Brownfields 2003 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Greaf Falls Development Authority, MT 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. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields 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 Great Falls Development Authority was selected to receive an assessment grant. Great Falls (population 56,690) is a regional center for much of north central Montana. The grant targets a blighted 60-acre swath of land along the city's riverfront with suspected petroleum and hazardous substance contamination resulting primarily from industrial uses. As industries along the riverfront closed down over time, land along the riverfront was redeveloped for residential, commercial, retail, and recreational uses. Today, the abandoned and underused industrial and commercial properties in the riverfront area stand in stark contrast to the shopping centers and residential neighborhoods that surround it. Nearly 17 percent of families living in the neighborhood adjacent to the target area have incomes below the poverty level. By assessing, cleaning up, and redeveloping the property for mixed use, the city hopes to create up to 250 jobs, stimulate economic growth, and improve access to the Missouri River. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Great Falls Development Authority for a brownfields assessment grant. The authority intends to use grant funds to perform assessments for properties with suspected hazardous substances or petroleum contamination within a blighted, 60-acre stretch of land adjacent to the Missouri River. Grant funds will also be used to conduct community involvement and outreach activities and for cleanup and redevelopment planning. 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 8 Brownfields Team (303)312-7074 EPA Region 8 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region8/brownfields) Grant Recipient: Great Falls, MT (406) 454-1934 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) EPA500-F-03-104 Jun 03 ------- |