w5 PR Brownfields 2006 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Perry, IA 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 City of Perry was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located in central Dallas County, Perry (population 7,633) is a small, rural, central Iowa community that plans to focus assessment activities in the city's northwest area. Northwest Perry is one of the oldest and most economically depressed areas of the city and is plagued by potential environmental concerns associated with abandoned railroads, manufacturing operations, salvage yards, and dump sites. Past and present industrial uses of the target area contributed to air, soil, and groundwater pollution. Perry has a significantly larger proportion of minorities than the county and state, including a large Hispanic and Latino population, many of whom are economically disadvantaged and live near industrial sites. The annual per capita income of the target area is 57 percent less than the county average, and 34 percent less than the state average. Preliminary research indicates that 24 brownfields with known environmental conditions are located in the target area. When brownfields are revitalized, they will be used for new housing, employment centers, trails, and recreation areas. Brownfields redevelopment is expected to increase property values, encourage investment in the community, put properties on the tax rolls, and create jobs and greenspace. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Perry for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform up to ten Phase I and up to five Phase II environmental site assessments, and 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 7 Brownfields Team (800) 223-0425 EPA Region 7 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region7/cle anup/brownfields ) Grant Recipient: City of Perry,IA (515) 465-2481 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-06-156 May 2006 ------- |