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  Brownfields  2007

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

            Ripon,  Wl


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 Ripon was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. Located in Fond du Lac County in the
heart of Wisconsin, Ripon (population 6,828) has had
slow population growth in recent years. During the past
three years, Ripon lost nearly 400 jobs as a result  of
plant closings and layoffs. The city's per capita and
household incomes are lower than the national averages.
The city is targeting sites in the Silver Creek downtown
area for brownfields assessment.  The area contains
abandoned industrial sites and several incompatible land
uses, such as industrial areas abutting residential areas.
Brownfields assessment will catalyze redevelopment in
the area and help the city leverage funding for the
cleanup of contaminated sites. Anticipated benefits
include restoring wildlife and aquatic life along the creek
and providing a downtown commerce area for residents.
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Ripon for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to conduct ten to
14 Phase I and four to eight Phase n environmen-
tal site assessments and to support 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 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/

Grant Recipient: City of Ripon, WI
920-748-4914

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)
                        EPA560-F-07-141
                        May 2007
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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