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
------- |