OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg has been awarded $320,000 in Brownfields Assessments grants from the Environmental Protection Agency, according Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand D-NY.

The grants are for a community-wide environmental site assessment of hazardous substances as part of the redevelopment of the city’s waterfront properties and other polluted sites. Funds will be used to conduct up to 20 environmental site assessments focused on the city’s efforts to revitalize its local waterfront for new use and tourism opportunities.

“This is a great investment for Ogdensburg,” Gillibrand said. “This funding will allow the city to identify hazardous substances and petroleum products that put at risk the community’s environmental safety and prevent the use of valuable properties for economic development and increased recreational opportunities. These federal dollars will have an enormous impact on the development of the city’s waterfront sites that are critical to the future of the community.”

Ogdensburg Mayor William D. Nelson was pleased with the announcement.

“The opportunity for us to remediate the city’s waterfront property is critical to our future,” Nelson said.

The environmental site assessment will focus on identifying hazardous substances for the remediation of the Ogdensburg’s waterfront Brownfields Opportunity Area, which includes polluted sites in the Marina District, the former Augsbury Tank Farm District, the Fort de la Présentation District and the Shade Roller/Diamond International District.