I 40U ) Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Bay City, Ml 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 Bay City was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Bay City (population 34,026) is a small mid-Michigan community bisected by the Saginaw River. For years, its economy was driven by the manufacture of automotive components, heavy machinery, lift cranes, and ships for the U.S. Navy. With the steady decline in manufacturing since the 1960s, plants closed, manufacturing jobs were lost, and about 41 percent of the city's industrial facilities were abandoned. Manufacturing employment dropped from 40 percent in 1960 to 7 percent in 2007. Most brownfield sites, located along the riverfront, have left a legacy of contamination that impacts the river and bay. The Saginaw River flows into Lake Huron, and serves as a conduit to the Great Lakes and beyond. Brownfield assessments will help the city quantify potential exposure from the sites and remove a significant barrier to attracting developers. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the City of Bay City for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct about 16 Phase I and an undetermined number of Phase II environmental site assessments. The city anticipates developing cleanup plans for about 12 sites. Grant funds also will be used to 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 5 Brownfields Team (312) 886-7576 EPA Region 5 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfiel ds) Grant Recipient: City of Bay City,MI (989) 894-8159 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-09-057 Protection Agency Response (5105T) May 2009 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |