Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Atlanta, GA 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 Atlanta was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in Fulton County, Atlanta (population 483,108) is estimated to contain more than 950 brownfields, of which 136 are in the Atlanta BeltLine area and 40 are in the targeted redevelopment corridors. The sites include abandoned gas stations, dry cleaners, and manufacturing facilities. They diminish the city"s tax base and contribute to actual or perceived health risks to area residents. More than 60 percent of Atlanta residents are African-American, and about 24 percent live below the poverty level. The unemployment rate in July 2009 was 10.7 percent. By informing residents about conditions at properties, brownfield assessments will help encourage greater stakeholder participation in community-wide redevelopment efforts. Assessments also are expected to help the city sustain its existing momentum for new economic development and vitality. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Atlanta for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct 15 to 20 Phase I and five to seven Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used for cleanup planning and community outreach activities. The city is targeting the Atlanta BeltLine and selected redevelopment corridors for assessment. 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf) Grant Recipient: City of Atlanta,GA (404)330-6145 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) EPA 560-F-10-074 Apr 10 ------- |