Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet New Iberia, LA 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 New Iberia was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. New Iberia (population 32,981) was founded by Spaniards in 1779 on the banks of Bayou Teche in southern Louisiana. The city, a major tourist destination, was adversely affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and Gustav in 2008. More than 27 percent of residents live below the poverty level, which is more than double the national figure. Family income is 30 percent less than the national average. Cleanup of the target site will reduce threats to human health and the environment and is expected to result in reuse of the site as community greenspace and increase interest in redevelopment of surrounding properties. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of New Iberia for a brownfields cleanup grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up the one-acre Timeless Treasures site at 121 Bridge Street. The former antiques store site has been vacant for several years and was a gasoline station and automobile service shop for almost 40 years. It is contaminated with petroleum and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Grant funds also will be used for community outreach activities. Cleanup will involve a soil in situ green technology that does not require transportation of debris to a landfill. 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 6 Brownfields Team (214) 665-6780 EPA Region 6 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields) Grant Recipient: City of New Iberia,LA (337) 369-2300 ext 8 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-09-181 May 09 ------- |