United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA500-F-00-138
May 2000
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
<>EPA Brownfields Cleanup
Revolving Loan Fund Pilot
Aurora, CO
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5105)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders
in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse
brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and an active potential for
redevelopment or reuse. EPA is funding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two
years), to assess brownfields sites and to test cleanup and redevelopment models; job training pilot programs (each funded
up to $200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affected by brownfields to facilitate cleanup
of brownfields sites and prepare trainees for future employment in the environmental field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund
programs (each funded up to $500,000 over five years) to capitalize loan funds to make loans for the environmental cleanup
of brownfields. These pilot programs are intended to provide EPA, states, tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful
information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified approach to site assessment,
environmental cleanup, and redevelopment.
BACKGROUND
Aurora, Colorado, located just east of Denver, is
focusing its BCRLF on Original Aurora, a five-square
mile area in the oldest part of the City. Original
Aurora's proximity to Colfax Avenue, a major
entryway into the Denver metropolitan area,
contributed to the development of a vibrant commercial
and industrial economy in the area. Economic decline,
however, set in by the 1960s, when Interstate 70
replaced Colfax Avenue as the principal entryway into
the City. The closing of Lowry Air Force Base,
Stapleton International Airport, and the Fitzsimons
Army Garrison compounded this decline, contributing
to the loss of thousands of jobs and millions of revenue
dollars in the City. Aurora has identified approximately
176 potentially contaminated properties. Household
income in this area is 66 percent of the level for the
entire City and the poverty rate is nearly three times
that of the City. Aurora was designated a Brownfields
Assessment Pilot in 1999.
BCRLF OBJECTIVES
Aurora's BCRLF goals are to assist in the revitalization
of the tax base and increase the availability of
sustainable wage employment in the project area.
PILOT SNAPSHOT
Date of Announcement:
May 2000
Amount: $500,000
BCRLF Target Area:
Original Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
Contacts:
Original Aurora
Renewal Program
(303) 739-7929
Region 8 BCRLF
Coordinator
(303)312-6982
Visit the EPA Region 8 Brownfields web site at:
www.epa.gov/region08/land_waste/bfhome/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
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Specifically, Aurora's BCRLF seeks to:
• Eliminate risks to public health and the
environment;
• Increase citizen participation;
• Develop insurance mechanisms and varied
financing sources for cleanups;
• Develop sustained pollution prevention practices;
• Dispel brownfield myths; and
• Advance cleanups and redevelopment.
Aurora's BCRLF will target the five-square mile area
known as Original Aurora.
FUND STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS
The Original Aurora Renewal Program that manages
the existing Brownfields Assessment Pilot will serve as
both lead agency and fund manager. Aurora's Planning
Department will act as site manager. The average loan
size is expected to fall in the $25,000 to $50,000 range.
LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES
The City and its cooperative partners will leverage the
BCRLF award with services valued at over $500,000
and a $20,000 cash investment. To further leverage the
BCRLF, Aurora may consider the use of US
Department of Housing and Urban Development's
Community Development Block Grant funds,
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative funds,
Economic Development Initiative funds, and Section
108 funds, as well as the Brownfields Cleanup Tax
Deduction, the Clean Land Fund, and the Clean Water
State Revolving Fund. In addition, Aurora will examine
redevelopment assistance from Colorado Community
Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), the
Commercial Lender Community Reinvestment Act,
environmental insurance and liability releases, tax
increment financing, abatements and rebates, and the
Colorado BCRLF for possible contributions to
brownfields redevelopment.
Use of BCRLF Pilot funds must be in accordance with
CERCLA, and all CERCLA restrictions on use of funding
also apply to BCRLF funds.
Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Aurora, Colorado
May 2000 EPA500-F-00-138
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