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Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Astoria, OR
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. Abrownfield 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, the President
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. Additionally, funding
support is provided to state and tribal response pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The City of Astoria was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Astoria is a small, rural
community located at the mouth of the Columbia River,
100 miles west of Portland. Historically, the city's
industrial and commercial development has been
concentrated on level ground adjacent to the water-
front. Therefore, brownfields in Astoria are predomi-
nantly waterfront sites. Because of the short supply of
appropriate land for commercial and industrial develop-
ment, brownfields have a strong negative impact on the
local economy. The site targeted by this assessment
grant is on the waterfront, adjacent to the city's most
ethnically diverse and economically distressed neigh-
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Astoria for a
brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
used to complete an environmental risk assess-
ment and feasibility study at a five-acre former
gasification plant located on the city's industrial
waterfront. Additional funds will be used to create
a master plan focused on redevelopment possibili-
ties for the site.
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 10 Brownfields Team
206-553-2100
www.epa.gov/rlOearth, click on
"Superfund,"scroll down to "Related Programs"
and click on "Brownfields"
Grant Recipient: Astoria, OR
503-338-5183
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
borhood. The city's population of 9,813 is declining.
The unemployment rate reached 6.3 percent in 2001.
The target site has significant redevelopment potential
and, once returned to productive use, will result in an
increase in jobs, a larger tax base for the community,
and reduced environmental hazards for the neighbor-
hood.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-04-023
June 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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