5 (5 Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet Reuse Idaho Brownfields Coalition 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 Reuse Idaho Brownfields Coalition was selected to receive a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The coalition represents all six councils of government serving Idaho's 44 counties (total population 1,342,946). According to the Economic Development Administra- tion, 74 percent of Idaho's regions meet the federal "area distress" criteria based on per capita income and unemployment rates. Idaho's rural communities are struggling to reuse former lumber mill sites. In the past decade, the Boise Cascade Corporation, a large Idaho employer, closed its lumber mills, stripping numerous cities of their primary employer and leaving behind abandoned sites. Numerous mining operations have also closed down, leaving communities with damaged Revolving Loan Fund ^2005) Grant $1,500,000 for hazardous substances $1,500,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Reuse Idaho Brownfields Coalition for a brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which the Reuse Idaho Brownfields Coalition will provide loans and subgrants to support cleanup activities for sites in areas contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum. Coalition partners include all six Economic Development Districts and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Funds will be used to address brownfields throughout the State of Idaho. 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 http://www.epa.gov/rlOearth, click on "Superfund", scroll down and click on "Brownfields" Grant Recipient: Reuse Idaho Brownfields Coalition, ID 208-322-7033, ext. 234 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. properties. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) and the EPA assessed over 30 brownfields in 2004, and the IDEQ is developing a statewide inventory of up to 300 sites. In much of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-05-153 May 2005 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- Idaho, greenfields are inexpensive and attractive to developers. By offering competitive financing for brownfields properties, the loan fund will help preserve greenspace, encourage reuse of existing infrastructure, protect and improve public health and safety through the cleanup of sites, spur job creation, and eliminate blight in town centers. ------- |