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Brownfields 2008
Grant Fact Sheet
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located along the Gulf
of Mexico, New Orleans (population 223,388) has long
had a high concentration of families living in poverty.
Prior to the mass migration following the 2005 hurri-
cane season, more than 25 percent of families lived
below the poverty level. The city also has faced
environmental justice issues for decades, and is both a
federally designated Enterprise and Renewal Commu-
nity. New Orleans has identified 267 potential hazard-
ous substances brownfields and 177 closed service
stations. These properties are interfering with the city's
ability to redevelop after the storms and floods. The
city plans to target sites for assessment that will
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of New Orleans for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to conduct six to
10 Phase I and up to three Phase II environmental
site assessments and support community involve-
ment activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used
to perform the same tasks at sites with potential
petroleum contamination.
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 6 Brownfields Team
214-665-6780
http://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields
Grant Recipient: City of New Orleans, LA
504-658-8400
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.
ultimately be used for housing and greenspace. Assess-
ment of brownfields will clarify environmental condi-
tions, and is expected to further develop the city's
capacity to address brownfields and help expedite
redevelopment.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-08-153
April 2008
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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