Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
               Hancock County,  OH
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

Hancock County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment coalition grant. The county"s coalition
partners are the Cities of Findlay and Fostoria. Hancock
County (population 74,204) is a predominately rural
county located in northwest Ohio. Manufacturing moved
into the cities of the area in the 1900s, following the
discovery of natural gas and oil in the county. As these
industries declined, they left behind large abandoned
industrial areas. The county has identified 400 acres of
brownfields within its limits, most located in the urban
areas of Findlay and Fostoria. Many brownfields are
located along the Blanchard River and pose health risks to
area residents. During the last decade, both cities have
experienced significant increases in poverty and
unemployment. Between 2000 and 2007, Findlay"s
individual and family poverty rates increased by more
than 50 percent. Unemployment rates in Findlay and
Fostoria are 11.2 and 12 percent, respectively. Brownfield
assessments will provide information about the nature and
extent of contamination and are expected to facilitate site
cleanup  and redevelopment.
                     Assessment Grant

                     $500,000 for hazardous substances
                     $500,000 for petroleum

                     EPA has selected Hancock County for a
                     brownfields assessment coalition grant.
                     Community-wide hazardous substances and
                     petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory
                     brownfield sites, conduct up to 20 Phase I and 10
                     Phase II environmental site assessments, and
                     develop up to five cleanup plans. Grant funds also
                     will be used to conduct 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 5 Brownfields Team
                     (312)886-7576
                     EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site
                     (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds)

                     Grant Recipient: Hancock County,OH
                     (419)424-7481

                     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)
EPA560-F-10-121
      April 2010

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