5
o
T>
Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Little River Band of
Ottawa Indians,
Manistee
Reservation, Ml
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 Little River Band of Ottawa Indians was selected
to receive two brownfields cleanup grants. Located on
the Manistee Reservation on the eastern shores of
Lake Michigan, the federally recognized Little River
Band of Ottawa Indians (tribal population 3,318)
reaffirmed its government-to-government relationship
with the United States in 1994, when it began rebuild-
ing a sustainable tribal community on the Manistee
Reservation. Today, 23 percent of the tribe's families
Cleanup Grants
$250,500 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Little River Band of Ottawa
Indians for two brownfields cleanup grants.
Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
clean up the Pow Wow Grounds on M-22 and
US-31 north of Manistee, which is contaminated
with farm waste, pesticides, and arsenic. The 87-
acre site was formerly orchards, a landfill, and
dumping grounds. Funds also will be used for
community outreach activities. Grant funds also
will be used to clean up the East Lake site/
Former Manistee Forge Property at 159 Brick-
yard Road, Manistee, which is contaminated with
foundry slag, arsenic, chromium, and other
metals. Benzene has been found in the groundwa-
ter. The 32-acre site was formerly a salt produc-
tion and lumber mill, and a manufacturing facility
for chemicals, heavy equipment, and fiberglass
automobile parts. Funds also will be used for
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/R5 Brownfields/
Grant Recipient: Little River Band of Ottawa
Indians, MI
231-398-2182
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
live in poverty, and the tribe has a 28 percent unem-
ployment rate. Restoration of the tribe's land base is a
key ingredient in its economic revitalization. Brown-
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-06-118
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
-------
fields redevelopment will generate jobs, develop a
viable and self-sustaining economy, and address risks
to human health and the environment. When the Pow
Wow grounds site is cleaned up, it will be used as a
park, greenspace, campground, retail shops, and
cultural facility. When the East Lake site is cleaned up,
it will provide access for boating and fishing and be
used as a field office for Tribal Natural Resources and
Public Safety Departments, a trail system, and residen-
tial housing.
------- |