I jBt; | Brownfields 2009 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Council Bluffs, 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. 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 City of Council Bluffs was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Since its incorporation in 1853, Council Bluffs (population 58,268) has been known as an industrial community with significant links to the agricultural, food product, and heavy machinery manufacturing businesses. While contributing to the economic strength of the city, some of these businesses also have had an adverse environmental impact on the community. The declining use and closure of rail yards, lumber yards, and manufacturing operations in the South Main Brownfields Project Area have left real or perceived environmental issues. The target site is in this area, which is among the oldest and most deteriorated industrial districts in the city. Adjacent neighborhoods have experienced depressed property values, and been exposed to heavy truck and railroad traffic. When the target site is cleaned up, the city plans to redevelop it to complement nearby redevelopment in the South Main area, including greenspace. Redevelopment is expected to facilitate reinvestment in the surrounding area. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Council Bluffs for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the former International Harvester Building-West at 1001 South Sixth Street. The property was originally developed in the 1890s and used as an agricultural implement warehouse until about 1968. It was then used by a video equipment rental business and for storage. The site is contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, metals, and volatile organic compounds. Grant funds also will be used for community involvement 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 Council Bluffs,IA (712) 328-4629 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-09-092 Protection Agency Response (5105T) May 2009 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |