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Brownfields 2006
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 the
Brownfields 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. Addi-
tionally, 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 a brownfields
cleanup grant. The site targeted for assessment lies
within the Washington Boulevard Corridor, which has
a 28 percent poverty rate. Approximately 80 percent of
residents are Hispanic. Heavy industrial use has
declined in this area, leaving deserted metal plating
shops, vacant and potentially contaminated lots,
underused junkyards, and inactive rail spurs. The site
targeted for cleanup is in Rockwood Park, a neighbor-
hood near downtown Los Angeles where approxi-
mately 62 percent of residents are Hispanic and 16
percent are Asian. The unemployment rate is 12
percent, and 64 percent of the population lives below
the poverty level. The community also has suffered
because of suspected gas seepage from a former oil
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Los Angeles for a
brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
stances grant funds will be used to perform Phase
I and II environmental site assessments in the
Washington Boulevard Corridor of South Los
Angeles. Funds also will be used for community
involvement activities. »>»"<
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Cleanup Grant
1.2006
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Los Angeles for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Petroleum grant funds
will be used to clean up Rockwood Park at 1544-
1556 Colton, which is contaminated with petro-
leum products. Oil wells existed on the property
from 1906 through 1970. The site was then
developed with apartment houses, which were
found to be permeated with high levels of meth-
ane and hydrogen sulfide gas. Funds also will be
used for public outreach activities. After the site
is cleaned up, it will be reused as a community
park.
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
415-972-3092
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/
index.html
Grant Recipient: City of Los Angeles, CA
213-978-3068
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-221
July 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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field. Planned brownfields reuses include parks.
shopping areas, restaurants, and residential facilities.
Brownfields redevelopment will provide the affected
communities with an expanded tax base, needed
services, and access to employment and recreational
opportunities.
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