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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

    8e//e Fourche,  SD


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 Belle Fourche was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Located on the northern
rim of the Black Hills of western South Dakota, Belle
Fourche (population 4,577) once was a cattle and
agricultural hub. Following the Black Hills gold rush
of 1870, farmers and ranchers flooded the area. By
1895, Belle Fourche was shipping over 2,500 carloads
of cattle per month, making it the world's largest
livestock shipping point. More recently, the city's
agricultural economy has declined. Today, bentonite
mining and processing companies are Belle Fourche's
largest industries. The city's median household income
is only 64 percent of the national average. Numerous
brownfields sites have been identified in the city,
particularly in the riverfront walkway and bike path
redevelopment area along the Belle Fourche River and
  Assessment Grant
  $159,000 for hazardous substances
  EPA has selected the City of Belle Fourche for a
  brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
  stances grant funds will be used to identify,
  inventory, and assess potential brownfields
  properties in the city, and to conduct five to ten
  Phase I environmental site assessments and up to
  three Phase II environmental site assessments.
  Grant funds also will be used to conduct commu-
  nity involvement 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 8 Brownfields Team
  303-312-6757
  http://www. epa.gov/regionO 8/land_waste/bfhome/
  bfhome.html

  Grant Recipient: City of Belle Fourche, SD
  605-394-1706

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
in the aging downtown business district. The assessment
of brownfields is the first step toward creating the
planned riverfront walk and bike path, which are
envisioned as an alternative means of transportation and
as a greenspace. When brownfields are revitalized, they
will be used for new commercial and residential devel-
opment. Brownfields redevelopment will create commu-
nity pride, increase the tax base, generate jobs, and
create a viable business district and safe recreation
areas.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                          EPA560-F-06-168
                          May 2006
                          www.epa.gov/brownfields

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