5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Rochester, NY 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 City of Rochester was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and two brownfields cleanup grants. Since 1995, Rochester (population 220,000) has lost more than five percent of its popula- tion and experienced a general decline in assessed real property values. Cutbacks and closings of the city's largest industrial employers have resulted in massive job losses and numerous brownfields properties. Approximately 40 percent of the city's 5,200 manufac- turing and commercial properties are considered brownfields. Today, Rochester is a federally desig- nated Enterprise Zone/Empowerment Community and Renewal Community. More than 23 percent of fami- lies live in poverty. In some disadvantaged neighbor- hoods of the city, 35 percent of the population lives below the poverty level, and more than 50 percent of Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Rochester for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities, monitor the city's institutional controls program, perform Phase I and II environmental site assessments, and develop cleanup plans for sites throughout the community. Cleanup Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances'r $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Rochester for two brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to conduct community participation activities, remove and dispose of tons of contaminated soil, and install a groundwater treatment and monitoring system for the former Davidson Collision site at 399 Gregory Street. Chlorinated solvent contamina- tion in soil and groundwater at this 0.4-acre site is related to its use as an auto body and repair shop from the early 1960s to 1994. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at the 0.58-acre former Caribbean Service Center site at 935 West Broad Street. The extensive petroleum soil and groundwater contamination across the site is related to its use as a gasoline station and auto repair facility beginning in 1929. 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. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-06-045 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- residents are minorities. Assessment and eventual cleanup of brownfields will help stimulate investment in the community, generate revenues for the city, and create jobs. Cleanup and redevelopment of the Davidson Collision site will create jobs and help the neighborhood become a more dynamic, liveable urban village. Cleanup of the Caribbean Service Center will help support the momentum of two major projects underway in the neighborhood, the construction of a new soccer stadium and a regional community center planned by the Salvation Army. EPA Region 2 Brownfields Team 212-637-4314 http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/brownfields/ Grant Recipient: City of Rochester, NY 585-428-5978 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. ------- |