5
o
T>
Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Roanoke, VA
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 Roanoke was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Since 1980, Roanoke
(population 94,911) has steadily been losing residents.
During that same period, the Metropolitan Statistical
Area's population has increased. As part of the city's
comprehensive plan aimed at reversing this trend,
Roanoke has identified two strategic, blighted areas
for revitalization—the neighborhoods adjacent to the
Roanoke River and the South Jefferson Redevelop-
ment Area. Numerous long-dormant brownfields sites,
legacies of the decline of the city's light and heavy
manufacturing industries, are situated along the
Roanoke River flood plain. Approximately 75 percent
of the land in the South Jefferson area is blighted and
deteriorated, with up to 24 brownfields properties.
Approximately one-third of the residents living in the
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Roanoke for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to conduct
community outreach activities, perform Phase I
and II environmental site assessments, and
develop cleanup plans for sites along the
Roanoke River and in the South Jefferson Rede-
velopment Area. Petroleum grant funds will be
used to perform the same tasks at sites in the
same target areas 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 3 Brownfields Team
215-814-3129
http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm
Grant Recipient: City of Roanoke, VA
540-853-1687
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
vicinity of these target areas live below the poverty
level, double the city rate. The median household
income in the river communities is 22 percent lower
than the city median, and nearly 40 percent of the local
residents are minorities. Assessment and eventual
cleanup of the South Jefferson properties will help the
city's efforts to revitalize the area as a vibrant, mixed-
use urban district incorporating a biotechnology park,
commercial corridor, and residential neighborhood.
These efforts are expected to make Roanoke a more
desirable place in which to live, work, learn, and play.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-061
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
------- |