MORGANTOWN — The Morgantown Utility Board received one of 256 Brownfields grants announced Thursday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The $500,000 allocation will be used to assist with the cleanup of the former Dinsmore Tire property at 195 Don Knotts Blvd., which MUB purchased for $743,000 in January 2019.
A Brownfield is a property that is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants.
MUB announced in November that it was entering the highly competitive grant process for the third consecutive year for this project.
At the time, General Mike McNulty explained what the ultimate use for the 1.26-acre parcel will be.
“We thought that would be an important piece of property to have to expand the water treatment facility whenever that time comes,” McNulty said. “That’s exactly why we purchased it.”
The water treatment plant is located next door, at 171 Don Knotts Blvd.
Until that time comes, however, McNulty indicated the property may be used to provide additional recreational access along the city’s riverfront. That use would have to cease once expansion of MUB’s treatment plant begins.
Chris Dale, MUB’s director of communications, said there’s not currently a timeline for when that expansion would need to occur.
According to the press release issued by the EPA, more than $254.5 million in Brownfields grants were awarded.
In West Virginia, funds were also granted for the Fayette County Commission ($378,917); Lewis County Commission ($500,000); Paden City Development Authority ($500,000); and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection ($2,000,000).
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