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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Austin, TX
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 City of Austin was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. The city has a popula-
tion of 656,562. The target communities are in a 4.2-
mile area, where the poverty and unemployment rates
of 29 and 43 percent, respectively, are higher than the
rest of the city. In addition, 90 percent of the residents
of the target communities are minorities. The target
areas also share a higher burden of brownfields
properties. Of the 88 abandoned underground storage
tanks in Austin, 19 are located in the target communi-
ties. The city is committed to redevelopment that will
contribute to a sustainable community, particularly in
relation to transit-oriented development that will serve
the recently approved commuter rail system. Immedi-
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Austin for a
brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
used to complete ten Phase I and two Phase II
site assessments, plan cleanup actions, and
conduct community outreach activities. The 4.2-
mile target area has a higher burden of
brownfields properties than the rest of the city,
including 19 abandoned underground storage
tanks.
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/earthlr6/6sf/bfpages/
sfbfhome.htm
Grant Recipient: City of Austin, TX
512-974-1954
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
ate benefits will come from community involvement
and reuses that focus on community needs. The
community will also benefit from the creation of new
jobs, expanded businesses and social services, and new
greenspace.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-05-202
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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