x>«^ 4B-7 ] Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet * Auburn, NY .w* 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 Auburn was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Auburn (population 27,138) is the Cayuga County seat. It once was a flourishing industrial city from which sawmills and factories exported large quantities of goods along the Erie Canal. Rail connections to Pennsylvania coal mines made Auburn a major coal distribution site in upstate New York. By the late 20th century, the city had lost much of its industrial base. Factories, machine shops, and warehouses were abandoned. To date, the city has identified 15 brownfields on a total of 63 acres. As industry has left the area, the city's population has declined. The unemployment rate in Auburn exceeds the county and state averages, and the median household income is considerably lower than the state average. Brownfield assessments will allow the city to investigate potential contamination and related health risks, and are expected to facilitate site cleanup and reuse. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Auburn for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct at least 18 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach and cleanup planning 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 2 Brownfields Team (212) 637-3260 EPA Region 2 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region2/bro wnfields) Grant Recipient: City of Auburn, New York 315-255-4115 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-10-043 April 2010 ------- |