Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet P/ma County, AZ 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 Pima County was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The county is focusing its assessment efforts on the communities of Ajo, Why, and Lukeville (combined population 4,000). Located in the Sonoran Desert environment of southwest Arizona, they are the most remote communities in the county. Copper mining and tourism were once the economic engines for the area, but these industries have been greatly diminished. The closing of a large Coppermine in the mid-1980s has devastated the once vibrant businesses along the Arizona Route 85 corridor extending through the three towns. Many buildings along the corridor are now vacant, and about 90 potential brownfield sites have been identified. Median household incomes are 40 percent lower than the national average, and unemployment rates are as high as 14.9 percent. More than 22 percent of residents live in poverty. Assessment of brownfields is expected to facilitate retail and commercial redevelopment opportunities by identifying contamination and bridging the gap in pre-development costs. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Pima County for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to prepare an inventory of brownfields, conduct approximately 14 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments, and conduct community involvement activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. 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 9 Brownfields Team (213)244-1821 EPA Region 9 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region9/brownfields) Grant Recipient: Pima County,AZ 520-243-6765 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-10-156 Apr 10 ------- |