Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet 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 Waco was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Waco (population 113,726) is located in central Texas along the Brazos River. The city is targeting the Brazos River Corridor in East Waco for revitalization. The corridor contains numerous long-abandoned brownfield sites and a diverse mixture of low-income residential properties and commercial operations. Brownfield sites are highly visible to both the interstate highway and downtown Waco, and pose threats to the area's groundwater and surface water quality. Nearly 52 percent of area residents live below the poverty level, and more than 54 percent are minorities. Cleanup of the target site will reduce contamination at a property that has been a barrier to business relocation in the area, and is expected to make the site ready for potential purchase by Baylor University. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Waco for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the former Southwest Spraying and Chemical Company site at 901 Peach Street. The site was originally used as an agricultural chemical mixing facility and later for various businesses that did not contribute to the contamination. Surface and subsurface soils are contaminated with agricultural chemicals and pesticides. Grant funds will be used to design and implement a cleanup plan, conduct human health monitoring, and support community outreach. 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 Waco,TX (254) 750-8001 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-09-040 May 2009 ------- |