Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Gadsden County, FL 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 Gadsden County was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Gadsden County (population 47,560) borders southern Georgia and the Tallahassee Metropolitan Area. It is one of the leading agricultural counties in northwest Florida. The county contains many potential brownfields, including mine-scarred lands, cattle dipping vat sites, former gasoline stations, and a variety of other commercial and industrial operations. Historically, the area"s industrial economy was based on lumber, pulp and paper, and textiles. Sharp declines in employment in these industries have resulted in a county unemployment rate that is higher than the national rate. More than 25 percent of county residents live at or below the poverty level. Gadsden County is Florida's only predominantly African-American county, and 55 percent of residents are African-American. Brownfield assessments are expected to provide the tools necessary to encourage community-driven redevelopment projects. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Gadsden County for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory brownfield sites and conduct 30 Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop cleanup plans, support community outreach activities, and conduct health monitoring. 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf) Grant Recipient: Gadsden County,FL 850-875-8659 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-10-071 Apr 10 ------- |