5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet San Juan County, CO 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 San Juan County was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in southwestern Colorado, San Juan County (population 576) is the least-populated county in the state, and 95 percent of its population lives in the Town of Silverton, the county's sole municipality. From 1876 to 1991, mining activities fueled the economy of Silverton and the county. When the Sunnyside Mine closed in 1991, nearly 400 jobs were lost. The houses of former miners who left the community were sold as vacation, seasonal, and second homes, resulting in a lack of affordable hous- ing in the county. In addition, as families moved out of the area, the work force decreased, forcing the county to import employees to support its tourism industry. Almost 21 percent of county residents live below the poverty level, and the unemployment rate is 14 Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected San Juan County for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct cleanup activities and planning at the Walsh-Martha Rose Smelter site near Silverton, which is contami- nated by arsenic and barium. Grant funds also will be used to perform community involvement 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 8 Brownfields Team 303-312-6757 http://www. epa.gov/regionO 8/land_waste/bfhome/ bfhome.html Grant Recipient: San Juan County, CO 970-387-5766 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. percent. Nearly 60 percent of renters live in housing that is not affordable based on income levels, and more than half of the county's rental units were constructed before 1939. After the Walsh-Martha Rose Smelter site is cleaned up, it will be redeveloped to include much- needed affordable housing, which is expected to help San Juan County transition from a mining- to tourism- based economy. Brownfields redevelopment will reduce threats to human health and the environment and encourage tourism in the region. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-06-164 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |