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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Mecosta 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 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
Mecosta County was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Mecosta County
(population 40,553) is a rural community with abun-
dant natural resources that include 399 lakes, 293
miles of rivers and streams, and 163,000 acres of
forested land. These resources are supporting a
growing tourism industry. Remnants of early manufac-
turing and industrial development along the banks of
the Muskegon and Chippewa Rivers pose potential
risks to the health of its residents and its vital re-
sources. Groundwater is the sole source of drinking
water for area residents and is linked to the rivers and
lakes that dot the county. Median and per capita
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected Mecosta County for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to inventory
approximately 40 properties and perform Phase I,
Phase II, and baseline environmental site assess-
ments. Funds also will be used to conduct com-
munity 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: Mecosta County, MI
231-592-3403
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.
incomes in the county are below the state median, and
16 percent of residents live below the poverty level.
Assessment of brownfields will help the county
leverage resources to revitalize existing communities
and neighborhoods, reduce health and environmental
threats, and preserve farmland.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-07-107
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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