Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Oklahoma City, OK REC(M(H.GBV EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states. communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, and create or save millions of jobs. This law provided stimulus funds to the Brownfields Program to award grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial and commercial sites. Under this law, EPA will provide financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Community Description The City of Oklahoma City was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Oklahoma City (population 547,274) in central Oklahoma is focusing its assessment efforts on its 19-square-mile Empowerment Zone (EZ), which surrounds the downtown's central business district. Prolonged disinvestment in the EZ has left more than 100 potential brownfields. Many vacant structures, undeveloped lands, and former industrial sites are located next to schools, playgrounds, parks, and residences. The unemployment rate in the EZ is more than double that of the city as a whole, and 40 percent of residents live below the poverty level. The median household income within the EZ is nearly half that of the city and state median levels. Brownfield assessments are expected to expedite cleanup of sites, and help the city reach its goal of creating a vibrant and sustainable downtown and a mile -long park on the shore of the Oklahoma River. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances (Recovery Act Funding) $200,000 for petroleum (Recovery Act Funding) EPA has selected the City of Oklahoma City for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct four Phase I and three to four Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct five Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning and community outreach activities. Contacts For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields). EPA Region 6 Brownfields Team (214) 665-6780 EPA Region 6 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields) Grant Recipient: City of Oklahoma City (405) 297-1740 The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-09-069 May 09 ------- |