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EPA Awards More Than $2 Million to Iowa, Missouri and Kansas to Revitalize Blighted Communities

Release Date: 05/12/2006
Contact Information: Belinda Young, (913) 551-7463, young.belinda@epa.gov

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NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY

(Kansas City, Kan., May 12, 2006) – EPA announced today more than $2 million in Brownfield grants for site assessment and cleanup of eight communities in Region 7.

The Region 7 Brownfields grant recipients are:

Springfield, Mo. Pittsburg, Kan. Kansas Department of Health & Environment for Wichita, Kan. Marion, Iowa Waterloo, Iowa Perry, Iowa Coralville, Iowa Kansas City Port Authority

$200,000 assessment $200,000 assessment $200,000 assessment $600,000 assessment/cleanup $400,000 assessment $200,000 assessment $361,000 assessment $400,000 cleanup

Note to Kansas City Editors: A press event will be held today at 1:00 p.m. at the Kansas City Port Authority, 10 Petticoat Lane, Suite 250, Kansas City, Mo. Regional Administrator James Gulliford will present a $400,000 check to the Port Authority to conduct cleanup activities at the Richards Gebaur Air Force Base.

EPA announced more than $69 million in Brownfields grants to help revitalize communities throughout the country. These funds will help turn underutilized Brownfield sites from problem properties to productive use. The funds will also provide for the assessment and cleanup of hazardous substances and petroleum.

The $69.9 million includes 184 grants totaling 36.6 million for site assessment and planning for eventual cleanup at one or more Brownfield sites, 96 grants totaling $18.3 million for cleanup activities at Brownfield sites, and 12 grants totaling $15 million to capitalize a revolving loan fund and provide sub-grants for cleanup activities at Brownfield sites.

Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse might be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act in January 2002. It authorizes up to $250 million in funds annually for Brownfield grants. The 2002 law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities can now focus on mine-scarred lands or sites contaminated by petroleum or the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs.