5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Los Angeles, CA 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 Los Angeles was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and two brownfields cleanup grants. Located in southern California, Los Angeles (population 3,600,000) is a federally desig- nated Renewal Community and includes a federally designated Empowerment Zone. The area targeted for assessment is the Los Angeles River Sustainability Focus Area, where most sites have had a variety of industrial uses during the past 100 years. The poverty rates in these predominantly Asian, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic neighborhoods range from 20.4 to 37.3 percent. The area is blighted with abandoned and underused properties. Assessment of brownfields is expected to catalyze the revitalization of a key area along the Los Angeles River. The East Wilmington Park site is in a neighborhood near the twin ports of Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Los Angeles for a brownfields assessment grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct screening of about 80 industrial and commercial properties in the Los Angeles River Sustainability Focus Area, and perform four Phase II environmental site assess- ments. Grant funds also will be used to support community involvement activities. rNew^ £008; Cleanup Grants $400,000 for hazardous substances' EPA has selected the City of Los Angeles for two brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the East Wilmington Park at Sanford and Dominguez Avenues. The 1.6-acre site was formerly a railway right-of-way that included an electrical substation, above-ground tanks, and an oil well. It is contami- nated with volatile organic compounds, PCBs, and metals. Grant funds also will be used to clean up the South Los Angeles Wetlands Park at 5413 Avalon Boulevard, which has been used as a railcar and vehicle maintenance facility since 1908. The nine-acre site is contaminated with hazardous substances, including volatile organic compounds. Grant funds also will be used to support community involvement activities at both sites. 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 9 Brownfields Team 415-972-3091 http://www.epa.gov/region9/brownfields Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-08-190 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- Los Angeles and Long Beach. The poverty rate is 40.8 percent, and the unemployment rate is 13 percent in this area. When the East Wilmington site is cleaned up, the city plans to redevelop it as open space, sports fields, and a playground. The South Los Angeles Wetlands Park site is in a neighborhood primarily comprised of African-American, Hispanic, and Asian or Pacific Islander residents. The estimated unemploy- ment rate is 14 to 16 percent, and about 35 percent of residents live in poverty. When the Wetlands Park site is cleaned up, the city plans to redevelop it into a park. Grant Recipient: City of Los Angeles, CA 213-978-0850 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. ------- |