I JBt \ Brownfields 2006 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet V c/ Guam Environmental Protection Agency 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 Guam Environmental Protection Agency was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The island of Guam (population 150,000) is a 209-square-mile island approximately 3,800 miles west of the State of Hawaii. Due to its isolation, the economy of Guam is driven mainly by tourism and, to a lesser extent, military expenditures. Recently, Guam has experienced serious economic hardship. The unemployment rate on the island has increased from 2.8 percent in 1990 to 15 percent. The per capita income is $12,722, and 20 percent of residents live below the poverty level. The 19 villages of Guam are home to the remnants of numerous camps, depots, and other military facilities dating to World War II. Today, contaminated materials remaining from past military activities pose potential threats to the environment and residents of the island. Because Guam is an island, land and potable water are precious commodities, as well as limited resources. Assessment and eventual cleanup of the island's brownfields will enable redevelopment of these sites and create new jobs and tax revenues, which will benefit the entire island community. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Guam Environmental Protection Agency for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities, develop an inventory of sites, perform Phase I and, if required, Phase II environmental site assessments in at least three of the 19 island villages, and establish land use initiatives and institutional controls. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. 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: Guam Environmental Protection Agency (671)475-1644 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-06-190 Protection Agency Response (5105T) May 2006 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |