5
              o
                           T>

  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact Sheet

     Minneapolis,  MN


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 Minneapolis was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. Minneapolis (population
382,618) includes a federally designated Empower-
ment Zone. In some neighborhoods, up to 38 percent
of residents live below the poverty level, and the
average per capita income is $10,000. Minneapolis is a
diverse community that includes African-Americans,
Hmong, and Latinos. Hazardous waste  sites and
leaking underground storage tanks in the city are the
legacy of bulk petroleum storage facilities, metal
platers, scrap recyclers, and used oil and solvent
recyclers. These uses have led to soil and groundwater
contamination and threats to human health. When
these brownfields are cleaned up, they will facilitate
construction of the Van White Memorial Boulevard,
which will connect two disadvantaged neighborhoods,
 Cleanup Grants
 $400,000 for petroleum

 EPA has selected the City of Minneapolis for two
 brownfields cleanup grants. Petroleum grant
 funds will be used to clean up the Blanchard
 Warehouse at 1131 and 1207 2nd Avenue North,
 and the Special School District #1 site at 1001
 2nd Avenue North. Both sites were used for bulk
 petroleum storage and are contaminated with
 petroleum products. 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: City of Minneapolis, MN
 612-673-5174

 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
 yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
 in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Bassett Creek Valley and Near Northside/Heritage
Park, to the economic opportunity and amenities of the
city's more affluent areas. Redevelopment of brown-
fields will stabilize one of the city's low-income areas
and target infrastructure investment to a predominantly
minority community.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                         EPA560-F-06-124
                         May 2006
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

-------