Congresswoman Scanlon Joins US EPA in Announcing $2 Million for 49th Street Terminal Cleanup
Philadelphia,
May 20, 2024
Philadelphia, PA - Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker in announcing $2 million in cleanup grant funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up the 49th Street Terminal. As part of President Biden’s Invest in America agenda, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is providing $300 million in funding to Brownfield’s Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant programs, which assist in assessing, safely cleaning up, and sustainably reusing contaminated properties. For over 60 years, the 49th Street Terminal was used as an oil terminal, filled with storage tanks full of petroleum and other semi-volatile organic compounds. The City of Philadelphia has been working to reclaim brownfield sites along Bartram’s Mile, turning them into a community hub where residents can access trails for hiking and biking, as well as areas for fishing, gardening, farming, and more. “We are here to celebrate environmental justice in action,” said Rep. Scanlon. “The 49th Street Terminal site has long been a source of environmental and public health concern for Kingsessing and the surrounding community. I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which continues to deliver good-paying jobs, create safe and accessible economic and recreational opportunities, and overall improve the quality of life for underserved communities. I look forward to the economic, health and recreation benefits this project will deliver for the Kingsessing community and the Delaware River Basin.” “President Biden sees contaminated sites and blighted areas as an opportunity to invest in healthier, revitalized communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “That’s why he secured historic funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supercharging EPA’s Brownfields program to clean up contaminated properties in overburdened communities and bring them back into productive use.” Also in attendance for today’s announcement were President of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation Jodie Harris and Executive Director of Bartram’s Garden Meitreyi Roy. Learn more about Fiscal Year 2024 MAC funding here. For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage here. Photos from this event are available upon request. ### |
