Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Texarkana, TX 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 Texarkana was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Founded in 1873, Texarkana (population 36,054) is located in northeast Texas along the Arkansas border. The city has developed a preliminary list of between 30 and 40 potential petroleum-contaminated sites and more than 200 hazardous substances-contaminated sites in downtown Texarkana and the Rose Hill neighborhood. Past activities have left the target areas with numerous abandoned and deteriorating structures, chemical contamination, and drums of wastes or fuel. The percentage of minority residents and individuals living below the poverty level is significantly higher in the downtown and Rose Hill target areas of the city. Unemployment, decreasing property values, and declining revenues are limiting the city's ability to move forward with revitalization plans. Brownfield assessments will help the city better understand and address specific exposure risks at the sites. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Texarkana for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct up to 25 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct up to 15 Phase I and seven Phase II environmental site assessments. Grants funds for both hazardous substances and petroleum will be used to generate an inventory of sites, support community outreach activities, conduct health monitoring, and develop cleanup plans. The city is targeting the downtown area and the adjacent Rose Hill community for assessments. 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 6 Brownfields Team (214) 665-6780 EPA Region 6 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region6/bro wnfields) Grant Recipient: City of Texarkana, Texas (903) 798-3901 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-10-143 April 2010 ------- |