^lDir'% * ^fl^b • ' iMy ] Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet %\^ Lewistown, MT 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 City of Lewistown was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Lewistown (population 5,945) is located in Fergus County in central Montana. At the same time that the state has been experiencing population growth, Lewistown has been losing residents. The small and decreasing size of the community has negatively impacted the city, whose residents have low average incomes and a high unemployment rate. In addition to four brownfield sites in or near the city, there also are 37 leaking underground storage tanks in the area. The Berg Lumber Mill cleanup site is contaminated with hazardous substances at concentrations that may pose a risk to residential and industrial users of the property. Substances from the site may leach into groundwater, and dust from the site may contaminate Big Spring Creek. Cleanup of the target site will help reduce these threats and is expected to allow the city to sell portions of the property for redevelopment. The city is planning to create an access route to Big Spring Creek and parkland on the remaining portion of the property. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Lewistown for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the Berg Lumber Mill site on Joyland Road. The currently vacant site was used as a lumber yard, including a saw mill and post and pole treating operations, from the 1970s to 1994. Site soil is contaminated with pentachlorophenol and dioxin. Grant funds will be used to excavate and dispose of contaminated soil, install bottom and top liners, and conduct sampling. 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 8 Brownfields Team (303)312-7074 EPA Region 8 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region8/brownfields) Grant Recipient: City of Lewistown,MT (406)535-1775 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-09-229 May 09 ------- |