5 o T> Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet Salt River Pima- Maricopa Indian Community, Salt River Reservation, AZ 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 Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in south-central Arizona, the SRPMIC (popu- lation 8,500) is adjacent to the rapidly growing Maricopa County Cities of Scottsdale, Tempe, Foun- Assessment Grant i2006 $350,000 for hazardous substances' EPA has selected the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities, perform Phase I and II environmental site assess- ments, and develop a cleanup and reuse strategy for the 160-acre Feedlot Site located at the north- central portion of the community. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities and implement the cleanup of the Feedlot Site. The soil at the site is contaminated with nitrates and pesticides and the groundwater is contaminated with nitrates as a result of the 27 years of feedlot operations at the now vacant property. In addition, there are other potentially hazardous substances at the site related to illegal dumping. 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 9 Brownfields Team 415-972-3092 http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/ index.html Grant Recipient: Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, AZ 480-850-8045 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-06-170 May 2006 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- tain Hills, and Mesa. Tribal members represent two pre-American sovereign tribes, the Pima and the Maricopa. Unemployment and poverty rates in the tribal community are approximately 20 and 40 percent, respectively. These rates are in stark contrast to those in the neighboring non-tribal communities. The SRPMIC has targeted a 160-acre abandoned, contami- nated property, the old Feedlot Site, for assessment and cleanup. Tribal members cannot use the site for agricul- ture, which is the economic mainstay of the commu- nity. At the same time, the health of the community is affected by exposure to the contaminated surface waste and groundwater. Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water in the community. Assessment and eventual cleanup of the site will help resolve the health risks posed by the contamination, address environmen- tal justice issues, and return the property to productive use. The SRPMIC plans to reuse the site for agricul- tural development that will provide jobs in the commu- nity. ------- |