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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

            Yauco,  PR


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 this 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. Additionally, funding support is
provided to state and tribal response programs through
a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The Municipality of Yauco was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Yauco (population
46,384) is located in Puerto Rico's southern coastal
plain. The municipality has several valuable natural
resources, including the island's largest aquifer and two
lakes, which provide hydroelectric energy and flood
control to the region. The economy has been adversely
affected during the past several years by factory
closures and the lack of job opportunities in the area.
Over 55 percent of residents live in poverty, and the
unemployment rate is more than  76 percent. The
municipality has minimal resources to undertake
assessment projects on its own. Brownfields assess-
ment is expected to assist the municipality with its
economic development strategy by providing opportuni-
ties for redevelopment.
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum

EPA has selected the Municipality of Yauco for
two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to conduct
seven Phase I and at least five Phase II environ-
mental site assessments, a site inventory, and
community outreach and education 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 2 Brownfields Team
212-637-4309
http://www.epa.gov/region2/brownfields

Grant Recipient: Municipality of Yauco, PR
787-267-4008

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.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                        EPA 560-F-08-048
                        April 2008
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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