I JBt | Brownfields 2010 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet % Oroville Redevelopment Agency, 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. 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 Oroville Redevelopment Agency was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The City of Oroville (population 14,684) is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Agency will focus assessment efforts on the Downtown Gateway Brownfields Redevelopment Project Area. This 618-acre area is adjacent to the Feather River, which flows through the city. There are an estimated 75 brownfields in the downtown area, including former agriculture and lumber processing facilities, transportation-related facilities, and abandoned commercial operations. The dramatic decline of the lumber and mining industries in the region has significantly impacted the city"s economy. The unemployment rate is higher than 17 percent, and the poverty rate is 33 percent. The city has developed a Five-Year Implementation Plan to create economic opportunities for redevelopment centered around the restoration of the historic downtown and older commercial and industrial areas adjacent to the Feather River. Assessment of brownfields is essential for advancing the plan. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Oroville Redevelopment Agency for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to develop an inventory of brownfields, prioritize sites for assessment, and conduct up to 20 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used for community outreach and cleanup planning 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 9 Brownfields Team (213)244-1821 EPA Region 9 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region9/bro wnfields ) Grant Recipient: Oroville Redevelopment Agency,CA 530-538-2405 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-10-164 Protection Agency Response (5105T) April 2010 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |