Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Grant Opportunity: Community Health Projects Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites


The ATSDR Community Health Projects (CHP) Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites purpose is to increase responsive public health actions by promoting healthy and safe environments and preventing harmful exposures related to contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites.  Brownfields are defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant".  Land reuse site is any property that is being redeveloped for a different purpose from their former use.  EPA estimates that there are over 450,000 Brownfield sites in the United States.  Addressing public health concerns and issues associated with restoration of contaminated properties is essential.

ATSDR’s mission is to serve the public through responsive public health actions to promote healthy and safe environments and prevent harmful exposures.  Sites such as Brownfield/Land Reuse sites may have potentially harmful exposures from contamination from previous site uses. Community health projects that address impacts of contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse sites further ATSDR’s public health mission to promote healthy and safe environments and prevent harmful exposures.  These projects will have a particular emphasis on identifying health issues prior to redevelopment and/or assessing changes in community health associated with reuse plans and redevelopment.
 
MORE INFO:

https://extranet.acf.hhs.gov/hhsgrantsforecast/index.cfm?switch=grant.view&gff_grants_forecastInfoID=100000486

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Hub City Humane Society Together with Chuck and Gayle Davis to Receive EPA Reuse Award

Release Date: 03/10/2015

Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, 404-562-8293 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main), marraccini.davina@epa.gov

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will present the Region 4 Excellence in Site Reuse Award to Chuck and Gayle Davis, property owners, and the Hub City Humane Society for redeveloping the Davis Timber Superfund site in Hattiesburg, Miss. The award recognizes their commitment to safely and sustainably reusing the former wood treating property after EPA and the State of Mississippi completed cleanup activities in 2012.

Chuck and Gayle Davis and The Hub City Humane Society worked cooperatively with EPA, the State of Mississippi and local partners to return the 30 acre Davis Timber Superfund site to productive use as community-based animal shelter. In addition to serving as an adoption center for dogs and cats, future plans include a horse shelter, education center, dog park, community garden and nature trails. By reclaiming, restoring and reinventing the Davis Timber site, this project illustrates how the reuse of Superfund sites can protect human health, advance environmental protection and return formerly unusable properties into valuable community assets. 

WHEN: 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 10 a.m. CST

WHO: 

Franklin Hill, Superfund Division Director, EPA Region 4;
Carol Monell, Superfund Remedial Branch Chief, EPA Region 4;
Trey Hess, Groundwater Assessment & Remediation Division Chief, Mississippi Department of 
Environmental Quality;
Chuck and Gayle Davis; and
Brenda Sumrall, DVM, Hub City Humane Society Board President

WHERE: 

Breland Community Center 
79 Jackson Road
Hattiesburg, Miss.

EPA Region 4 created the Excellence in Site Reuse Award to recognize those who have made outstanding efforts to reuse a Superfund site through cooperative efforts with EPA. Selected recipients have gone above and beyond to ensure sites are reused in a manner compatible with site remedies and that makes sites’ beneficial use possible for many years to come.

Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4 
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast