5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Asheville, NC 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 this 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Asheville was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Asheville (population 72,789) is the most populous city in western North Carolina. It has become a popular destination for tourists and retirees and is experiencing significant population growth. In order to maintain and develop its economy and respond to these economic shifts, the city needs higher paying jobs. Therefore, there is pressure to accommodate development. Due to the area's mountainous terrain, large parcels of land suitable for business and industrial development are rare and expensive. The city's brownfields program seeks to benefit from the reuse of abandoned former industrial sites. One of the targeted areas is the French Broad Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Asheville for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to perform up to 10 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform up to four Phase I and Phase II environ- mental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to identify, characterize, and prioritize sites, and support 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 4 Brownfields Team 404-562-8792 http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf Grant Recipient: City of Asheville, NC 828-251-6622 The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti- ated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Riverfront community, where some neighborhoods have poverty rates of over 40 percent. Assessments conducted through these grant funds are expected to encourage brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-08-079 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |