5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Roanoke, VA 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 City of Roanoke was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in south-central Virginia, Roanoke (population 94,911) was incorporated in 1882 as the headquarters of the Norfolk & Western railway. Other industry was attracted to this hub, and the city's population reached nearly 100,000 by 1950. By the 1980s, traditional industries began to slow and shut down, and the city's population declined. The impacts of these changes are felt hardest in core neighborhoods around the downtown district and industrial corridors. In six of the seven core neighborhoods, the poverty rate ranges from 20.3 to 52.7 percent. Assessment of the city's brownfields is expected to provide opportuni- ties for redevelopment and growth in these neighbor- hoods. Once the Virginia Scrap site is cleaned up, it will be marketed for commercial and medical develop- Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Roanoke for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to develop an inventory of sites, conduct environmental site assessments, and support community outreach activities. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Roanoke for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Virginia Scrap site at 1620 Jefferson Street, SE. The site, located along the Roanoke River, was once used as a scrap metal operation and is now contaminated with heavy metals. Grant funds also will be used for cleanup oversight and community outreach. 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 3 Brownfields Team 215-814-3129 http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs Grant Recipient: City of Roanoke, VA 540-853-5808 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. ment, which is expected to provide jobs for community residents. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-08-059 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |