For Immediate Release: August 22, 2004
DBEDT Release News 04-31

HONOLULU -- Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded four organizations in Hawaii nearly $1 million to help reclaim contaminated 'brownfields' properties on Oahu and Kauai.

"We are very appreciative of this type of federal assistance that will help Hawaii’s economic development capacity," said Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle. "We also appreciate the strong State and Federal partnership that has been formed with Hawaii’s environmental agencies and the EPA."

The EPA awarded a total of $796,334 in grant funding for the redevelopment of brownfields properties and $196,877 in a brownfields job training grant to train students in environmental health and safety to prepare them for work in the environmental field.

"The Brownfields site evaluation grant will allow Hawaii communities to continue their momentum in revitalizing properties that have been sitting idle due to real or even perceived contamination," said Wayne Nastri, administrator of the EPA’s Pacific Southwest office. "Students will benefit from the Brownfields job training grant as it will provide quality training to individuals who will make up the environmental work force of the future,"

• DBEDT received $400,000;
• The Honolulu Community College received $196,877
• The County of Kauai received $200,000; and
• The Anahola Homesteaders Council received $196,344.

The grants will:

• Inventory potential brownfields sites;
• Train 60 students in the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program;
• Perform environmental site assessments; and
• Fund community outreach and involvement activities.

The Brownfields Program encourages redevelopment of America's estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites. Brownfields job training grants like the one at HCC include 66 projects totaling $13.6 million. More than 1,800 participants have completed training; and more than 1,100 people have obtained employment in the environmental field.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov