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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

           Laredo,   TX


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 Laredo was selected to receive a brown-
fields cleanup grant. Located on the U.S.-Mexican
border, Laredo (population 176,576) is a low-income
minority community. Approximately 94 percent of
residents are Hispanic, and 29.6 percent of residents
live below the poverty level. Laredo is one of the
fastest-growing cities in the United States, fueled by
trade between Mexico and the United States due to the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Dozens of brownfields are located along creeks  in the
city and the Rio Grande River, where there is in-
creased potential for water pollution and riparian
ecosystem degradation. The cleanup of the targeted
brownfield will complement the city's Chacon Creek
Master Plan, which calls for the preservation of
natural areas along the creek and development of a
  Cleanup Grant
  $100,000 for hazardous substances
  EPA has selected the City of Laredo for a
  brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
  grant funds will be used to clean up the 18-acre
  Killam Lake site in the Chacon Creek watershed.
  The site is potentially contaminated with hazard-
  ous substances from years of illegal dumping
  activities. Grant funds also will be used for
  cleanup planning and 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 6 Brownfields Team
  214-665-2241
  http://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields

  Grant Recipient: City of Laredo, TX
  956-794-1650

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
network of nature trails and recreational facilities.
Brownfields redevelopment is expected to enhance the
city's Chacon Creek trail system and increase the value
of adjacent properties.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                          EPA560-F-06-151
                          May 2006
                          www.epa.gov/brownfields

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