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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
South Tucson, AZ
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 South Tucson was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. South Tucson (population
5,490) encompasses an area of just over one square mile
and is surrounded by the City of Tucson. The entire City
of South Tucson lies within the Tucson/Pima County/
South Tucson federally designated Empowerment Zone.
The community is 82 percent Hispanic and ten percent
Native American. It retains a unique cultural identity
even though it is located less than one mile from down-
town Tucson. South Tucson's unemployment rate is 2.5
times the national average and 43 percent of families live
below the poverty level. Only 41 percent of city resi-
dents hold a high school diploma. Recent revitalization
efforts in downtown Tucson have renewed interest in
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of South Tucson for a
brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
used to identify sites, conduct community involve-
ment activities, and perform Phase I and II
environmental site assessments at sites along the
city's commercial corridors. The City of South
Tucson 1999 Comprehensive Plan indicates that
nearly 21 percent of the city's total land area is
occupied by potential brownfields.
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 9 Brownfields Team
415-972-3188
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/
index.html
Grant Recipient: City of South Tucson, AZ
520-792-2424
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
reinvesting in the City of South Tucson. However, nearly
21 percent of the city's total land area is occupied by
potential brownfields. These properties, which include
salvage yards, vacant lots, tire shops, gas stations, and
other auto-related businesses, are dispersed throughout
the city. Assessment of these brownfields will help
overcome the stigma attached to the sites. Cleanup of
brownfields along the city's commercial corridors will
promote development and business growth which, in
turn, is expected to create jobs, provide economic stimuli
to surrounding areas, and contribute to the city's tax
base.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-05-208
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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