Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant
Fact Sheet
Cherryvale, KS
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 Cherryvale was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in southeastern
Kansas, Cherryvale was a leader in zinc smelting and
brick production in the early 1900s. However, many of
the industrial and manufacturing companies had ceased
operations by the 1930s, leaving a legacy of
smelter-scarred land and vacant buildings. Several
properties adjacent to former smelters and railroads
remain idle due to the stigma of contamination. In some
areas, nearly 40 percent of properties are vacant. Initial
surveys have identified 113 potential brownfields in the
city. Population levels declined from 7,000 residents at
the city's peak in 1906 to 2,386 in 2000. The city's
poverty rate is higher and the median household income
is lower than respective county and state averages.
Brownfield assessments are expected to identify
potential health hazards, and catalyze site cleanup and
redevelopment that can bring businesses back to
Cherryvale.
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
(Recovery Act Funding)
$200,000 for petroleum (Recovery Act
Funding)
EPA has selected the City of Cherryvale for two
brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
conduct about 15 Phase I and from 6 to 8 Phase II
environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant
funds will be used to conduct about 20 Phase I and
from 6 to 8 Phase II environmental site assessments.
Grant funds also will be used to inventory
brownfields, conduct cleanup planning, and support
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 7 Brownfields Team
(800) 223-0425
EPA Region 7 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/brown fields)
Grant Recipient: City of Cherryvale,KS
(620)336-2776
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-09-247
May 09
------- |