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Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Ouray County, CO
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
Ouray County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. About 1,400 of Ouray County's
3,948 residents live in the target area along the Canyon
Creek watershed, which is the site of dozens of
inactive mining facilities abandoned since 1930.
Because of its immense historical value and visitor
interest, the county is a National Historic District. The
county's partner in the grant is the Red Mountain
Project, a local effort to conserve 11,000 acres of
historic mining properties. Ouray County also is
working with other national and local organizations to
prevent the loss of natural, recreational, and historic
resources in the area due to residential development,
over-use, and neglect. The assessment is expected to
create economic benefits for the county by improving
Cleanup Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Ouray County for a brownfields
assessment grant. Hazardous substances grant
funds will be used to assess mine-scarred proper-
ties in 4,000 acres of a watershed, in order to
prioritize properties for public acquisition and
cleanup. Funds will be used for Phase I site
assessments, Phase II site assessments on three
to five high-priority sites, community outreach,
environmental liability analysis, and GIS mapping.
One significant mine will be assessed for possible
acquisition, cleanup, and reuse as a historic mining
museum and visitor center.
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 8 Brownfields Team
303-312-6803
http://www.epa.gov/region08/land_waste/bfhome/
bfhome.html
Grant Recipient: Ouray County, CO
970-325-7320
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
and restoring ecosystem health, protecting scenic
open space, and preserving historical buildings and
structures.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-04-167
June 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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