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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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