I    Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant  Fact Sheet
               Los Angeles, CA

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 Los Angeles was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. The site targeted for cleanup is
in Los Angeles' (population 3,600,000) South Los Angeles
neighborhood. The South  Los Angeles neighborhood was
a vibrant African-American community before World
War II. A large number of current and former industrial
properties are located in this neighborhood and have
contributed to its decline.  Today, 33 percent of residents
live below the poverty level. Eighty percent of residents
are Hispanic, and 18 percent are African-American. When
the former industrial site in South Los Angeles is cleaned
up, the city plans to redevelop it with a natural wetlands
park and an educational laboratory. The park is expected
to provide needed recreational space for South Los
Angeles residents, enhance nearby property values, and
encourage business expansion.
                     Cleanup Grant

                     $200,000 for hazardous substances

                     EPA has selected the City of Los Angeles for a
                     brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
                     grant funds will be used to clean up the South Los
                     Angeles Wetlands Park at 5413 Avalon
                     Boulevard. The nine-acre site has been used for
                     railcar and vehicle maintenance since 1908, and is
                     contaminated with volatile organic compounds
                     and poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 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 9 Brownfields Team
                     (415) 972-3091
                     EPA Region 9 Brownfields Web site
                     (http://www.epa.gov/region9/bro wnfields)

                     Grant Recipient: City of Los Angeles,CA
                     (213) 978-0872

                     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-09-056
      May 2009

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