EPA AWARDS GRANT TO LAND OF SKY REGIONAL COUNCIL

     The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Brownfield's Supplemental Grant to the Land Of Sky Regional Council under the stimulus package according to Kate Ohara with the Land of Sky Regional Council.  She told WHKP News that the grant went to organization that had a revolving loan program in place for cleanup if the projects would create jobs, or stimulate the economy.

      Ohara said that the Land of Sky Regional Council has picked two sites to focus on with the grant money.  She said that one of the sites is an old Broyhill manufacturing plant in Conover, North Carolina.  She said that that there is interest into turning that property into a mixed use site for residential and commercial development.  She said that the cleanup will include soil removal, installation of groundwater monitoring equipment, and vapor barriers.

      Ohara said that the other site is the Riverlink site in Asheville, and cleanup will include some soil removal, and also the use of plants to help with remediation activities.