Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant  Fact Sheet
               OivensJboro, KY
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 Owensboro was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located along the Ohio
River in western Kentucky, Owensboro (population
55,516)  emerged as an industrial hub  and port of call
for the distribution of a variety of goods into Kentucky.
Tobacco, coal, gas, and especially steel and automobile
parts manufacturing flourished along  with secondary
industries, including gas stations and dry cleaners.
Agricultural and industrial business declined in the
1980s, leaving vacated, deteriorating brownfield
properties throughout the city. The city has a poverty
rate of 15.9 percent, and 76.7 percent of its school
children are economically disadvantaged. The city plans
construction of a new safety operations and training
center on three contiguous brownfield sites. With
information from brownfield assessments, Owensboro
expects to revitalize its economy through
redevelopment of contaminated properties and reduce
health threats to residents and the Ohio River.
                   Assessment Grants

                   $200,000 for hazardous substances
                   $200,000 for petroleum

                   EPA has selected the City of Owensboro for two
                   brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
                   hazardous substances grant funds will be used to
                   perform five Phase I and four Phase II environmental
                   site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used
                   to perform seven Phase I and four Phase II
                   environmental site assessments. Grant funds also
                   will be used to conduct cleanup planning and
                   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 4 Brownfields Team
                   (404) 562-8792
                   EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site
                   (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf)

                   Grant Recipient: City of Owensboro,KY
                   (270) 687-8556

                   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-10-077
        Apr 10

-------