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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