SB, HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Downriver Community Conference, Southeast Ml 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. Addition- ally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Downriver Community Conference was selected to receive an assessment grant. The conference represents a consortium often municipalities and provides an established mechanism for sharing expertise and grant funds to help smaller communities in southeast Michigan deal with their brownfields. None of the member commu- nities have a population greater than 98,000 people. Member communities range from older urban cities with heavy industry and numerous brownfields to suburban communities with fewer industrial sites. All of the member communities have numerous sites potentially contaminated by petroleum. Assessment of petroleum sites is expected to reduce health risks, encourage reuse of brownfields, and strengthen local economies. The conference plans to assist member communities with involving residents in planning for redevelopment. Assessment Grant £003 $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Downriver Community Conference for a brownfields assessment grant. The conference, which operates under the control of the state, represents a consortium of ten municipalities that all have numerous brownfields potentially contaminated with petroleum. Grant funds will be used to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments of priority sites. Grant funds also will be used conduct 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 at: www.epa.gov/brownfields. EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team 312-886-7576 http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Downriver Community Confer- ence, MI 734-362-3477 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the Downriver Community Conference has received funding for assessment grants. 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) EPA 500-F-03-083 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |