SEPA
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA 500-F-00-190
May 2000
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5105)
Brownfields Success Stories
Las Vegas Cleanup a Sure Thing
LAS VEGAS, NV
n Las Vegas, Nevada, a former National Guard Armory has the
distinction of being the country's first site cleaned up under EPA's
Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) Pilot Program.
The $50,000 cleanup involved the removal of more than 600 cubic
yards of soil contaminated with hazardous waste and petroleum
hydrocarbons. A community center, cultural center, retail stores,
and a small business incubator are now planned for the site.
"The Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund helps local gov-
ernments sweep away the last obstacle to redevelopment of aban-
doned industrial properties contamination," explains Felicia Marcus,
EPA's Region 9 Administrator. "This project demonstrates EPA's
and the City of Las Vegas' commitment to getting Brownfields sites
in the downtown Las Vegas area cleaned up and ready for reuse.
We applaud Las Vegas for getting the job done so quickly."
To date, EPA has awarded 68 BCRLF Pilots. The purpose of these
Pilots is to enable states, cities, and Native American tribes to make
low-interest loans to promote the cleanup and redevelopment of
brownfields properties. The program has already leveraged more
than $50 million in redevelopment funding from the BCRLF loans
issued to date. The City of Las Vegas was selected as a BCRLF
Pilot in May 1999 and received $500,000; the city loaned $50,000 to
the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency to enable cleanup of the
Armory site. Covering a two-year period, the loan has an annual
interest rate of only two percent.
cont. ^
JUST THE FACTS:
A3.6-acre former National Guard Armory, used
by the Nevada National Guard from 1948 to 1997,
was returned to the city in late 1997.
ABrownfields Assessment Pilot grant from EPA
enabled the city to conduct soil and
groundwater sampling at the former Armory site.
In May 1999, the City of Las Vegas was selected
as a BCRLF Pilot by EPA and awarded $500,000,
a portion of which was used to clean up the
former Armory site.
"The BCRLF helps local governments
sweep away the last obstacle to
redevelopment of abandoned industrial
properties contamination. This project
demonstrates EPA's and the City of Las
Vegas' commitment to getting Brownfields
sites in the downtown Las Vegas area
cleaned up and ready for reuse."
—Felicia Marcus,
EPA's Region 9Administrator
ERA'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.
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The 3.6-acre former National Guard Armory was used by the Nevada National
Guard from 1948 to 1997 for vehicle maintenance, chemical and supply stor-
age, and general operations. The property was returned to the city in late
1997. The neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity of the Armory site
are predominantly Hispanic, with high unemployment and poverty rates.
Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese stated, "We at the City of Las
Vegas firmly believe in providing clean and safe neighborhoods, free of
contaminants and pollutants, for our residents. Through a shared vision
and strong partnership with EPA, the city was able to fast track our
efforts to become the first in the nation to clean up a brownfields site
under the BCRLF program." Through the site's small business incuba-
tion center, the city hopes to provide opportunities for new community-
based enterprises, as well as a community meeting place and cultural cen-
ter.
EPA's partnership with the City of Las Vegas began in May 1998 when the city was
awarded a $200,000 Brownfields Demonstration Assessment Pilot grant. This assess-
ment funding allowed the city to conduct soil and groundwater sampling at the Armory
site. The sampling revealed that the contamination, diesel fuel and waste oil, was confined
to about 600 cubic yards of soil located near where a hydraulic lift had been. The assess-
ments also indicated that the groundwater was not contaminated. The results of these
Phase I and II environmental assessments allowed the city and the Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection to develop the recently completed cleanup plan.
The BCRLF bridged the gap between the environmental assessment and the eventual
development of the Armory property by providing the city with the capital necessary to
clean up the site.
CONTACTS:
OSWER's Outreach and Special
(202) 260-9347
Visit the EPA Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Brownfields Success Story
May 2000
Las Vegas, NV
EPA 500-F-00-190
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