United States
                   Environmental
                   Protection Agency
                   Washington, D.C. 20460
 Solid Waste
 and Emergency
 Response (5101)
EPA 500-F-00-135
May 2000
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
  \>EPA   Brownfields Assessment
                   Demonstration  Pilot
                                             Yankton Sioux Tribe,  SD
 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

EPA has  selected the Yankton Sioux Tribe for a
Brownfields Pilot. The Yankton Indian Reservation
covers more than 200,000 acres along the Missouri
River in southeastern Charles Mix County, South
Dakota.  In 1996, the reservation population was
6,500 (4,500 tribal residents and 2,000 non-tribal), and
85 percent of the residents were unemployed. The
Greenwood  community, where  the target site is
located, is in the southernmost part of the reservation
on the Missouri River and is home to 50 residents.
Greenwood has an outstanding view of the river and
is situated near rolling hills and shear bluffs leading to
the river shores. Oral history says that the  Lewis and
Clark expedition met with the Yankton Sioux for the
third and last times at the  site of the present day
Greenwood community.

The 20-acre target site in Greenwood contains several
abandoned buildings, one of which covers 5,000
square  feet of space.   Indicators  of potential
environmental contamination at  the targeted site
included stressed vegetation, asbestos-containing
materials, a boiler room  in the old school basement
with possible used oil and lead contamination, and
abandoned cars and appliances. Additionally, various
PILOT SNAPSHOT
                   Date of Announcement:
                   May 2000

                   Amount: $200,000

                   Profile: The Yankton Sioux Tribe
                   targets a 20-acre site that is part
                   of the Greenwood Community in
                   the southernmost part of the
                   Yankton Indian Reservation.
 Yankton Sioux Tribe, SD
Contacts:
YanktonSioux Tribe
(605)384-3641
 Regional Brownfields Team
 U.S. EPA-Region 8
 (303)312-6803
     Visit the EPA Region 8 Brownfields web site at:
 http://www.epa.gov/region08/land_waste/bfhome/bfhome.html

   Forfurther 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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unknown materials may have been disposed of on-
site. The proximity of the site to the Missouri River
poses apotential negative impact on the river surface
water and riparian habitat.

OBJECTIVES

The Yankton Sioux Tribe  plans to redevelop the
Greenwood site in anticipation of the Lewis and Clark
Bicentennial  celebration (beginning in 2001 and
continuing  through 2008).  The tribe believes that
through redevelopment, the health and welfare of the
Greenwood community and its future visitors/tourists
will be enhanced. Site assessments will benefit the
community  by  assuring  that  environmental
contaminants are identified and, therefore, can be
cleaned up so that they no  longer  pose a threat to
public health. Redevelopment will benefit the tribe
economically as numerous jobs will be created.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:

• Conducting a records search on the site;

• Identifying the extent of the contamination;

• Involving the community in decision-making activities
  regarding the  cleanup and redevelopment of the
  target site by developing and distributing educational
  materials  specific to the site;

• Identifying  sources for funding  the cleanup  of
  hazardous contaminants; and

• Engaging in response/cleanup planning.

The cooperative agreementforthis Pilot has not yet been negotiated;
therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
 Brownfieids Assessment Demonstration Pilot                                            Yankton Sioux Tribe, SD
 May2000                                                                         EPA 500-F-00-135

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