^lDir'% * ^fl^b • ' iMy ] Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet %\^ Dixmoor, IL 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. In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Village of Dixmoor was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Dixmoor (population 3,934), an inner-ring suburb of Chicago, has some of the highest levels of poverty and unemployment in Illinois. International competition and industrial modernization have resulted in closures of many traditional heavy industries during the last several decades. The closures have created extensive tracts of vacant industrial properties, including the target site, and increased economic stress. About 21 percent of Dixmoor residents live below the poverty level, and 57 percent of residents are African-American. Per capita incomes are about half those of Chicago as a whole, and the unemployment rate is 16.4 percent. Cleanup of the Dixmoor Parcels site is expected to reduce environmental public health concerns, facilitate the site's redevelopment as part of the Dixmoor-Harvey Industrial Park, and serve as a model redevelopment for about 12,000 additional acres of similar brownfields in the southern Chicago area. Cleanup Grant $150,000 for hazardous substances $50,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Village of Dixmoor for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up the 13-acre Dixmoor Parcels site at 14451 S. Wood Street. Former heavy industry on the site included crankshaft and parts manufacturing for the automotive and aircraft industries, forging, and foundry operations. Site soil and groundwater are contaminated with metals and petroleum. Grant funds also will be used to monitor soil and water quality, and support community involvement 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 5 Brownfields Team (312)886-7576 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields) Grant Recipient: Village of Dixmoor,IL (773) 269-4023 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) EPA560-F-09-217 May 09 ------- |