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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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