\ (3 Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet Southeastern Ohio Port Authority 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 Southeastern Ohio Port Authority was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The target area is Washington County. However, the authority will provide individual assistance to the other southeastern Ohio counties, Noble, Monroe, and Morgan. All four regional counties have a combined population of 107,394, and are included under the Appalachian Regional Commission. More than 50 percent of Washington County residents have annual incomes at or below the poverty level, and most of the county can be considered an environmental justice area. Brownfields include numerous abandoned gas and oil wells, abandoned gas stations, underground storage tanks, and coal mine-scarred lands. This legacy Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used in the target area, Washington County, which is part of the Appala- chian Region. Funds will be used to complete a brownfields inventory, conduct six to eight Phase I and four to eight Phase II site assessments, and prepare four to eight remedial action plans at sites contaminated with petroleum. Funds also will be used to conduct community 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 5 Brownfields Team 312-886-7576 http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Southeastern Ohio Port Authority 740-373-3504 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. impacts streams and ponds with fish kills, and lack of vegetation. Redevelopment efforts may include teen centers, day care centers, a senior center, community greenspace, and commercial or industrial land use. The primary benefit of brownfields redevelopment will be to address the health and safety concerns of residents by identifying contaminated soil and/or water. Redevelop- ment also will create jobs, business development or expansion, and increased revenues. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-05-108 May 2005 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |