Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Wauchula, FL 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 Wauchula was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Wauchula (population 4,538) is adjacent to the Peace River and was once an economic and social center in rural central Florida. It initially developed in the 1800s and benefited economically from the phosphate boom, citrus groves, and cattle. The local economy is still dominated by agriculture, with nearly one in five jobs held in farming, mining, forestry, and fishing. Today, Wauchula is beset with an overabundance of strip commercial properties, deteriorating buildings and housing units, and an aging infrastructure. Three hurricanes in 2004 destroyed or damaged 85 percent of the structures in the community. Wauchula's median household income is well below the nationwide average. Former gas stations, citrus groves, dry cleaning and industrial facilities, and the former Florida Southern Railway are some of the brownfields identified in the area. Assessment of brownfields is expected to identify risks to human health and facilitate cleanup and redevelopment planning. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Wauchula for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct 11 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct seven Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct public health monitoring, support community involvement activities, and prepare cleanup plans. Assessments will focus on the U.S. 17 Corridor, the Florida Avenue Corridor, and Downtown Wauchula. 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/was te/bf) Grant Recipient: City of Wauchula,FL 863-773-9193 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) E PA 560-F-128-043 May 2011 ------- |