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Brownfields 2005
Grant Fact Sheet
Port Arthur, TX
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders in economic development
to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up,
and sustainably reuse brownfields. Abrownfield 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. Addi-
tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
The City of Port Arthur was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. Port Arthur (population
57,755) is located in extreme southeast Texas on the
Gulf of Mexico. Throughout the 20th Century, the oil
industry defined Port Arthur's development. Today,
three major oil refineries and at least six petrochemical
plants are located in the city. While the industry thrived,
most residents were guaranteed above-average incomes
straight out of high school, making higher education
unnecessary for many. Today, almost as many residents
25 years and older lack high school diplomas as those
who have them. As a result, Port Arthur has remained a
blue-collar community. Unemployment and poverty rates
are nearly 14 and 25 percent, respectively. More than 68
Assessment Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Port Arthur for a
brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
used to update the inventory of brownfields,
perform community outreach activities, conduct
15 to 20 Phase I and five to ten Phase II site
assessments, and plan remedial actions and reuse.
The city will focus on the West Side of Port
Arthur, which has been disproportionately im-
pacted by the presence of brownfields.
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 at: www.epa.gov/
brownfields.
EPA Region 6 Brownfields Team
214-665-6736
http://www.epa.gov/earthlr6/6sf/bfpages/
sfbfhome.htm
Grant Recipient: City of Port Arthur, TX
409-983-8298
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
percent of the residents are minority. The city also faces
a problem with an older, rapidly deteriorating stock of
housing and former heavy commercial and industrial
properties. Port Arthur has identified 30 suspected
brownfields sites that are vital for the city's business
growth and revitalization. Assessment of previously
unidentified brownfields sites will allow the city to
implement its plan to develop a small residential commu-
nity, with adjacent commercial areas, in the west side
neighborhood. The city expects these efforts to lead to
the creation of jobs and business opportunities in parts of
the city hit hardest by the economic decline.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-05-063
May 2005
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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