EPA grants St. Paul a hefty sum

St. Paul and the Port Authority have received $1.8 million in grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up brownfield sites in the city.

Susan Hedman, EPA Region 5 administrator, announced the grants Wednesday at the celebration of a successful brownfield cleanup at 946 Pierce Butler Route in St. Paul, which was developed into a commercial building.

"This is the kind of partnership that really works," Hedman said.

The site is home to River of Goods, a home furnishings wholesaler, and Terrybear, an urn and memorial supplier.

St. Paul received $200,000 to clean petroleum compounds in the Trillium Central site at 179 E. Maryland Av., which was part of a rail yard. The land is part of the city's proposed 45-acre Trillium Nature Sanctuary.

The St. Paul Port Authority received $1.6 million. It will use $400,000 for environmental assessments in areas targeted for redevelopment. Two grants totaling $400,000 will be used to clean up soil at two former 3M Corp. properties at or near 900 Bush Av.

The Port Authority will also get an $800,000 supplemental Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund grant to give out as low-interest loans for cleanup.

The EPA has awarded St. Paul about $13 million since 2003.

CHAO XIONG