A \ Brownfields 2010 Assessment and Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Rialto 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 Redevelopment Agency of the City of Rialto was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants and a brownfields cleanup grant. Located in southern California, Rialto (population 98,700) is an ethnically diverse and economically challenged community. Its history is tied to the railroad and citrus industries. At one time, the city was home to seven citrus packing plants that shipped to all regions of the country. Today, this area contains many brownfields. The target areas contain 47 underground storage tank sites, 18 of which are leaking. As of August 2009, the unemployment rate in Rialto was 17.7 percent. The Agency is hard-pressed to fund new capital projects. Brownfield assessments will clarify the threats posed by the sites to human health and the environment, and are expected to help catalyze cleanup and redevelopment. Cleanup of the WDJL site will reduce the threat it poses to the community. The Agency plans to redevelop the site, part of a larger 18.5-acre parcel, as a commercial-retail development that is expected to create new full-time jobs and increase city revenues. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Rialto for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to develop an inventory of sites and conduct about 13 Phase I and three or four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to support community involvement activities. Community-wide petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. The Agency will focus its efforts on the Central Business District and Foothill Boulevard (Route 66) areas. Cleanup Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Rialto for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the WDJL site, a 4.8-acre parcel at 1485 S. Willow Avenue. The site was used for a variety of industrial purposes, including steel and metals fabrication and painting operations. Site soils are contaminated with waste oil, metals, and arsenic. Grant funds also will be used to develop a cleanup plan. 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: Redevelopment Agency of the City of Rialto,CA 909-879-1150 United States c Environmental anri Fmpflpn™ EPA 560-F-10-167 Protection Agency Response (5105T) April 2010 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- 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 Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 and Emergency Response (5105T) Solid Waste EPA 560-F-10-167 April 2010 ------- |