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Brownfields 2006
Grant Fact Sheet
Sterling, IL
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 Sterling was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants and a brownfields
cleanup grant. Located in northwest Illinois, Sterling
(population 15,600) is a rural community that is a
federally designated Empowerment Zone/Enterprise
Community. The average household income in the city
is 80 percent of the state average, and the unemploy-
ment rate is 7.6 percent. There are approximately 20
brownfields within a one-mile radius of the downtown
area. The location of these brownfields properties
makes it difficult to attract new businesses to the
community, and in many cases, the contamination at
the properties poses a threat to public safety. When the
brownfields are assessed and eventually cleaned up,
they will be redeveloped into mixed use properties to
provide employment within walking or bicycling
Assessment Grants
$178,000 for hazardous substances
$79,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Sterling for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to perform
community-wide Phase II environmental site
assessments. If necessary, grant funds also will be
used to conduct a health-based risk assessment at
brownfields properties. Petroleum grant funds
will be used to perform Phase II site assessments
at the Stormwater Retention Area within the
former Northwestern Steel & Wire property. This
property is a three-acre site contaminated with
petroleum. The site presents a threat to the
general public, groundwater, and the nearby Rock
River. If necessary, funds will be used to conduct
a health-based risk assessment at the property
following the Phase II assessment. Funds also
will be used to prepare a cleanup plan for the
property.
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$189,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Sterling for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be
used to clean up the Stormwater Retention Area
within the former Northwestern Steel & Wire
property, a three-acre site along the banks of the
Rock River. The site was used to collect and store
Stormwater runoff and cooling water from a
nearby mill. When the site is cleaned up, it will
be used for manufacturing and light industrial
operations. operations.
Cleanup Grant
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-06-098
May 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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distance for residents who live in or near the down-
town area. Brownfields redevelopment will attract
new industry, provide jobs and income for residents.
and reclaim and revitalize the city's riverfront.
EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http: //www. epa.gov/R5 Brownfields/
Grant Recipient: City of Sterling, IL
630-729-6149
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet
been negotiated; therefore, activities described in
this fact sheet are subject to change.
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