Salisbury, MD — The City of Salisbury has been selected by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to receive nearly $1.8 million in competitive Brownfields Cleanup (MARC) Grant funding.
Announced Thursday, May 25, Salisbury is one of 262 communities across the country to receive Cleanup Grant funding, and the only community in Maryland to receive cleanup funding this fiscal year.
Brownfields, properties where reuse or redevelopment is complicated by the presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants, are present across the country. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, and improves and protects the environment.
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Cleanup Grant will fund cleanup efforts at the former SALKAP Lake Street Oil Tank Farm, located at 317 and 325 Lake Street. The parcels were utilized as a fuel tank farm with aboveground storage tanks and a waste oil processing facility until they became inactive in 1992. The cleanup process will remediate contaminants in soil and groundwater, making the site safe to serve as a long-term community asset.
“Every neighborhood deserves this level of care and attention when it comes to the environment they live, work, and play in every day,” said Mayor Jack Heath. “Almost half of the residents in the Lake Street Neighborhood are children. With the help of this grant, these young people will grow up to see this eye sore and environmental blight cleaned from their streets. Thank you to the EPA for recognizing Salisbury for this generous investment.”
The former SALKAP property was identified in the 2016 “Envision Salisbury” 20-year plan for transformation as an ideal location for an urban green space. The plan, which was crafted with input from the community, cites the location’s potential utility in mitigating flooding issues, as well as its importance as an urban green space that will connect the city’s underserved West Side with its Downtown business district.
“We are honored to be awarded this USEPA Brownfields grant which will be instrumental in transforming this neglected section of waterfront. This grant recognizes the significance of restoring a section of waterfront transforming blighted property into a green oasis and a crucial step towards furthering our community’s vision of a vibrant parkland,” said Director of Infrastructure and Development Rick Baldwin. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the USEPA for their support, which will enable us to make this vision a reality. This grant reinforces our commitment to sustainable development and the wellbeing of our residents, ensuring a brighter and greener future for all.”
To read the EPA’s announcement, visit https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-more-315-million-through-investing-america.
