I 'O UJ O Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet Tucson, AZ 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, the President 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 pro- grams through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Tucson was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The majority of the city's brownfields are located in or near the historically significant, but underutilized and deteriorating down- town area, including the Rio Nuevo District. About 19,108 of Tucson's 486,699 residents live in the Rio Nuevo District target area, which is a federally desig- nated Empowerment Zone. Forty percent of target area residents are minorities, and 57 percent live in low-income households. The district's unemployment rate of eight percent is higher than that of the city as a whole. The city is planning to redevelop the bulk oil facility into a mixed-use retail and residential complex. The maintenance facility will be transformed into Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Tucson for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to perform expanded Phase I site assess- ments at a bulk oil storage facility and a bus maintenance and refueling garage located in the city's Rio Nuevo District. The funds also will be used for community outreach and, if necessary, for cleanup planning and selection. 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: Tucson, AZ 520-791-5414 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. greenspace that will complement the nearby re- creation of the Mission San Agustin, which was the first building in Tucson. The retail stores and the tourist complex are expected to provide increased employ- ment opportunities for local residents. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-04-098 June 2004 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |