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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact Sheet

          La Porte,  IN


EPA Brownfields Program

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders 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 La Porte was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants and a brownfields
cleanup grant. Located in northern Indiana, La Porte
(population 21,621) has historically been a manufac-
turing center and has been affected by the recent
national trend away from manufacturing. The city has
experienced recent setbacks  when more than 800 high-
wage manufacturing jobs were lost at several employ-
ers. It has a high percentage  of "sensitive" populations,
specifically residents aged 65 and older, and 19 and
younger. At least 155 acres of brownfields, located in
the center of the city, have had a negative impact on
investment in the area, created a physical barrier
within the city, and caused visual blight. When
brownfields are assessed and cleaned up, they will be
used for commercial, retail, residential, and recre-
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum

EPA has selected the City of La Porte for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to create a
community-wide brownfields inventory, and
perform up to five Phase I and four to five Phase
II environmental site assessments. Funds also will
be used for ongoing community participation.
Petroleum funds will be used to perform the same
tasks at petroleum sites.
Cleanup  Grant
                                   L006
$200,000 for hazardous substances r""

EPA has selected the City of La Porte for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the Railroad
Spur, a .25 -acre segment of former railway
between 200 and 402 Truesdell Avenue, which is
contaminated with benzene and arsenic. Funds
will be used for the installation of an engineered
barrier, hotspot removal, and ongoing community
participation. When the site is cleaned up, it will
be part of a redevelopment plan that will include
commercial, retail, residential, and recreational
purposes.
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: City of La Porte, IN
219-362-8220
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA560-F-06-102
                        May 2006
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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ational purposes. Brownfields redevelopment will
create jobs, expand economic development, increase
property values, improve the quality of life through
the reduction of environmental concerns, and increase
open space and recreational opportunities.
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.

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