WASHINGTON — At the annual New Hampshire Business Day luncheon, an event hosted by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) that features prominent speakers and is attended by Granite State business leaders, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official announced a substantial award of federal funding for environmental cleanup efforts in New Hampshire. During her remarks, Alexandra Dunn, Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, committed $1.4 million in total for projects led by Nashua Regional Planning Commission and the Strafford Regional Planning Commission.
Within the Eagle Times coverage area $300,000 is going to the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission for community-wide assessments in Claremont and Lebanon, and $500,000 toward cleanup of the Central Plating site in the town of Walpole. More information on these grants, which are administered through the EPA’s Brownfields program, can be found at epa.gov.
“This funding will be put to good use in these New Hampshire communities to cleanup and repurpose contaminated sites, and I’m excited to see the impact it will have,” said Shaheen. “This is a substantial investment in public health and community development that will pay dividends. I want to thank Assistant Administrator Alexandra Dunn for addressing Granite State businesses today at the New Hampshire Business Day luncheon and making this important announcement. I’ll continue to prioritize funding for environmental cleanup so that New Hampshire can make more progress on contaminated areas.”
“The Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program is a critical tool for communities in New Hampshire and across the United States to redevelop and reuse previously contaminated properties, helping to build a cleaner environment and stronger economy,” Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) said. “I am pleased that the EPA selected these communities across the state for Brownfields funding, and I will continue working to improve our environment and spur economic growth.”
“Rehabilitating contaminated sites into functional, usable community assets is a win for Granite Staters, our economy, and our environment,” said Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02). “This funding is an investment in New Hampshire communities most in need of contamination cleanup. I will continue working to upgrade New Hampshire’s infrastructure and expand economic opportunity for all Granite Staters.”
“Cleaning up our brownfield sites is essential to keeping New Hampshire a safe and healthy place to call home,” said Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01). “These federal dollars will make a difference to clean up efforts and our local economy. I will continue working alongside the rest of the New Hampshire delegation to secure federal investments critical to the long-term health of our state.”
Shaheen serves as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Shaheen and Hassan have consistently advocated for funding for the EPA’s Brownfields program.
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