5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Oklahoma City, OK 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 Oklahoma City was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and a brownfields cleanup grant. Oklahoma City (population 528,040) is a federally designated Enterprise Zone (EZ) and Empowerment Community. In 2001, nearly 1,000 brownfields were inventoried within the city. The target community, within the 19-square-mile EZ, is characterized by prolonged disinvestment, in large part due to minimal redevelopment. Currently, many old vacant structures, undeveloped land used for dumping, and industrial facilities abut schools, playgrounds, parks, and occupied family residences. The brown- fields in the community have contributed to economic decline. The poverty and unemployment rates in the area are 40 and 12 percent, respectively. Nearly 60 percent of residents are minorities. Assessment and Cleanup Grant Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Oklahoma City for a brownfields assessment grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to create an inventory of brownfields sites, perform Phase I and II environ- mental site assessments, conduct community outreach and involvement, and develop cleanup plans for sites around Oklahoma City. ^New'1 ^2006^ $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Oklahoma City for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the property at the southeast corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Sheridan Avenue, the designated home of the new Okla- homa City Bricktown Fire Station. Since the 1920s, the property has been used for a variety of industrial purposes, including oil-field production and processing, an asphalt plant, and a railroad siding. Analyses indicate that soil and groundwa- ter at the site are contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. 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 Oklahoma City, OK 405-297-1637 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-06-149 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- eventual cleanup of the brownfields sites will provide the city with the means to revitalize residential and commercial properties and improve recreational and open space areas. Cleanup and redevelopment of the designated fire station site is expected to encourage business development in the area and provide rapid emergency support for local residents. ------- |