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  Brownfields  2008

  Grant Fact Sheet

    Big Sky Economic

         Development

Authority,  Billings,  MT


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 Big Sky Economic Development Authority was
selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants.
The Authority serves the City of Billings and
Yellowstone County (total population 138,213) and will
focus its brownfields efforts on the East Downtown
Urban Renewal District (population 3,624), a commu-
nity east of downtown Billings. In this neighborhood,
31.5 percent of residents live below the poverty level,
and the median family income is $28,147. The area has
been home to a meat-packing plant and other industrial
and commercial operations that have likely used or
 Assessment Grants
 $200,000 for hazardous substances
 $200,000 for petroleum

 EPA has selected the Big Sky Economic Develop-
 ment Authority for two brownfields assessment
 grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be
 used to conduct at least 12 Phase I and up to five
 Phase II environmental site assessments. Petro-
 leum grant funds will be used to perform the same
 tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamina-
 tion. Grant funds also will be used to support
 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 8 Brownfields Team
 303-312-7074
 http://www.epa.gov/region8/brownfields

 Grant Recipient: Big Sky Economic Development
 Authority, MT
 406-869-8408, ext. Ill

 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.
generated hazardous substances. Of the 276 properties
in the area, 65 are vacant or abandoned. They also
include a former oil and gas company, car dealerships,
and at least 10 service stations. Assessment of
brownfields in the target area will provide information
about environmental contamination and is expected to
be the Authority's first step toward implementing its
Urban Renewal Plan for economic growth.
                                                Solid Waste and
                                                Emergency Response
                                                (5105T)
                       EPA560-F-08-179
                       April 2008
                       www.epa.gov/brownfields

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