News Releases from Region 10

EPA Brownfields grants - totaling $1.6 million - will help Oregon assess, clean up and revitalize Brownfields properties

Seattle (April 25, 2018) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected three communities in Oregon to receive $1.6 million from EPA’s Brownfields Grants program. These funds will provide key support toward the assessment, cleanup and revitalization of regional Brownfields properties.

“EPA’s Brownfields Program expands the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses, using existing infrastructure" said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "These grants leverage other public and private investments, and improve local economies through property cleanup and redevelopment.”

According to Chris Hladick, EPA Regional Administrator in Seattle, “We’ve seen Brownfields projects kick-start community re-development projects and launch needed revitalization” said EPA’s Hladick. “By leveraging Brownfields funding to clean-up and reuse contaminated properties, we can prevent sprawl, protect the environment, and boost local economies.”

Here are “Snapshots” of Oregon’s latest funded projects:

Corvallis, OR

Assessment Grant- $300,000 for hazardous substances,  $300,000 for petroleumCommunity-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be equally distributed to conduct a total of 20 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments and prepare four site-specific cleanup or reuse plans. Grant funds also will be used to develop a prioritized GIS brownfields inventory database and area-wide planning documents for two focus areas within the project area, and to conduct public involvement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the Cities of Corvallis, Albany, Monroe, and Philomath, and Benton County, which all serve as coalition partners. “The timing on this EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant couldn’t have been better,” said Corvallis Mayor Biff Traber. “The five communities that make up this project coalition are ready to move forward with projects and initiatives to support community planning and redevelopment. We’re excited to see how this grant helps us identify and achieve long-term priorities.”  Contact : Kent Weiss, kent.weiss@corvallisoregon.gov, 541-766-6555

Assessment Grant- $300,000 for hazardous substances, $300,000 for petroleum

Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be equally distributed to conduct up to 20 Phase I and at least eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop eight cleanup or reuse plans and a community involvement plan, and conduct community outreach activities, including hiring  translators. Assessment activities will focus on the Town of Lakeview, City of Paisley, and Lake County, which are the district’s coalition partners. “This Lake County Community-Wide Brownfields assessment grant will assist SCOEDD and partners in addressing one of our key economic development strategies of community revitalization,” said Betty Riley, Executive Director of SCOEDD. “These funds will help engage the public in identifying community needs and returning abandoned properties to productive use.” Contact: Betty Riley, betty@scoedd.org, 541-884-5593

Petroleum grant funds will be used to clean up the Beaverton Activities Center, located at 12500 SW Allen Boulevard. The cleanup sites will be home to an new, state-of-the-art Public Safety Center (https://go.usa.gov/xQBjF) Soil and groundwater at the site are contaminated with petroleum from a diesel spill that occurred at the adjacent filling station in 2006. Grant funds will also be used to support community involvement activities. “We appreciate and are grateful for the EPA’s support,” said Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle.  “This grant enables Beaverton to safely address long-standing environmental issues at and around the future home of the Police Department.” Contact: Eric Oathes, eoathes@beavertonoregon.gov, 503-526-2289

EPA’s Brownfields ARC Grants assist communities where environmental cleanups and jobs are needed most. These funds are used to conduct environmental assessments, cleanup planning, cleanups and community outreach.

Brownfields are defined as those properties whose expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Brownfields sites include all "real property," including residential, commercial and industrial properties.

It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, reduces development pressures on undeveloped land, and improves and protects the environment.

For EPA’s National News Release: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-pruitt-announces-543-million-brownfield-grants-assess-and-clean

For more information on the ARC grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
For more information on how brownfields restoration has positively impacted local economies and the quality of life for neighboring communities:  https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories