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Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
St. Croix Chippewa
Indians of Wisconsin
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 St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin were
selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant.
The tribe, which was recognized by the federal govern-
ment in 1934, has eight tribal communities located in
Burnett, Barren, and Polk Counties in northwestern
Wisconsin. Approximately 2,500 persons reside in these
communities. Most of the targeted tribal communities
are located in the Upper St. Croix River Watershed,
which has been rated an "Outstanding Resource
Water" by EPA. Several streams in the watershed are
Class I or III trout streams. The St. Croix Chippewa
Indian culture greatly values water resources; there-
fore, most communities are located on or near water
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the St. Croix Chippewa Indians
of Wisconsin to receive a brownfields assessment
grant. Grant funds will be used to inventory and
assess abandoned dumping sites on tribal lands,
including Phase I and Phase II assessments at
selected sites. Grant funds will also be used to
conduct community outreach activities.
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: St. Croix Chippewa Indians of
Wisconsin
715-349-2195
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
bodies. Local tourism also depends upon the St. Croix
River. The tribe's unemployment rate is 27 percent.
Numerous unlined, abandoned dump sites are located
on tribal land. Many of these are located in or next to
wetlands and other water bodies. It is feared that some
of these dumps may be leaching hazardous chemicals,
toxins, and other pollutants into surface and groundwa-
ter. Hazardous contaminants entering into water bodies
and groundwater would pose a threat to the health and
welfare of tribe members as well as negatively impact
the tourism industries of the tribe and surrounding non-
tribal communities. The tribe will use the results of the
site assessments to target sites for removal and
remedial activities as appropriate.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-04-094
June 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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