SE LU o Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet Downriver Community Conference, Wayne and Monroe Counties, Ml 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 Downriver Community Conference was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The target area includes the 11 communities that make up the Downriver Area Brownfield Consortium (DABC), in Wayne and Monroe Counties in southeast Michigan. These downriver communities, which have a combined population of 295,453, have been home to heavy industry, and now have a legacy of disadvantaged and contaminated areas, often in close proximity to old industrial sites. The state has identified over 400 brownfield sites in DABC communities, which have created seriously contaminated water courses in the Assessment Grant TNew 12005 Y $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Downriver Community Conference for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct Phase I and II site assessments at contaminated sites in 1 1 communities in Wayne and Monroe Counties. Funds also will be used to perform risk assess- ments, and 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 5 Brownfields Team 312-886-7576 http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Downriver Community Confer- ence, MI 734-362-3477 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. downriver area, including the Rouge and Detroit Rivers. The communities suffer from declining popula- tions and rising poverty rates, with some areas having poverty rates above 30 percent. Unused brownfield properties detract from the communities' abilities to promote new development and provide the quality of life that is important to them. Brownfields redevelop- ment will protect residents, enhance communities, and attract economic activity and new residents. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-05-091 May 2005 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |