Durham holds Public Meeting for Grant Application

By Kristen H. Long
Monday, October 20, 2008

Summary: Public Meeting Regarding EPA Grant Application and Update on Current Brownfield Activities in Northeast Central Durham

The City of Durham is submitting a grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue environmental assessment and cleanup activities for properties in Northeast Central Durham where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

In accordance with the Northeast Central Durham Strategic Revitalization Plan, the City is actively working to redevelop several key areas. Brownfield activities completed thus far have identified several properties in Northeast Central Durham through community participation, site inventory, and environmental assessment activities, where known or perceived environmental contamination is complicating proposed redevelopment activities.

The City is seeking public input on expanding its brownfield efforts to other areas of the community. Funding under the proposed EPA grant application can be utilized to investigate brownfield properties city-wide.

The grant amount requested is $400,000. If funded, the grant will be used for community outreach, environmental assessment, and clean up/redevelopment planning activities at properties potentially impacted by petroleum and hazardous substance contamination.

Community involvement is an integral part in these types of projects and is a key factor in the EPA’s evaluation of the grant application. Therefore, public and community-based organizations are encouraged to provide comments and review the draft grant application prior to its submittal to the EPA on November 14, 2008.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 7:00 pm at Durham City Hall, Council Chambers, First Floor.

For additional information, contact Grace Dzidzienyo, brownfield project manager with the City’s OEWD, at (919) 560-4965 or grace.dzidzienyo@durhamnc.gov.