HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Blackfeet Tribe, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, MT EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu- nities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Addi- tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Blackfeet Tribe was selected to receive an assessment grant. The tribe has identified more than ten brownfield sites on this rural reservation and will assess six of them through this grant. This tribe of 10,100 people is highly dependent on natural resources. Unemployment ranges from 50 to 80 percent. The tribe's goals are to preserve its native natural resources and develop a sustainable brownfields program to assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites on the reservation. The potential for economic reuse of these sites also exists by developing buffalo rangeland, a refuge and parks for tourists, and possibly a commer- Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Blackfeet Tribe for a brownfields assessment grant. The tribe has identified several high-priority sites on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation for hazardous substance assessment through this grant. Grant funds also will be used to prepare an inventory of brownfield sites on the 1.5 million-acre reserva- tion, involve the community in project planning, and conduct cleanup planning for sites assessed through this grant. Contacts For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields. EPA Region 8 Brownfields Team (406)457-5018 http://www.epa.gov/region08/land_waste/ bfhome/bfhome .html Grant Recipient: Blackfeet Tribe, MT 406-338-7421x289 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the Blackfeet Tribe has not received brownfields grant funding. The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. cial business on the site of a former factory. The tribe will communicate with the reservation community through the local cable network and newspaper and will create an open forum for tribal participation and education on the brownfields program. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 500-F-03-057 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |