/ D \ Brownfields 1998 Assessment Pilot Fact Sheet J Hoopa Valley Tribe, CA EPA Brownfields Initiative 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. Background EPA has selected the Hoopa Valley Tribe as a Brownfields Pilot. The Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation (HVIR), California's largest Indian Reservation, has a population of 3,431. The reservation is located in the northeastern portion of Humboldt County. The HVIR has very high incidences of unemployment (29.6%) and poverty (40.7%) rates. The nearest job market is located approximately 65 miles east in Eureka, so access to employment opportunities is a major concern. The 1980 closure of an 83-acre lumber mill that had been operating since 1957 has left the area idle and has also affected surrounding properties. Although some environmental testing and cleanup has been conducted at the site, the perception of residual contamination has hindered site development and has caused public health concerns for nearby residents. The site is an important element of the Tribe's comprehensive development plan because it mixes much needed affordable housing with industrial development and job creation. Pilot Snapshot Date of Announcement: 07/01/1998 Amount: $200,000 Profile: The Pilot targets an 83-acre former lumber mill site on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation for a mixed-use industrial park. 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/brownfields) Grant Recipient: Hoopa Valley Tribe, CA (916) 625-5515 Objectives In conjunction with Tribal-wide comprehensive planning and overall economic development plans, the Pilot will facilitate environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the former lumber mill into a mixed-use industrial park. To help achieve this objective, the Pilot will focus on environmental activities preliminary to cleanup and redevelopment. In addition to the Pilot, the Tribe is working with other Federal partners to ensure that the project is a success. Activities Activities planned as part of this Pilot include: • Conducting environmental site assessments, site identification, and site characterization of the target site; • Conducting community outreach and public education activities; • Developing effective and affordable cleanup and redevelopment plans; and United States c Environmental anri Fmpflpn™ EPA 500-F-98-234 nil- a ancl Emergency . . Protection Agency Response (5105*0 Jul 98 Washington, DC 20450 ^ v ' ------- • Leveraging of funding from the public and private sectors. The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. 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 and Emergency Response (5105T) Solid Waste EPA 500-F-98-234 Jul 98 ------- |