Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet
               Gulf port, MS
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 Gulfport was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Gulfport (population
71,127) is located on the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Katrina
extensively damaged the city and caused a massive loss in
operating businesses and employment. In 2008, the
economic downturn caused casino industry revenues in
the Gulf Coast area to drop 28 percent, which affected
Gulfport's tax base. Additionally, the city experienced
economic effects from the April 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil
spill. These hardships  have increased the number of
closed and abandoned properties throughout the city.
Gulfport has identified 45 potential brownfields, including
abandoned gas stations, dry cleaners, and auto repair
shops. Approximately 75 percent of city residents are
African-Americans, who are disproportionately impacted
by their proximity to brownfields. Brownfield
assessments will help the city evaluate environmental and
health threats, and identify actions needed to reduce these
threats. The city expects that eventual site cleanup and
redevelopment will facilitate the reuse of underused
properties for mixed-use commercial and residential
purposes.
                     Assessment Grants

                     $200,000 for hazardous substances
                     $200,000 for petroleum

                     EPA has selected the City of Gulfport for two
                     brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide
                     hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds
                     will be used to perform 25 Phase I and nine Phase
                     II environmental site assessments. Grant funds
                     also will be used to conduct cleanup planning and
                     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: City of Gulfport,MS
                     228-868-5700

                     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-128-054
       May 2011

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