5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 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 Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in south-central Oklahoma, the Absentee Shawnee Tribe (population 3,057) is a federally recog- nized tribe. The average per capita income for Native Americans in Oklahoma is $ 14,459, and nearly 20 percent of Native American families in the state live below the poverty level. The tribe purchased the Old Lillard Pipe Supply site for use as tribal environmental offices and the environmental training center for the tribe's Brownfields Job Training Program. The site contains former open dumping areas and unlabeled bulging drums. It is adjacent to a tributary of Squirrel Creek, which flows into the North Canadian River, a Cleanup Grant $156,466 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma for a brownfields cleanup grant. Haz- ardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the seven-acre Old Lillard Pipe Supply site at 40206 Benson Park Road in Tecumseh. The site was used to sell new and used oil field equipment from the early 1960s to the mid-1990s, and was idle until 2003, when the tribe purchased it. It is contaminated with metals and drums of unidentified substances. Grant funds also will be used 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 6 Brownfields Team 214-665-6780 http://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields Grant Recipient: Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma 405-273-9966 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. major water source for one of the state's largest reservoirs. Cleanup of the site is expected to raise awareness about preventing future brownfields. Redevelopment plans for the site include space for two businesses and an expanded tribal environmental training center. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-08-155 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |