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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Oklahoma City, OK
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
Oklahoma City was selected to receive a brownfields
revolving loan fund grant. The city's population is
approximately 660,448. Target brownfields are in the
Oklahoma City Empowerment Zone (EZ), specifically the
Eastside Reinvestment Area and other areas perceived to
have environmental justice issues. Nearly 1,000 possible
brownfield sites have been identified in the EZ and
adjacent central city areas, which are plagued by poverty
and have primarily minority populations. In some areas,
the African-American population exceeds 90 percent.
Oklahoma City is targeting three brownfield cleanup
projects: the Truman School site, Will Rogers Public
Housing site, and the Historic Plaza Court building. The
Truman School site is assessed and ready for cleanup;
redevelopment plans include community services and
Revolving Loan Fund
Grant
$2,000,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Oklahoma City for a
brownfields revolving loan fund grant. The grant
will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund
from which Oklahoma City will provide loans and
subgrants to support cleanup activities at sites
contaminated with hazardous substances. Grant
funds also will be used to support community
planning and awareness efforts, health monitoring,
and cleanup planning and implementation. Coali-
tion partners include Oklahoma County, the
Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Agency, and the
Oklahoma City Housing Authority.
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 6 Brownfields Team
214-665-6736
http://www.epa.gov/earthlr6/6sf/bfpages/
sfbfhome.htm
Grant Recipient: City of Oklahoma City, OK
405-297-3838
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
greenspace. The public housing site will have asbestos
contamination removed from an existing 354-family
complex. The court building site will be redeveloped to
provide a hub for retail services along a main bus route.
Brownfields redevelopment will support the creation of
affordable housing, promote local business development,
improve recreational and open space areas, utilize existing
infrastructure, and improve the quality of life for citizens in
currently distressed areas.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-05-061
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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