United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response(5105) EPA500-F-01-309 April 2001 www.epa.gov/brownfields/ &EPA Supplemental Assistance California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, CA Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5105) Quick Reference Fact Sheet EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative isdesignedtoempowerstates, communities, and otherstakeholders ineconomicredevelopmenttoworktogetherinatimelymannertoprevent.assess.andsafelycleanupbrownfieldstopromote theirsustainable reuse. Brownfieldsareabandoned, idled,orunder-usedindustrialandcommercialfacilitieswhereexpansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. EPAisfunding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years, with additional funding provided for greenspace), to test assessment models and facilitate coordinated assessment and cleanup efforts at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels; and job training pilot programs (each funded upto$200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affectedbybrownfieldstofacilitatecleanupofbrownfieldssitesandpreparetraineesforfutureemploymentintheenvironmental field; and, acleanup revolving loanfund program (eachfundedupto$1,000,000 overfiveyears)toprovidefinancial assistance forthe environmental cleanup of brownfields. These pilot programs are intended to provide EPA, states, tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful information and strategies astheycontinuetoseek new methodsto promote a unified approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment. BACKGROUND EPA has selected the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency (TTCA), formerly called the CaliforniaTrade and Commerce Agency (TCA), to receive supplemental assistance for its Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot. The State of California established the California Mill Reuse Program, which is a publicly supported program to clean up and reuse closed and abandoned wood products mill sites in the state. The California program, implemented by TTCA, plans to conduct assessment activities and develop cleanup and redevelopment plans for each targeted former mill site. An initial survey identified 100 abandoned or closed mills in an area covering 25 counties, primarily in the northern half of California. Further investigation revealed that the total number of former mill sites in California is much higher—there are close to 600 sites in just one county. The closure of timber mills has resulted in the 25-county area having a much lower average income than the rest of the state. The average unemployment rate is 10 percent and the average poverty rate is 14.8 percent in these mostly rural counties. PILOT SNAPSHOT Date of Award: April 2001 Amount: $150,000 Profile: The Pilot will target former mill sites throughout the state's rural communities for assessment to facilitate site cleanup and redevelopment. California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, California Contacts: California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency (916) 323-2887 Regional Brownfields Team U.S. EPA - Region 9 (415)744-2237 Visit the EPA Region 9 Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/index.html For further information, including specific Pilot contacts, additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ ------- OBJECTIVES AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES With EPA's supplemental assistance grant, the Pilot plans to continue strengthening public-private partnership efforts, promote the cleanup and redevelopment of closed mill sites, and support the long-term economic stability of impacted rural communities. The Pilot will add two new mill sites to the California Mill Reuse Program (bringing the total to nine participating sites) and continue to conduct environmental assessments as necessary. The Pilot plans to: • Complete Phase II environmental assessments on the McCloud site; • Begin environmental assessments on two additional mill sites; and • Provide continuing community planning and technical assistance for each targeted mill site community. The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Brownfields Supplemental Assistance California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency, California April 2001 EPA500-F-01-309 ------- |