Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, WA 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 Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The tribe has 3,000 members area-wide, with 699 residents within the reservation. Historically, the tribe lived in a village on the western shores of Port Gamble Bay until a sawmill and forest products manufacturing facility were built there in 1853. The tribe then was relocated across the bay to Point Julia. The per capita income on the reservation is just over $13,000, and more than 17 percent of reservation residents live below the poverty level. The tribe has identified at least 14 sites that are potentially contaminated from manufacturing operations, including a lumber mill, finishing mill, and marine vessel facilities. Health officials have reported that many tribal members may be consuming contaminated fish, game, and plants. Brownfield assessments will characterize and document environmental contamination, which is a necessary step in the community's sustainable economic development. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, community involvement activities, and possibly a human health risk assessment. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. 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 10 Brownfields Team (206)553-7299 EPA Region 10 Brownfields Web site (http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CL EANUP.NSF/sites/bf) Grant Recipient: Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe,WA (360) 297-6237 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-09-239 May 2009 ------- |