Brownfields 2009  Cleanup Grant  Fact Sheet
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EPA Brownfields Program

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states.
communities, and other stakeholders 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. In
2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help
states and communities around the country cleanup and
revitalize brownfields sites. Under this 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 programs through
a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Blue Island was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Blue  Island (population
23,463)  is an inner-ring suburb of Chicago. Blue
Island's blighted, declining industrial community has
created a significant barrier to redevelopment. The city
will clean up an uncontrolled landfill that is part of the
city's adopted economic development plan. For nearly
20 years, the site has been vacant or underused.
Developers attracted to Blue Island have considered the
site environmentally uncertain. The city's poverty rate
of 12.3 percent is double the state average. The
unemployment rate, which is 12.3 percent, is twice the
state rate. Site cleanup is expected to spur
redevelopment of the property as a retail and
eco-industrial park that will capitalize on its proximity
to Interstate 57 and existing rail access. Two  developers
interested in the site are completing preliminary site
plans for these redevelopment projects.
                   Cleanup Grant

                   $200,000 for hazardous substances

                   EPA has selected the City of Blue Island for a
                   brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
                   grant funds will be used to clean up the 87-acre NE
                   Mixed-Use Commercial Park at 12245 Division
                   Street. From about 1897 until 1952, the site was
                   used to excavate clay for brick-making. In  1952, the
                   site became an open dump that included hazardous
                   waste disposal. Site soil contains volatile and
                   semi-volatile organic compounds, PCBs, and heavy
                   metals. Grant funds also will be used to support
                   community outreach 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
                   (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields).

                   EPA Region 5 Brownfields Team
                   (312)886-7576
                   EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site
                   (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields)

                   Grant Recipient: City of Blue Island,IL
                   (708) 396-7138

                   The information presented in this fact sheet comes
                   from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
                   accuracy of this information. The cooperative
                   agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated.
                   Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are
                   subject to change.
  United States
  Environmental
  Protection Agency
  Washington, DC 20450
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA560-F-09-163
        May 09

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