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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact Sheet

      Lewis  and  Clark

           County,  MT


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

Lewis and Clark County was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Lewis and Clark County
(population 55,716) includes the Helena Valley, which
is the primary population center and economic hub of
Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater Counties.
Mining and manufacturing operations in Helena and
East Helena have significantly decreased over the past
several years, leaving behind contaminated soil and
groundwater. Since 2000, key employers have closed
or relocated, resulting in an estimated loss of more
than 800 jobs and $25 million in annual earnings in
the region. The per capita income in the county is 86.2
percent of the national average, and 13 percent of
residents live below the poverty level. Growth in the
  Assessment Grant
  $200,000 for hazardous substances
  EPA has selected Lewis and Clark County for a
  brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
  stances grant funds will be used to inventory and
  prioritize brownfield sites, conduct at least six
  Phase I and at least two Phase II environmental
  site assessments, develop cleanup plans, and
  perform community outreach activities. The
  target area is the Helena Valley, which includes
  the Cities of Helena and East Helena.
  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 8 Brownfields Team
  303-312-6757
  http://www. epa.gov/regionO 8/land_waste/bfhome/
  bfhome.html

  Grant Recipient: Lewis and Clark County, MT
  406-447-8383

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
region is largely occurring outside Helena and East
Helena, placing increasing demands on the county to
provide services to unincorporated areas. Brownfields
include mine and mill sites, former dumps, sawmills,
and at least 17 known methamphetamine labs in the
county. When brownfields are revitalized, they will be
used as sites for affordable housing and mixed-use
development. Brownfields redevelopment will create
jobs, increase the tax base, remove blight and sources of
contamination, limit sprawl, and improve the quality of
life for residents.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                          EPA560-F-06-165
                          May 2006
                          www.epa.gov/brownfields

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