination. Environmental site assessments are important for the transfer or sale of property and for projects that require environmental review for permitting. This grant will allow the City of Arcata to move forward with environmental assessment on several parcels where development has been hampered by contamination concerns. Projects that could be assisted by this three-year program include park and trail development, habitat restoration and new housing development. Site assessment and remediation planning can protect human and environmental health by identifying the type and extent of contamination and creating a plan for cleanup. Site assessment is an important first step in the land recycling process.
“This grant opens up great opportunities to move important community projects forward and to protect the environment,” says Arcata Community Development Deputy Director Andrew Whitney.
For more information on the City’s Brownfield Assessment Grant, call 825-2213 or email awhitney@cityofarcata.org .