By Alisha Laventure - bio | email
HARTSCVILLE, SC (WMBF) – The City of Hartsville is using federal grant money to develop brownfield sights that may contain environmentally harmful substances and promote economic development.
Hartsville City Council agreed to enter into a contract with a consulting firm to assess brownfields Monday evening. This is part of a three-year project to revitalized potentially contaminated properties and reuse them in a sustainable manner.
The Hartsville Planning Commission was awarded two $200,000 community-wide grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to develop brownfields around the city.
"Sometimes, we have abandoned properties that we would have an opportunity to revitalize that property or redevelop it," Brenda Kelley said, planning and zoning administrator for Hartsville. She said the goal is to give property owners a chance to develop or expand on land that is environmentally safe.
"We just want our community to be aware that the money does exist so that they take full benefit of it," she added.
A brownfield is property where the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances or contaminants may impede development or expansion on that property. Closed automobile service stations, dry cleaners, lumberyards and fertilizer distribution facilities are examples such sites.
The targeted assessment area comprises nearly half of city's acreage and is estimated to contain at least 20 brownfields.
The city has not yet decided which brownfield sites they will evaluate.
"There's lots of land down here, and land like that should be put to good use," Nate Williams said. He wants the money to be invested in projects that expand youth programs and create jobs.
Kelley said there is no cost to a property owner who wants his land assessed.
"As people start to look at their property and how they want that property to look in the future, we want them to know that those monies are available," Kelley highlighted.
The city expects to sign a contract with their chosen consulting firm by the end of October. They will then invite members of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, EPA and the community to discuss which brownfields have the most potential for economic growth.
The two grants awarded by the EPA are only for Phase I environmental site assessments. One will be used to gather data on land for hazardous substances; the other for petroleum.
Phase II of the project is when the city determines which specific sites will be redeveloped. The city will have to apply for additional grants should they find properties that are in fact contaminated.
Both grants expire July 2013.
Copyright 2010 WMBF News. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WMBF, a Raycom Media Station.
