Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
Aguadilla, PR
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 Municipality of Aguadilla was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in northwestern
Puerto Rico, the Municipality of Aguadilla (population
64,685) occupies about 36 square miles and contains
many brownfield sites, especially in the central historic
district. The development of suburbs has reduced the use
of the urban center and left behind abandoned properties
and closed businesses. An informal inventory lists several
facilities related to the manufacture of clothing, leather,
chemicals, and electronics that ceased operations in 1996.
In addition, the municipality has preliminarily identified
several illegal dump sites in low-income communities.
Fifty-five percent of Aguadilla residents live below the
poverty level. The unemployment rate is nearly 20
percent, and more than 45 percent of households earn less
than $10,000 per year. Brownfield assessments are the
first step toward eventual site cleanup and redevelopment.
Assessments are expected to promote implementation of
the municipality's economic redevelopment strategy and
help preserve Aguadilla's central historic district.
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Municipality of Aguadilla
for two brownfields assessment grants.
Community-wide hazardous substances grant
funds will be used to conduct at least seven Phase
I and two Phase II environmental site assessments.
Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct at
least seven Phase I and four Phase II
environmental site assessments. Grant funds also
will be used to develop an inventory of sites,
conduct cleanup planning, and support 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 2 Brownfields Team
(212) 637-4358
EPA Region 2 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region2/bro wnfields)
Grant Recipient: Municipality of Aguadilla,PR
(787) 891-1005 ext 4063
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)
EPA 560-F-09-059
May 2009
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