Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
Ashland, Wl
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 Ashland was selected to receive two
brownfields cleanup grants. Ashland (population 8,453) is
in northwest Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Superior.
Railroad service came to Ashland in 1877. By the 1890s,
Ashland was a prosperous city with 16 commercial docks
serving the waterfront. The logging industry, sawmills,
and iron ore shipping from Michigan and Minnesota
dominated the economy. In addition, the area served as
the trading, wholesale, medical, and educational center of
northern Wisconsin. As these industries began to decline
and the mines closed, the local economy and population
declined dramatically. The city has experienced a five
percent decline in population every decade since 1970. Its
per capita income is $17,853, and the median household
income is $30,853, both of which are lower than the state
levels. The unemployment rate is significantly higher than
the state rate. Cleanup of the target sites will reduce the
threat of contamination and help the city move forward
with its Comprehensive Plan to bring needed affordable
housing to the area.
Cleanup Grants
$400,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Ashland for two
brownfields cleanup grants. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the Chicago
Iron and Supplies, Inc., North and South Parcels at
41411th Avenue West. The parcels were
developed in the late 1800s for use as a railroad
yard, stockyard, and coal storage area. Historic
uses of the parcels appear to have contributed to
the volatile organic compounds, metals, and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are present
in site soil. Grant funds also will be used to
support community involvement 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 5 Brownfields Team
(312)886-7576
EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds)
Grant Recipient: City of Ashland, Wisconsin
(606) 327-2005
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-128-093
May 2011
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