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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
SaA? German, PR
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 Municipality of San German was selected to
receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in
southwest Puerto Rico, San German (population
37,105) is the oldest municipality in the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico. The municipality is focusing its
brownfields efforts on the urban core, which has been
designated a historic district. Some buildings in this
area have been abandoned or are idle, including
former printing facilities, storage buildings, and paint
shops. The stigma attached to these sites impacts
property values and limits the municipality's ability to
attract investors and tourists. The unemployment rate
in the area is 23.5 percent, and 44.9 percent of families
in the target area live below the poverty level. Assess-
ment of brownfields will allow the city to move
forward with plans to redevelop properties into housing,
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Municipality of San German
for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazard-
ous substances grant funds will be used to
conduct seven Phase I and five Phase II environ-
mental site assessments. Funds also will be used
to create a brownfields inventory and 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 2 Brownfields Team
212-637-4314
http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/
brownfields/
Grant Recipient: Municipality of San German, PR
787-892-1405
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.
commercial, and industrial uses. Brownfields redevel-
opment will enhance tourism activities in the historic
district, create jobs, and reduce threats to human health
and the environment.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-07-150
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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