NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) - The city of Natchez is applying for $400,000 grant it was previously denied from the Environmental Protection Agency that will fund a study to identify and possibly clean up any environmental contamination at industrial sites.

The Natchez Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/Pmoko2 ) Jay Estes of Eco-Systems Inc. reported to the Natchez Board of Aldermen last week that the grant application was nearly complete and ready to be sent.

Estes says the city applied for the grant last fiscal year and narrowly missed being rewarded it. He says the city now has the benefit including suggested improvements from DEQ to the application.

The grant requires no matching funds from the city.

Estes said the city can expect to hear whether it will receive the grant in May 2013.

Information from: The Natchez Democrat, http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/

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