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  Brownfields  2006

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

          Waterloo,  IA


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 Waterloo was selected to  receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in northeast
Iowa, Waterloo (population 68,747) was once known
as the factory city of Iowa. Before the 1980s, the
largest employers manufactured farm and construction
machinery and packaged meat. Downsizing and
business closings caused disinvestment in the down-
town industrial and commercial facilities and housing
stock. The median income in and surrounding the
target area is less than half that of the rest of Waterloo
and about half that of the state. Underemployment is a
major problem. Nearly 33 percent of residents sur-
rounding the project area are minorities. About 100
brownfields exist in  several areas of the city, and many
of the brownfields in the downtown area have the
potential of inhibiting redevelopment opportunities.
  Assessment Grants
  $200,000 for hazardous substances
  $200,000 for petroleum

  EPA has selected the City of Waterloo for two
  brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
  substances and petroleum grant funds will be
  used to conduct Phase I and II environmental site
  assessments in the downtown redevelopment
  area, identify risks to sensitive populations,
  develop cleanup plans, and conduct public
  outreach activities.
  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 7 Brownfields Team
  800-223-0425
  http://www.epa.gov/Region7/citizens/brownfields/
  index.htm

  Grant Recipient: City of Waterloo, IA
  319-291-4366

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
There are 54 underground storage tanks and 16 leaking
underground storage tanks in the target area.
Brownfields have contributed to urban sprawl on prime
farmland, a declining population, economic stagnation,
environmental concerns, and environmental justice
issues. When brownfields are assessed, they will be
cleaned up and used for new business and entertainment
development, and for the creation of a recreational trail
adjacent to the Cedar River. Brownfields redevelopment
will stimulate economic development, create additional
employment, allow business expansion, decrease
environmental contamination, increase tax revenue, and
reduce consumption of farmland.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                          EPA560-F-06-157
                          May 2006
                          www.epa.gov/brownfields

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