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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact Sheet

      Redevelopment

  Authority of the  City

     of Milwaukee,   I/I//


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 Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwau-
kee  was selected to receive two brownfields assess-
ment grants and two brownfields cleanup grants.
Located in eastern Wisconsin along Lake Michigan,
Milwaukee (population 573,358) is a federally desig-
nated Renewal Community. Built on a foundation of
industrial activity, the city has been dominated by die
cast companies, machine tool manufacturers, and
tanneries. Over the past 30 years, Milwaukee has seen
a decline in its traditional manufacturing base, which
has left a legacy of vacant and underused brownfields.
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum

EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for two brownfields assess-
ment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds
will be used to conduct six to eight Phase I and II
environmental site assessments, focusing on the
central part of the city where 85 percent of the
city's tax-delinquent brownfields are located. Grant
funds also will be used to support community
outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be
used to conduct the same activities at sites with
potential petroleum contamination.
Cleanup Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum

EPA has selected the Redevelopment Authority of
the City of Milwaukee for two brownfields cleanup
grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be
used to clean up a site at 2227 North 31st Street.
The site was formerly used as a manufacturing
facility, machine shop, and auto repair shop.
Contaminants of concern include volatile organic
compounds and poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up a
site at 522 West North Avenue. The site was
formerly a gas station and is contaminated with
petroleum products. Grant funds also will be used
to conduct 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.
                                               Solid Waste and
                                               Emergency Response
                                               (5105T)
                       EPA560-F-08-144
                       April 2008
                       www.epa.gov/brownfields

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The city has approximately 300 acres of brownfields,
including 145 tax-delinquent properties and many small
neighborhood brownfields such as repair shops and dry
cleaners. In the neighborhoods targeted for assess-
ments and cleanups, minorities account for 89 to 97
percent of residents. The unemployment rates range
from 12 to 19 percent, and 34 to 46 percent of resi-
dents live below the poverty level. Assessment of
brownfields is expected to quantify the level of envi-
ronmental contamination and help catalyze redevelop-
ment. When the North 31st Street site is cleaned up,
the city plans to include it in the mixed-use Garfield
Park Development Project and reuse it for greenspace,
walkways, and a sculpture garden. When the West
North Avenue site is cleaned up, the city plans to
include it in the proposed Bronzeville Entertainment
and Cultural District redevelopment project.
EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team
312-886-7576
http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields
Grant Recipient: Redevelopment Authority of the
City of Milwaukee, WI
414-286-8268
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 negotiated.
Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are
subject to change.

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