\ Brownfields 2006 Assessment and Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Riverside Redevelopment Agency, 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. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields 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 Riverside Redevelopment Agency was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant and a brownfields cleanup grant. During the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, Riverside's (population 300,351) economy was based on the citrus industry, which fell into decline during the 1960s. Today, the downtown area has the second largest concentration of governmental institutions in southern California. Within the southern portion of the downtown Redevelopment Project Area, 24.1 percent of residents live in poverty, the unemployment rate is 9.9 percent, and 56.7 percent of residents are minorities. After downtown brownfields are cleaned up, the agency hopes to create new office buildings and housing units. It is expected that brownfields cleanup and redevelopment will create a sustainable economic benefit, provide new employment opportunities, and address environmental justice concerns and possible health risks in the project area. Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Riverside Redevelopment Agency for a brownfields assessment grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform Phase I and II environmental site assessments in the southern portion of the downtown Redevelopment Project Area. Funds also will be used for community outreach activities. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Riverside Redevelopment Agency for a brownfields cleanup grant. Petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up Ken's Arco, a service station and mini-market at 2871 University Avenue, which is contaminated with petroleum. Funds also will be used for community outreach activities. When the site is cleaned up, it may become part of a proposed combined retail center. 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: Riverside Redevelopment Agency,CA (951)826-5769 The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-06-223 May 2006 ------- 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-06-223 May 2006 ------- |