Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
    ^          Southwestern Illinois Development Authority
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 Southwestern Illinois Development Authority
(SWIDA) was selected to receive two brownfields
assessment grants. SWIDA is focusing its  efforts on the
20 communities (combined population 165,000) in the
American Bottom region of Illinois. This floodplain of
the Mississippi River was first settled in 1699. The area
evolved from farming to industry, including steel mills,
chemical plants, and oil refineries. The American
Bottom also played  a role in rail transport, providing a
corridor for railroad right-of-way, transfer, switching,
and maintenance facilities. This industrial  area of the
region attracted many immigrants and
African-Americans from southern states to work in its
factories. Over the last 50 years, industries have
abandoned their operations in the area and left behind a
legacy of brownfields and high unemployment rates.
Brownfields in the target area range from foundries of
over 100 acres to small former gas stations. Assessment
of brownfields in the target area will help reduce
concerns and facilitate site cleanup. The site inventory
will help simplify the marketing of the target area.
                   Assessment Grants

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

                   EPA has selected the Southwestern Illinois
                   Development Authority for two brownfields
                   assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous
                   substances grant funds will be used to inventory and
                   characterize brownfield sites and conduct about 20
                   Phase I and at least 3 to 4 Phase II environmental site
                   assessments. Grant funds also will be used to
                   conduct cleanup planning and support community
                   outreach activities. Assessments will focus on the
                   American Bottom region of Southwestern Illinois.
                   Petroleum 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 5 Brownfields Team
                   (312)886-7576
                   EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site
                   (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields)

                   Grant Recipient: Southwestern Illinois Development
                   Authority
                   (618)345-3400

                   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-09-149
        May 09

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