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 Brownfields 2006

  Grant Fact Sheet

       Medford Urban

 Renewal Agency,  OR


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 Medford Urban Renewal Agency (MURA) was
selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant.
The area targeted for brownfields assessments com-
prises eight contiguous city blocks known as the
Middleford Commons Redevelopment Area and lies
along Highway 99 in the City of Medford (population
70,855). Originally developed as part of the main
highway between Seattle and Los Angeles, the area
was historically developed by industries serving the
automobile industry. The area has a high unemploy-
ment rate, an above-average high-school drop-out rate,
and a poverty level that is over 25 percent. Its current
uses include three  auto dealerships, a heavy truck

  Assessment  Grant
  $200,000 for petroleum

  EPA has selected the Medford Urban Renewal
  Agency for a brownfields assessment grant.
  Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform
  Phase I environmental site assessments and
  approximately eight Phase II site assessments in
  the Middleford Commons Redevelopment Area
  in downtown Medford. Funds also will be used
  for community outreach and cleanup planning.
  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 10 Brownfields Team
  206-553-2100
  http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/
  sites/bf

  Grant Recipient: Medford Urban Renewal Agency,
  OR
  541-774-2705

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
repair facility, a small number of retail establishments,
and many small offices located in former vehicle service
facilities. Brownfields assessment and eventual cleanup
will help remove the contamination stigma from the
brownfields and provide opportunities for redevelop-
ment. When brownfields are revitalized, they will be
used for parks and office, commercial, and residential
space. Brownfields redevelopment will create vibrant
mixed-use neighborhoods.
                                                Solid Waste and
                                                Emergency Response
                                                (5105T)
                         EPA560-F-06-199
                         May 2006
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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