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  Brownfields 2005
  Grant  Fact Sheet
        Sandusky,  OH
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

The City of Sandusky was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Sandusky serves as the
seat of government for Erie County and has a popula-
tion of 27,030. The second largest land use in Sandusky
is vacant brownfields and underutilized land. There are
currently an estimated 372 acres of vacant industrial
properties and possible brownfield sites in the city.
They threaten the purity of ground water, which the
city relies on for its entire water supply, and pose
ecological impacts on Lake Erie. In addition, the city,
which has an unusually high poverty concentration, is
home to more than 65 percent of Erie County residents
who live below the poverty level. The average house-
hold median income in Sandusky is also lower than the
  Assessment Grants    2oo5/|
                                     *«•**
   $200,000 for hazardous substances
   $200,000 for petroleum
   EPA has selected the City of Sandusky for two
   brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
   substances funds will be used to conduct 15 to 20
   Phase I site assessments and two to three Phase
   II site assessments, and complete remedial
   planning and design. Funds also will be used to
   conduct community involvement and outreach
   activities. Petroleum funds will be used to perform
   the same tasks at petroleum-contaminated sites.
   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: City of Sandusky, OH
  419-627-5973
  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
state average. Brownfields redevelopment will provide
public access to the waterfront, and a pedestrian and
bicycle trail through the city. This redevelopment also
will eliminate risks to human health and the environ-
ment, address environmental justice issues, increase
the local tax base, generate jobs, and create
greenspace.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA560-F-05-107
                        May 2005
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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