1 0 Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet Washtenaw County, Ml 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, 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 Washtenaw County was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Washtenaw County (population 322,895) is located in southeast Michigan, 30 miles west of Detroit. Historically, the county has been characterized as an agricultural community. Over the past ten years, agricultural operations have decreased dramatically due to economic conditions and develop- ment pressures brought on by a steady growth in population. As a result, rural areas of the county have experienced rapid urbanization. Between 1990 and 2000, the county lost 1.4 percent of its total farmland per year. At this rate, the county will lose more than 50,000 acres of farmland by the year 2020, when Washtenaw anticipates a 27 percent increase in population. Assess- Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Washtenaw County for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach; complete an estimated ten to 15 Phase I, eight to ten Phase II, and three to five baseline environmental site assessments; and draft three to five brownfields redevelopment plans. These funds also will help the county initiate mapping of the brownfields sites and their proximity to schools, parks, well- heads, and other areas, as tools to assist prioritization of site assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. 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: Washtenaw County, MI 734-222-6809 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. ment and cleanup of the brownfields properties will provide the county with new opportunities for residential and commercial development within existing urban boundaries, thereby reducing urban sprawl and preserv- ing natural resources, open spaces, and agricultural lands. The county anticipates this project will build on the success of Washtenaw's previous pilot grant, and contribute to the creation of over 100 new permanent jobs and approximately 30 temporary jobs in the area. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-05-101 May 2005 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |