5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Keweenaw County, Ml 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 Keweenaw County was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located on the northern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and surrounded on three sides by Lake Superior, Keweenaw County (population 2,183) is the northernmost county in Michigan. In the past, the county was a center of industrial copper mining, but mining facilities and plants have been idle for several years. This has had a significant impact on the county's economy. The county has a per capita income of $17,897, the lowest in the state, and 12.7 percent of county residents live below the poverty level. Brownfields assessments are expected to help reduce impediments to brownfields redevelopment and lead to their sustainable reuse. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected Keweenaw County for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, a site inventory, and community outreach 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: Keweenaw County, MI 906-289-4288 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-08-116 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |