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Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Oshkosh, Wl
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 Oshkosh was selected to receive a brown-
fields assessment grant, and two brownfields cleanup
grants. Located on the western edge of Lake
Winnebago along the Fox River in eastern Wisconsin,
Oshkosh (population 62,916) has a long history of
manufacturing and industrial uses on the banks of the
river. Today its unemployment rate is higher than the
state's, due to the closing or downsizing of several
manufacturing businesses. Almost half the population
is designated as having low-to-moderate incomes.
There are more than 200 brownfields in the central
city and riverfront area that have affected the value of
properties in the surrounding neighborhoods. Other
effects of brownfields on the community are a reduced
tax base, inefficient use of land, and incompatible and
conflicting land uses. When brownfields are assessed
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Oshkosh for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to perform Phase
I and II environmental site assessments and
develop cleanup plans for sites throughout the
community, including downtown Oshkosh and
the historic industrial corridor. Funds also will be
used for community outreach.
Cleanup Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Oshkosh for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to clean up the
Mercury Marine property at 449 and 455 Marion
Road. This property is contaminated with volatile
organic compounds, benzene, vinyl chloride, and
trichloroethylene. The brownfield was used for
industrial purposes since 1890, including lumber,
candle, concrete, and boat engine operations.
Petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up
Parcel J of the Murphy Concrete and Construc-
tion property at 411 Marion Road and 25 Jackson
Street. This brownfield is contaminated with
petroleum products. The site was used as a
sawmill, lumber yard, machine shop, coal yard,
roofing company, and concrete batch plant. Grant
funds also will be used for community outreach.
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/
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-06-140
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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and eventually cleaned up, they will be redeveloped to
convert under-performing properties to productive uses
that will expand the city's tax base. A planned Five
Rivers Convention Center will include commercial and
recreation uses. Brownfields redevelopment will create
jobs, increase the tax base, encourage a more vibrant
downtown area, and make the Fox River more acces-
sible to the public through the use of public parks and
open space.
Grant Recipient: City of Oshkosh, WI
920-236-5057
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet
been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this
fact sheet are subject to change.
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