^ Brownfields 2010 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
Oshkosh, Wl
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 Oshkosh was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Much of the early
development of Oshkosh (population 65,920) was
centered on the Fox River. In the late 1800s and early
1900s, the lumber industry fueled most of this
development. A large industrial base was established to
support the lumber industry, including foundries, tool
manufacturers, and railroad and riverboat transportation.
By the mid-1900s, the logging industry came to a halt, as
did Oshkosh's economic boom. The economic downturn
left behind many blighted, underused, and contaminated
properties. The majority of these properties are located in
low-to-moderate-income areas in the central city. Cleanup
of the East 8th Avenue Block site will reduce the threat of
exposure to contaminated soils, groundwater, and surface
water, and is expected to facilitate redevelopment with
housing and commercial or office space. Once cleaned
up, the site also will allow greater public access to the
planned Riverwalk waterfront and the trail system
through the heart of downtown Oshkosh.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Oshkosh for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances
grant funds will be used to clean up the 2.5-acre
East 8th Avenue Block site near the south shore of
the Fox River. The site, currently leased for light
manufacturing and warehousing, historically was
used as a garage and service station, a paper
manufacturing facility, and a foundry.
Contaminants of concern include solvents, heavy
metals, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Grant
funds also will be used to monitor the cleanup and
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 5 Brownfields Team
(312)886-7576
EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds)
Grant Recipient: City of Oshkosh,WI
(920) 236-5055
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-10-131
April 2010
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