I jBt; | Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet V'/ Barberton, OH 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 Barberton was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located along an interstate corridor and the Tuscarawas River in northeastern Ohio, Barberton (population 27,889) is a traditional Rust Belt city. Past manufacturing, defense contracting, and rubber, iron, and steel industries have left behind large tracts of potentially contaminated, vacant land and buildings. Brownfields are estimated to occupy 16.6 percent of the city"s total land area, causing blight and potentially posing risks to human health and the environment. The Barberton Reservoir, located in the Tuscarawas watershed, is the primary source of drinking water for the city. Barberton is targeting the Downtown Corridor and Tuscarawas River/Canal Corridor for assessments. Poverty and unemployment rates among residents of the Downtown Corridor are significantly higher and income levels are considerably lower than city and county rates. Brownfield assessments will help the city determine risks posed by sites, plan for cleanups to reduce those risks, and promote sustainable redevelopment. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Barberton for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfield sites, conduct eight to 12 Phase I and four to six Phase II environmental site assessments, and develop up to three cleanup plans. Grant funds also will be used to conduct 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 5 Brownfields Team (312) 886-7576 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds) Grant Recipient: City of Barberton,OH (330) 848-6729 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 56°-F"1 °"118 Protection Agency Response (5105T) April 2010 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |