San Francisco " The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that Carson City and Sparks will each receive $400,000 for efforts to identify and clean up "brownfields," areas contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants.
In older parts of Carson City, mines, lumber mills and railroads have left hazardous contamination behind. Similarly, in Sparks, historic railroad operations, along with vacant warehouses, auto shops and petroleum handlers also left contamination.
The extent of contamination in both cities will be determined using these funds.
The funds are part of an estimated $111.9 million in grants bolstered by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help communities clean up brownfields.
Communities in 46 states, four tribes, and two U.S. territories will share in these grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites.