Brownfields 2009 Assessment and Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Springfield, MO 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 Springfield was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants and a brownfields cleanup grant. Springfield (population 151,580) is concentrating its brownfields efforts in the Jordan Valley area in the center city. The target area is the oldest part of the city and has traditionally been dependent on industrial, manufacturing, and commercial businesses. A former rail corridor extends through the area, which also includes 219 pre-1960 gas stations. Methamphetamine labs are an additional community health threat. Brownfields have affected economic conditions for the area's neighborhoods and commercial properties by decreasing property values, lowering tax revenue, and reducing investor confidence. In the target area, 29 percent of residents live below the poverty level, 10 percent are unemployed, and the median household income is less than half the state median. Brownfield assessments are expected to help the city move forward with its 25-year plan for transforming the Jordan Creek Corridor into a civic park and community gathering place. When the high-priority Jordan Valley site is cleaned up, it is expected to be redeveloped as part of the 300-acre __1__ T 7 _ 11 _ Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances (Recovery Act Funding) $200,000 for petroleum (Recovery Act Funding) EPA has selected the City of Springfield for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform a minimum of 15 Phase I and a minimum of 5 Phase II environmental site assessments, conduct cleanup planning, and support community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances (Recovery Act Funding) EPA has selected the City of Springfield for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Jordan Valley West Meadows Site 4 at 309 North Main. Since 1900, the site has historically been used as a railyard and included paint shops, kilns, and other facilities. It is contaminated with heavy metals, arsenic, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement 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 7 Brownfields Team (800) 223-0425 EPA Region 7 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/brown fields) Grant Recipient: City of Springfield, Missouri United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-09-078 May 09 ------- joraan vaney ram, wiin recreational activities ana open space, along with economic development activities. (417) 864-1092 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-09-078 May 09 ------- |