United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA 500-F-99-004
March 1999
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
PA Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilot
Aurora, CO
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower States, communities, and other
stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and
sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and
an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. Since 1995, EPA has funded more than 200 Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilots, at up to $200,000 each, to support creative two-year explorations and demonstrations of
brownfields solutions. The Pilots are intended to provide EPA, States, Tribes, municipalities, and communities with
useful information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified approach to site
assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment.
BACKGROUND
EPA has selected the City of Aurora (population
222,110) for a Brownfields Pilot. The Pilot targets
Original Aurora, a five-square-mile area representing
the oldest part of the city. Duringthe 1980s, Original
Aurora experienced falling property values,
deterioration of private properties and public
infrastructure, and a rising crime rate. The target area
contains numerous potentially contaminated sites
due to such historic and current business uses as
service stations, automotive repair shops, dry cleaners,
and print shops.
The recent closings of Lowry Air Force Base,
Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, and Stapleton
Airport have added to the existing economic stress in
Original Aurora. Original Aurora has a 19 percent
poverty rate compared to 6 percent for the city as a
whole, and an unemployment rate that is more than
double that of the city (11 percent versus 4.2 percent).
The minority rate is 29.4 percent in Old Aurora
compared to 15.5 percent in the city.
OBJECTIVES
The Pilot's objective is to incorporate brownfields
activities into an integrated city revitalization strategy,
which also includes business diversification, transit
improvements, open space and recreation
improvements, street beautification, and public safety.
PILOT SNAPSHOT
Aurora, Colorado
Contacts:
Original Aurora Renewal
City of Aurora
(303)361-2936
Date of Announcement:
March 1999
Amount: $200,000
Profile: The Pilot targets
Original Aurora, a five-square-
mile area representing the
oldest part of the city.
Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA-Region 8
(303)312-6837
Visit the EPA Region 8 Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/region08/cross/brown/brownf.html
For further information, including specific Pilot contacts,
additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and
publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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By conducting environmental assessments and
cleanup planning in the brownfields target area, the
Pilot hopes to set the groundwork for eliminating
risks to public health and the environment, promoting
cleanup and redevelopment, and involving local
citizens in revitalization activities.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:
• Performing environmental site assessments and
creating cleanup plans for properties located in the
target area; and
• Conducting educational and outreach forums to
increase understanding among residents and to
provide project updates to affected communities.
The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated;
therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Aurora, Colorado
March 1999 EPA 500-F-99-004
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