Brownfields  2005

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

    Easf Baton Rouge

       Parish Housing


         Authority, LA


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, 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 East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority
(EBRPHA) was selected to receive a brownfields
cleanup grant. The target site is located in Old South
Baton Rouge, which EBRPHA has targeted for devel-
opment. This area is one of Baton Rouge's (population
227,818) oldest subdivisions. Ninety-four percent of the
area's residents are African-American,  43 percent are
high school dropouts, and 23.5 percent are unemployed.
Almost half of the area residents live below the poverty
level. The targeted property, known as the Baton Rouge
Brownfields Program site #BR113, is one of the city's
most visible brownfields sites. It contains petroleum,
asbestos, and lead paint contamination. In addition to the
                                                                   1
   Cleanup Grant
  $58,696 for petroleum

  EPA has selected the East Baton Rouge Parish
  Housing Authority for a brownfields cleanup
  grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up
  petroleum contamination at the Baton Rouge
  Brownfields Program site #BR113, a former
  automotive maintenance, tire, and detailing shop at
  Highland Road and Mary Street. Grant funds will
  support quality assurance planning and cleanup
  planning and activities, such as the removal and
  disposal of concrete and soil. Funds also will be
  used to conduct community outreach activities.
   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 6 Brownfields Team
  214-665-6736
  http://www.epa.gov/earth 1 r6/6sf/bfpages/
  sfbfhome.htm

  Grant Recipient: East Baton Rouge Parish
  Housing Authority, LA
  225-923-8116

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
health risks posed by the contamination, the dilapidated,
vacant site also has attracted criminal activity. Cleanup
and redevelopment of the property will improve the
aesthetics of the neighborhood as well as the public
health and safety, and help bring commerce back to the
target area. This property is an integral part of the
HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Every-
where) project that is rebuilding and revitalizing the Old
South Baton Rouge neighborhood.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA 560-F-05-058
                        May 2005
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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