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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Tuscola County
Brownfield
Redevelopment
Authority, 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
The Tuscola County Brownfield Redevelopment
Authority was selected to receive two brownfields
assessment grants. Tuscola County (population
58,266) is at the western edge of the "thumb" of
Michigan's lower peninsula. Lumber production and
agriculture provided the initial economic base for the
county. Although agriculture remains a vital compo-
nent of the economy, less than five percent of county
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Tuscola County Brownfield
Redevelopment Authority for two brownfields
assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant
funds will be used to conduct 15 to 20 Phase I
and two to three Phase II environmental site
assessments, and 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 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/
Grant Recipient: Tuscola County Brownfield
Redevelopment Authority, MI
989-673-2849
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.
residents are employed in farming, forestry, fishing, and
mining. The county is experiencing a decline in its
industrial and retail sectors with an additional 18.6
percent loss of manufacturing jobs over the past few
years. This is reflected in an unemployment rate that is
chronically higher than that of the state. The North-
west Waterfront District contains more than 76 oil and
gas wells, many in prime agricultural and residential
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-07-182
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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areas. Several industrial corridors in the county
contain numerous brownfields. Assessment of
brownfields in these vital industrial areas will
increase their marketability and encourage sustain-
able reuse. Redevelopment is needed to create jobs.
help restore the tax base, and preserve farmlands.
wetlands, and forests.
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