5 o T> Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet Oshkosh, Wl 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 Oshkosh was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located along the Fox River on the western edge of Lake Winnebago, the City of Oshkosh (population 62,916) has had a long industrial history, beginning in the late 1800s with the lumber industry. A large industrial base was soon established to support the lumber industry, including foundries, logging tool and finished wood products manufacturers, and railroad and river boat transporta- tion. The logging industry came to a halt in the mid- 19008, and many of the support businesses slowly closed throughout the mid- and late 1900s. This downturn left behind numerous blighted and underused industrial properties. Many of the city's brownfields are located along the Fox River and in the central city area, where more than 60 percent of residents earn low-to- Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Oshkosh for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub- stances grant funds will be used to conduct six to eight Phase I and five to 10 Phase II environmental site assessments and to support community out- reach 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 5 Brownfields Team 312-886-7576 http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields Grant Recipient: City of Oshkosh, WI 920-236-5055 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. moderate incomes. Brownfields assessments are expected to help the city build on its revitalization accomplishments and catalyze redevelopment of its blighted former industrial sites. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA560-F-08-218 April 2008 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |