Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet ™ Sa/7 D/ego Redevelopment Agency, CA 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 San Diego Redevelopment Agency was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in southern California, San Diego (population 1,279,329), is the second largest city in the state. The target areas are in the City Heights and Central Imperial Redevelopment Project Areas (population 102,225), which encompass about 2,564 acres. Many facilities in the target area are reported to have had hazardous substances or petroleum releases as a result of commercial and industrial development that occurred in the first half of the 20th century. The target areas developed along former major commercial corridors that declined as the city expanded into greenspace. In City Heights, 53 percent of residents are Hispanic, and in the Central Imperial area, 79 percent of residents are Hispanic. The target areas and surrounding neighborhoods are the most deeply affected by foreclosure activity in the city. Brownfield assessments will generate critical information needed to clean up sites and identify feasible land uses for the properties. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and conduct 12 to 15 Phase I and four or five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used for cleanup planning and community outreach activities. Petroleum grant 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 9 Brownfields Team (213)244-1821 EPA Region 9 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region9/brownfields) Grant Recipient: City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency,CA 619-236-6267 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-10-169 Apr 10 ------- |