5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Oakland Redevelopment Agency, CA 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 Oakland Redevelopment Agency was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located east of San Francisco Bay, Oakland (population 399,484) has more than 8,000 acres of commercial and industrial zones, with 1,000 acres of confirmed or potential brownfields. Over the past two decades, a large number of manufacturing jobs have been lost due to plant closures and relocations. The brownfield that will be cleaned up is located in a West Oakland neighborhood where 94 percent of residents are minorities, the unemployment rate is greater than 10 Cleanup Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Oakland Redevelopment Agency for a brownfields cleanup grant. Petro- leum grant funds will be used to clean up the Fox Courts site located at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and 18th Street in Oakland, which has been used for both residential and commer- cial purposes since the early 1900s. Grant funds will be used for cleanup planning, community outreach efforts, and the removal and disposal of contaminated soil. 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 9 Brownfields Team 415-972-3092 http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/ index.html Grant Recipient: Oakland Redevelopment Agency, CA 510-238-7371 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. percent, and 55 percent of the families have incomes below the poverty level. Once the site is cleaned up, the Agency plans on redeveloping it with affordable housing, 4,000 square feet of community retail space, and a childcare center. Brownfields redevelopment will expand the tax base, increase job opportunities, in- crease investment in the neighborhood, enhance property values, alleviate blight, and address threats to human health and the environment. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-06-183 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |