I jBh | Brownfields 2004 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet V'/ Petaluma, CA 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 Petaluma was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Founded in 1852, Petaluma is a historic river town that became a center for agriculture, shipping, and manufacturing. Potential contamination from former industrial, shipping, and gasoline businesses have limited urban renewal, forcing many of the residents to work and shop elsewhere. Located near San Francisco, 15.8 percent of the city's 54,548 residents are minorities, and 3.3 percent have incomes below the poverty line. Although household income is relatively high, skyrocketing housing costs are disproportionately affecting residents. The city's population is expected to grow by 23 percent by the end of the decade. Eliminating barriers to redevelopment of existing sites will provide an environment conducive to social and economic growth. Assessment Grant $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Petaluma for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct two separate community-wide Phase I assessments, and prepare computerized maps of potential sites and a comprehensive inventory. Based on the Phase I assessments, the city will conduct focused Phase II investigations of sites meeting criteria for redevelopment. Petroleum contamination has been detected in the groundwater. 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: City of Petaluma, CA City of Petaluma (707) 778-4555 City of Petaluma (707) 778-4555 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-04-170 Protection Agency Response (5105T) June 2004 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |