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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

     Council Bluffs,  I A


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 Council Bluffs was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in southwest-
ern Iowa, Council Bluffs (population 58,268) has been
an industrial community with links to the agricultural,
food product, and heavy machinery manufacturing
businesses. While contributing to the economic strength
of the community, some of these businesses also have
had an adverse environmental impact on the area. The
target South Main Brownfields Project Area is one of
the oldest and most deteriorated industrial districts in
the city. Among the operations that have closed or
downsized are rail yards, lumber yards, and general
manufacturers. Underused, vacant, and abandoned
buildings are suspected to be contaminated. Adjacent
neighborhoods are stigmatized by depressed property
 Assessment Grants
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 $200,000 for petroleum

 EPA has selected the City of Council Bluffs for
 two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
 substances grant funds will be used to perform
 about 10 Phase I and six Phase II environmental
 site assessments in the South Main Brownfields
 Project Area. Grant funds also will be used to
 support community outreach activities. Petroleum
 grant funds will be used to conduct 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 7 Brownfields Team
 800-223-0425
 http://www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/brownfields

 Grant Recipient: City of Council Bluffs, IA
 712-328-4629

 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.
values, heavy traffic, and urban noise. Assessment of
brownfields is expected to determine the extent of
contamination and leverage redevelopment funds.
                                                  Solid Waste and
                                                  Emergency Response
                                                  (5105T)
                        EPA560-F-08-165
                        April 2008
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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