8 HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Little Falls, MN 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. 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 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Little Falls was selected to receive cleanup and revolving loan fund grants. The city (population 7,700) is located in a rural area of central Minnesota on the Mississippi River. Per capita income is about two- thirds the state average and unemployment is higher than the state rate. The city has targeted properties on a site adjacent to a section of the Mississippi River that has been designated as a federal scenic and protected waterway. This section of the river is frequently used for fishing and boating and is a source of drinking water for downstream communities. The city plans to clean up and redevelop the site as a park, restoring one property as a native plant and wildlife habitat with an educational component, and the other with complimen- tary recreational and open space uses. Cleanup Grants 2003 $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Little Falls for two brownfields cleanup grants totaling $400,000. The grants will be used to conduct cleanup activities at two adjacent properties separated by an active railroad track. The 100 Southwest Fifth Avenue site is contaminated with a variety of hazardous substances associated with former paper mill operations. The 500 Lindbergh Drive site is contaminated with petroleum products from releases of waste oils. Revolving Loan Fund /New- Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Little Falls for a revolving loan fund grant. The grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which Little Falls will provide loans and subgrants to conduct cleanup activities. Grant funds will be used to assist in the cleanup of former paper mill operations in the city. 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 5 Brownfields Team 312-886-7576 http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/ Grant Recipient: City of Little Falls, MN 320-616-5500 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of Little Falls has not received brownfields grant funding. The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA500-F-03-122 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |