I JBt \ Brownfields 2004 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet V V Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, PA 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 Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The Hill District (population 2,246), located between downtown Pittsburgh and the Oakland/University neighborhood, is an island of blight between two prosperous and economically vital areas of Pittsburgh (population 334,563). The decline of the district was accelerated by a large urban renewal project that forced more than 1,500 families and 400 businesses to relocate outside the community. Between 1990 and 2000, the district lost 18 percent of its population. Approximately 76 percent of district residents are minorities, and the poverty rate is 36 percent. Fifty-seven percent of houses and buildings in the neighborhood are built atop the Pittsburgh coal seam, and 90 percent of the structures are considered substandard. The former gas station is a key Hill District site and sits on a main thoroughfare at the intersection of three avenues. Environmental assessment of this site is expected to lay the groundwork for its reuse, as well as for reuse of several adjacent sites. Assessment Grant $160,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to investigate and assess a former gas station on Herron Avenue in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. Funds also will be used to support community involvement, investigate future land use options, develop cleanup and reuse plans, and investigate the deep coal mine that underlies the area. 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 3 Brownfields Team (215)814-3129 EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf -lr) Grant Recipient: Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh,PA (412)255-6554 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 c Environmental anri Fmpflpn™ EPA 560-F-04-216 Protection Agency Response (5105T) June 2004 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |