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Brownfields 2008
Grant Fact Sheet
Delta County, Ml
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
Delta County was selected to receive two brownfields
assessment grants. Located near the south end of
Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Delta County (population
38,520) is comprised of lakefront communities, deep
water ports, forest lands, and key highway transporta-
tion corridors. It contains more than 140 inland lakes
along 144 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, making it
a prime area for water recreation and fishing. Lumber
and commercial fishing were the primary industries
until 1864, when construction of the railroad was
completed. This allowed the iron mining industry, which
is still in operation today, to flourish. Paper production
and metal fabrication also play an important role in the
economy of area. Former wood-treating and iron
production facilities, gas stations, and petroleum
offloading corridors are potential brownfields. Almost
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected Delta County for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to create a
brownfields inventory within the county and
conduct Phase I and II environmental site assess-
ments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct
community outreach activities. Petroleum grant
funds will be used to perform the same tasks at
sites with potential petroleum contamination.
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: Delta County, MI
906-789-5100
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.
12 percent of county residents live below the poverty
level. The county would like to expand its tourism,
entertainment, and recreation opportunities. Assess-
ment of properties in Delta County will clarify con-
cerns about environmental contamination at
brownfields and is expected to help expedite redevel-
opment.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-08-107
April 2008
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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