United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105) EPA 500-F-01-322 April 2001 www.epa.gov/brownfields/ &EPA Supplemental Assistance Fort Worth, TX Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5105) Quick Reference Fact Sheet EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, and safely clean up brownfields to promote their sustainable reuse. Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. EPA is funding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years, with additional funding provided for greenspace) to test assessment models and facilitate coordinated assessment and cleanup efforts at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels; and job training pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years) to provide training for residents of communities affected by brownfields to facilitate cleanup of brownfields sites and prepare trainees for future employment in the environmental field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund program (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years) to provide financial assistance for the environmental cleanup of brownfields. These pilot programs are intended to provide EPA, states, tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment. BACKGROUND EPA has selected the City of Fort Worth to receive supplemental assistance for its Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot and additional fundingforassessmentsatbrownfieldspropertiesto be used for greenspace purposes. The city has grown from an army outpostto a 308-square-mile business center with a population of approximately 484,500. Itis a diverse community with a43 percent minority population. Approximately 17 percent of the city' s population lives below the poverty level. Historically, Fort Worth has been known for its cattle industry. More recently, however, manufacturing, distribution, and technology activities have become a major part of the city's economy. Most of city' s brownfields formerly were small and mid-sized manufacturing operations and illegal dumping sites. The Pilot targets the most industrialized parts of the city, with specific emphasis on three districts in the eastern portion of the city. The minority populations in these communities (currently aboutTO percent) have borne the brunt of impacts from the city's brownfields. Virtually allformsofcommerce,except PILOT SNAPSHOT Date of Announcement: April 2001 Amount: $150,000 Greenspace: $50,000 Profile: The Pilot targets the most industrialized parts of the city, with specific emphasis on three districts in the eastern portion of the city that represent some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. Fort Worth, Texas Contacts: Fort Worth Department ofEnvironmental Management (817)871-8136 Regional Brownfields Team U.S. EPA - Region 6 (214)665-6736 Visit the EPA Region 6 Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/bfpages/sfbfhome.htm Forfurtherinformation,includingspecific Pilot contacts, additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ ------- for convenience stores and gas stations, have vacated the area. Islands of brownfields have contributed to the deterioration of the target neighborhoods by decreasing job opportunities, increasing health and safety hazards, and serving as centers for increased neighborhoodcrime. OBJECTIVES AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES The city's objective is to build upon Fort Worth's progress to date in planning for brownfields redevelopment and building public support and participation in the process. Supplemental funds will be used to continue the identification and assessment of brownfields sites and to expand public involvement efforts. Greenspace funds will be used to conduct two Phase I and two Phase II environmental site assessments on brownfields with potential reuse as greenspace. Four possible greenspace projects have been identified, including a minor league ballpark and surrounding open space, a public golf course, a neighborhood park, and a downtown civic square. Activities planned as part of this Pilot include: • Continuing to identify potential brownfields and incorporate them into the city's database; • Conducting Phase I assessments of seven additional properties; • Conducting Phase II assessments of three additional properties; and • Expanding public involvement and developing "success stories" to be submitted to brownfields- related publications. The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Brownfields Supplemental Assistance Fort Worth, Texas April 2001 EPA500-F-01-322 ------- |