Macon, Georgia. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff today announced new resources through the bipartisan infrastructure bill to protect middle Georgia families from hazardous substances.
Today, Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock announced they are committing $2.5 million as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill to accelerate hazardous materials cleanup in Macon, Milledgeville and Warner Robins.
“This is all about the health of our communities. No Middle Georgia family should live in fear of pollutants in their communities.” said Senator Ossoff. “That’s why Senator Warnock and I are leading this historic public health and environmental cleanup effort across middle Georgia as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill.”
“Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure bill that Senator Ossoff and I championed, we are announcing historic investments that will clean up former industrial sites affected by pollution.” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “As Georgia’s voice in the Senate, I am committed to environmental justice and am so proud that these funds will go toward important projects across our state that promote better health, a cleaner environment and better outcomes for hardworking Georgians.”
The city of Warner Robins will receive $1 million as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill to conduct site environmental assessments and develop a revitalization plan. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the cleanup effort will focus on the 7.5-acre properties in the Commercial Circle Redevelopment area that operated as various commercial and light industrial operations from the mid-1960s until last year. The city will also use the funding to assess the area around 225 South Commercial Circle, built in 1953.
The Middle Georgia Regional Commission, in collaboration with the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority and Baldwin County, will receive $1.5 million as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill to conduct environmental site assessments and develop revitalization plans in certain areas of Macon and Milledgeville , including the 8-acre Gray Highway Auto Repair Facilities site at the Gray Highway/Emery Highway intersection; the vacant 2,000-acre Central State Hospital Campus; and more, according to the EPA grant.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people living near brownfield sites can be exposed to hazardous substances by drinking the groundwater affected by the site, being exposed to airborne pollutants, or walking on the site itself—leading to long-term risks for the environment and public health.
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