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 Brownfields  2004

 Grant Fact Sheet

     Gila  River Indian

      Community, AZ



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 Gila River Indian Community was selected to
receive a cleanup grant. The community, a federally
recognized tribe of approximately 16,000, is the fourth
most populous American Indian reservation in the
United States. The reservation is situated south of the
rapidly growing city of Phoenix. Prior to the opening of
a casino in 1995, unemployment within the community
was over 60 percent. Today, the unemployment rate
remains over six times the Arizona state rate, and 65
percent of households have incomes below the poverty
level. The adult diabetes rate, the highest in the coun-
try, exceeds 50 percent. Cleanup and development of
the St. John Mission site will not only provide the
                                Cleanup Grant
                                $200,000 for petroleum

                                EPA has selected the Gila River Indian Commu-
                                nity for a cleanup grant. The grant will be used to
                                clean up petroleum contamination from leaking
                                underground storage tanks on the St. John
                                Mission site at Pecos Road and 51st Avenue in
                                Komatke, AZ. The site will be redeveloped as a
                                Diabetes Education and Resource Center.
                                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 9 Brownfields Team
                                415-972-3188
                                http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/

                                Grant Recipient: Gila River Indian Community, AZ
                                520-562-2234

                                The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                                yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
                                in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                              community with a facility to address serious health
                              concerns, but is also expected to generate new jobs in
                              an area in need of sustained job growth.
                                                Solid Waste and
                                                Emergency Response
                                                (5105T)
                                                     EPA 560-F-04-050
                                                     June 2004
                                                     www.epa.gov/brownfields

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