SB,
HI
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Brownfields 2003
Grant Fact Sheet
Madera County, North
Fork, CA
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. Addi-
tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
Madera County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. In 1994, the lumber mill in North
Fork closed and 10 percent of the community's jobs
were lost immediately. Between 1990 and 1998, the
unemployment rate doubled. Approximately one-sixth
of the town's businesses closed down and other
businesses that supported the mill operation, such as
logging contractors, equipment operators, and truck
drivers, were put out of business. The area immedi-
ately surrounding the mill site is one of the poorest in
Madera County, with 88 percent of its residents living
in poverty. An assessment of potential contamination is
needed to determine the cleanup options and redevel-
opment opportunities for the former lumber mill site so
Assessment Grant
$199,555 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Madera County for a
brownfields assessment grant. The county plans
to use the funds to assess a former lumber mill in
the town of North Fork and determine its poten-
tial for redevelopment. The closure of the lumber
mill devastated the economy of this small rural
town. Grant funds also will be used to 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 9 Brownfields Team
415-972-3188
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/
Grant Recipient: Madera County, CA
559-675-7823
Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, Madera
County has received brownfields funding for revolving loan
fund grants.
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
are subject to change.
the town can recover economically. Plans for redevel-
opment include light industry, tourism-related business,
office space, and recreational areas.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA500-F-03-126
June 2003
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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