Martinsville receives $400K in EPA funding to assess potentially contaminated areas

MARTINSVILLE — The city of Martinsville has received a $400,300 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct environmental assessments of at least five sites that may be contaminated with toxic chemicals.

Martinsville is one of 10 Indiana communities to receive $9.4 million in funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden last year, the EPA announced Friday, May 13.

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“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is bringing much needed funding to help communities turn contaminated and potentially dangerous sites into economic opportunities,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “This year, 86% of communities across the nation who are receiving Brownfields grants have proposed projects in historically underserved areas. This is a great step in our efforts to finally confront the challenges that have held back many vulnerable communities across this country from reaching their full potential.”

The grant funding will be used to create a brownfield site inventory, conduct environmental assessments of potentially contaminated areas, develop up to 10 cleanup plans and support community outreach activities.

The city has identified five target areas for the grant, including the former Supermarket Fuel & Food site, the former Tuscarora Plastics Facility, the former Harman-Becker site, the former Rogers Block Plant, and Crone Lumber.

These sites may contain toxic chemicals such as asbestos, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and herbicides, according to researchers.

In a press release announcing the grant funding, Martinsville Mayor Kenny Costin said the city is grateful to the EPA for awarding the funding.

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“With these funds, we will be able to expand our existing brownfields inventory, inform reluctant investors of various properties’ environmental conditions and help them understand the great investment potential of target area properties, and mitigate possible threats to human health and the environment," Costin said. "We know that his will not happen overnight, but with this grant, we will be able to take the first steps in creating a better community that will endure for many generations to come.”

The EPA's decision to award the funding is the latest indication that it recognizes the need for environmental remediation in Martinsville.

In December, the federal agency selected the Pike and Mulberry PCE Plume Superfund site to receive funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law to address vapor contamination in homes and businesses in the area.

The site is located in the downtown area and stretches northwest toward the Artesian Little League Baseball fields and southeast just beyond the intersection of Jackson and Sycamore streets.

There are three other contamination plumes in the city, but they are not considered Superfund sites.

Contact reporter Peter Blanchard at 765-346-2942 or pblanchard@reporter-times.com. Follow him on Twitter @peterlblanchard.