I JBt \ Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet V V Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, Omaha, /VE 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. In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this 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 Metropolitan Area Planning Agency was selected to receive a brownfields assessment coalition grant. The Planning Agency's coalition partners are the Metropolitan Community College and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District. Located in Omaha (population 850,000), the Planning Agency is focusing assessments on the South Omaha Redevelopment Area (SORA). From 1883 to 1996, South Omaha was known for its livestock exchange, expansive stockyards, and the world's largest meatpacking industry. Omaha's early industrial development led to growth and prosperity, drawing thousands of workers to the area. The SORA now is characterized by abandoned and underutilized industrial infrastructure dating to the peak of the meatpacking era. In addition to 237 state-documented spill sites, there are at least 500 known or suspected contaminant releases in the SORA. Almost half of the area's residents are Hispanic or Latino, and 16.6 percent of residents live below the poverty level. Assessment of brownfields will help to leverage redevelopment funding, and is expected to facilitate the South Omaha Redevelopment Planning process. Assessment Grant $452,500 for hazardous substances $382,500 for petroleum EPA has selected the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency for a brownfields assessment coalition grant. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform 15 Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform 15 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds of both types will be used to conduct area-wide and cleanup planning, perform health monitoring, and support 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: Metropolitan Area Planning Agency ,NE 402-444-6866 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-128-107 May 2011 ------- |