Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Sandusky, OH RECOUERY.GOV 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 February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, and create or save millions of jobs. This law provided stimulus funds to the Brownfields Program to award grants to evaluate and clean up former industrial and commercial sites. Under this law, EPA will provide financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Community Description The City of Sandusky was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Sandusky (population 27,844) is located in northern Ohio on the shore of Lake Erie. The city has had a long and prosperous heritage of industrial and commercial activity that was facilitated by shipping and rail access near Lake Erie. In recent years, the city has experienced more losses related to industry closings than other cities in the region. There are currently 55 acres of vacant, industrial brownfields in Sandusky. They pose threats to the health of area residents and to Lake Erie and East Sandusky Bay, the city's major sources of water. More than 15 percent of the population lives below the poverty level. Cleanup of the former Sandusky Cabinets site is expected to minimize threats to human health and the environment from petroleum contamination, and help the city move forward with redevelopment of the property. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for petroleum (Recovery Act Funding) EPA has selected the City of Sandusky for a brownfields cleanup grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up the former Sandusky Cabinets site at 513 East Washington and 430 East Market Streets. Former uses of the vacant site include a lumber yard, a wood and metal cabinetry manufacturing facility, and a filling station and auto repair facility. The site is contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Grant funds also will be used for community involvement 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 5 Brownfields Team (312)886-7576 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields) Grant Recipient: City of Sandusky,OH (419) 627-5827 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-09-039 May 09 ------- |