Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact  Sheet
               St. Marks, FL
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 St. Marks was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Originally founded in
1528, the City of St. Marks (population 313)  is the third
oldest settlement in North America. The city's early
seaport-related shipping and warehousing businesses
were supplemented by railroad access and, eventually,
by petroleum refineries and heavy industry. With the
decline in U.S.-based manufacturing, most of the city's
industries closed, resulting in underused and vacant
properties and significant population and job  losses.
The percentage of individuals living below the poverty
level in St. Marks is twice the county and state
averages. The median household income is 32 percent
lower than the county median. The city has identified
six potential brownfield sites of concern. They include a
refinery, bulk petroleum storage and distribution site,
and manufacturing facility. Brownfield assessments are
the first step in reducing threats to human health and the
environment posed by these sites. Assessments also are
expected to help facilitate cleanup and redevelopment
planning.
                   Assessment Grants

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

                   EPA has selected the City of St. Marks for two
                   brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
                   grant funds will be used to conduct five Phase I and
                   four Phase II environmental site assessments for
                   hazardous substances and petroleum contamination.
                   Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup
                   planning and support 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 St. Marks,FL
                   (850) 925-6224

                   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-09-226
        May 09

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