I 'O UJ O Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, L'Anse Indian Reservation, Ml EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu- nities, and other stakeholders in economic development 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, the President 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response pro- grams through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The KBIC (population 3,095) is located on the L'Anse Indian Reservation, in the north central upper peninsula of Michigan, along Lake Superior's southern shore. Although the local economy has benefitted greatly from the tribe's gambling initiative, the unemployment rate for tribal members living on the reservation is more than 19 percent. Almost 30 percent of the KBIC live in poverty, 21 percent receive public assistance, and 70 percent of people 25 years or older do not have a high school diploma. Sand Point represents the Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up hazardous substances contamination along Sand Point, a 2.5- mile tribal-owned shoreline property within the exterior boundary of the L'Anse Indian Reserva- tion. The site is contaminated with heavy metals from the operation of a copper ore stamp mill located approximately 4 miles north of the target area. 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: Keweenaw Bay Indian Commu- nity, L'Anse Indian Reservation, MI 906-524-5757 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. majority of tribal-owned waterfront property. It is a valuable recreational resource significant to both the tribal and non-tribal communities in the region. Cleanup of Sand Point would offer public access to a unique stretch of beach large enough to accommodate a variety of recreational uses. Revitalization of Sand Point is also expected to increase tourism, which would benefit area stores, restaurants, and motels. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-04-070 June 2004 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |