Businesses near Honolulu’s proposed $5.2 billion, 20-mile rail line may be eligible for Brownfields grant funding to assess whether their commercial or industrial property requires removal of toxic substances.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday it has decided to give $400,000 for up to 22 environmental site assessments along the city’s rail transit route.
The sites available for a environmental assessment would be within about a half-mile from one of the 21 stations along the rail route, said Harrison Rue, administrator of the city’s Transit-Oriented Development Program.
Rue said that, typically, the sites might be old service stations or commercial businesses, such as dry cleaners, that have handled toxic chemicals.
Rue said the city anticipates the sites will be in commercial or industrial areas such as Iwilei, Kapalama, Kalihi, Middle Street, Pearl Ridge, Waipahu and West Loch.
He said the city will be signing the contract with the agency in June and notifying the public about applying for the grants.
Usually, businesses that want to redevelop sites that have used petroleum and other toxic chemicals are required to pay for their own site assessment.
The Brownfields grant funding provides support for owners of formerly polluted, unused sites who want to convert their land to new uses.
Rue said the Brownfield grants are part of the city’s plan to develop areas near the rail stations and create "walkable communities."
The city plans to build the first 10-mile segment from Ewa to Aloha Stadium by 2017 and the second 10 miles to Ala Moana Center by 2019.
