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  Brownfields  2007

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

          Aurora,  MO


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 Aurora was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Located on a high plateau
in the southwest corner of Missouri, Aurora (popula-
tion 7,000) prospered as a result of the discovery of
metal deposits and subsequent mining activities. The
city has been negatively impacted by the decline of its
mining industry and the legacy of wastes left behind.
Aurora has nearly 1,000 acres of mine-impacted
brownfields. Heavy metals contamination continues to
impair surface water quality and impacts the health of
residents and the environment. Eighteen percent of
individuals in Aurora live below the federal poverty
level, and the median household income is signifi-
cantly lower than the national average.  Cleanup of the
Baldwin Park site will help remove the stigma associ-
ated with the brownfields, and allow the city to add
 Cleanup  Grant
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 EPA has selected the City of Aurora for a
 brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
 grant funds will be used to develop cleanup plans
 and clean up mine wastes on 49 acres of the 170-
 acre Baldwin Park. The park area was mined for
 heavy metals from 1885 until 1952. Grant funds
 also will be used to conduct community involve-
 ment 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/cleanup/brownfields/
 index.htm

 Grant Recipient: City of Aurora, MO
 417-678-2533

 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.
previously unavailable recreational opportunities to its
park lands.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                         EPA560-F-07-013
                         May 2007
                         www.epa.gov/brownfields

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