^ Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
Ottumwa, IA
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 Ottumwa was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in southeastern
Iowa, Ottumwa (population 24,998) was originally
established as a regional trade center. Historically, its
economy has been tied to farming and agriculture-related
businesses. Overtime, the lack of a diversified economy
and a general agriculture slowdown have led to the
decline of area communities. The weakening economy
and loss of population have resulted in increased numbers
of vacant industrial, commercial, and retail properties. The
areas targeted for assessments have been traditionally
associated with light industrial and manufacturing
activities that developed near the railroad. They contain
45 potential brownfields, including former railroad
storage properties, gas stations, and agricultural facilities.
In the target areas, 23.6 percent of residents live below the
poverty level, and the median household income is lower
than the city and state medians. Assessment of
brownfields will clarify environmental concerns, and is
expected to facilitate the city's Comprehensive Plan for
redevelopment by removing barriers caused by unknown
contamination.
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Ottumwa for two
brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds
will be used to create a brownfields inventory and
perform 28 Phase I and seven Phase II
environmental site assessments. Grant funds also
will be used to develop six cleanup plans and
conduct community outreach activities. The target
areas are along rail lines and the Des Moines
River, and in the central business district.
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 7 Brownfields Team
(800) 223-0425
EPA Region 7 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region7/cle anup/brownfields
)
Grant Recipient: City of Ottumwa,IA
(641) 683-0606
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-10-199
May 2010
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