United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5101) EPA500-F-99-055 May 1999 www.epa.gov/brownfields/ >>EPA Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (Coalition with the Cities of Phoenix and Tucson) Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101) 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 forthe 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 The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality BCRLF pilot is acoalition representing the interests of the cities of Phoenix and Tucson. The pilot target area in Tucson consists of 225 acres located in the downtown area. Within the Tucson target area, 41 percent of the population lives below the poverty level and there is an 11 percent unemployment rate. The target area for Phoenix covers 20 square miles in the south-central part of the City. This area, which includes an Enterprise Community, is an economically distressed community that has residential neighborhoods located amidst blighted conditions. A significant portion of the area is abandoned or occupied by low-value industrial uses. Within the Phoenix target area, 48 percent of the population lives below the poverty level. BCRLF OBJECTIVES The Arizona BCRLF pilot will be used to forward the goals of Tucson's Brownfields Pilot Project and Phoenix's Brownfields Land Recycling Program. Successful implementation of the BCRLF program will provide economic stimulation for the distressed areas of the city center. Tucson is prioritizing four brownfields sites for cleanup within four years. In Phoenix, the 20 square mile Brownfields Target Area PILOT SNAPSHOT Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (Coalition with the Cities of Phoenix and Tucson) Date of Announcement: May 25,1999 Amount: $1.0 million BCRLF Target Area: 225 acres of downtown Tucson and 20 square miles in south-central Phoenix Contacts: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality 602)207-4109 Region 9 Brownfields Coordinator (415) 744-2237 Visit the EPA Region 9 Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/index.htm 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/ ------- includes an Enterprise Community, several designated redevelopment areas, and communities adj acentto the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration and Beyond the Banks Projects. FUND STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will serve as the lead agency and site manager. The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) will serve as fund manager. In addition to providing direct loans, Arizona also may provide linked deposit guarantees and leveraged loans to eligible borrowers. LEVERAGING Arizona will attempt to leverage resources from other sources like the State's General Fund, Retirement Fund, Worker's Compensation Fund, and Arizona's Clean Water Revolving Fund. Other government economic incentive programs available to potential developers include the Federal Investment Tax Credit, the Federal Brownfields Tax Incentive, the State Enterprise Zone Program, Phoenix's EXPAND (Expansion Assistance and Development Program), and Phoenix's MICROLOAN (promotes lending to qualified businesses located in the Enterprise Community). Use ofBCRLF Pilot funds must be in accordance with CERCLA, and all CERCLA restrictions on use of funding also apply to BCRLFfunds. Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Arizona Department of Environmental Quality May 1999 EPA 500-F-99-055 ------- |