Oregon Receives $2.1 Million for Site Cleanup

An article from Sustainable Business Oregon reports that the state and several local governments will receive $2.1 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up contaminated "brownfield" sites. According to Wikipedia "brownfield" refers to land previously used for industrial or commercial purposes that may have low levels of hazardous waste or pollution, where the land has the potential to be reused once it is cleaned up. The funding could give a boost to employment in some former industrial areas, although the effects may not be immediate.

According to the story, Business Oregon -- the state's economic development agency -- will receive $700,00 for a loan fund. The City of Eugene will receive $680,200 to assess clean up sites with leaders from Springfield and Lane County. The Northeast Oregon district will put $400,000 towards site assessments in Baker, Union, and Wallowa counties. Vernonia is also slated to receive funding for assessments. In Troutdale, $200,000 will be used to redevelop a riverfront property that formerly served as a slaughterhouse and rendering plant.

More information on these grant awards is available from the full release on the EPA website.