Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet ~ West Florida Regional Planning Council 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 West Florida Regional Planning Council was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The Council serves seven counties (population 886,505) in northwest Florida. Major hurricanes such as Ivan and Dennis have taken a significant toll on the Gulf Coast, resulting in the closure and abandonment of many small businesses and gas stations. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill in April 2010 is expected to have significant impact on the coastal economy, even in areas left physically untouched by the oil. The region's economy has experienced significant job losses within the past two years. As a result, the unemployment rate in the area has more than doubled and is higher than the national average. The area's per capita and median household incomes are both lower than national averages. Brownfield assessments are expected to identify environmental contamination and catalyze the cleanup and redevelopment of properties in city business districts. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the West Florida Regional Planning Council for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct 45 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used for community outreach 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region4/was te/bf) Grant Recipient: West Florida Regional Planning Council (850) 332-7976 ext 222 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-128-049 May 2011 ------- |