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Southern California receives $1.5 Million to Clean Up and Revitalize Contaminated Properties

Release Date: 04/21/2010
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, 213 244 1815, cell 213 798 1404, arcaute.francisco@epa.gov

Neighborhoods to gain health, environmental and economic benefits

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $1,542,085 million in brownfields grants to the Southern California communities of Brea, LA County, Rialto and San Diego, all receiving funding through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants program.

Across the nation, nearly $80 million in brownfields grants will be used for the assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields properties, including abandoned gas stations, old textile mills, closed smelters, and other abandoned industrial and commercial properties.

“Cleaning up and reusing distressed properties brings new jobs and stronger communities,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for EPA in the Pacific Southwest. “In addition to creating green jobs, local efforts to revitalize brownfield sites reduce threats to public health while attracting positive investments in our neighborhoods.”

Brownfields grants in Southern California will be distributed as follows:

City of Brea
$141,085 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Brea for a brownfields assessment grant. Site-specific hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to perform a Phase II environmental site assessment of the
Brea “Rails to Trails” project site - Union Pacific Railroad portion located between State College and Brea Boulevards. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities.

Los Angeles County
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected Los Angeles County for two brownfields assessment grants, $200,000 for hazardous substances and $200,000 for petroleum. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to inventory brownfield sites in the targeted unincorporated areas of East Los Angeles, and conduct 15 Phase I environmental site assessments and Phase II environmental site assessments at high-priority sites. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination.

Rialto
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Rialto was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants and a brownfields cleanup grant. 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. 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.

San Diego
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and conduct 12 to 15 Phase I and four or five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used for cleanup planning and community outreach activities. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination.

The brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites. As of March 2010, EPA’s brownfields assistance has leveraged more than $14 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding, and 61,277 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment.

These investments and jobs target local, under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed. Cleaning up our communities is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities, which leads not only to health and environmental benefits but also economic development and prosperity.

In total, EPA is selecting 304 grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants programs:

· 188 assessment grants, totaling $42.56 million, will conduct site assessment and planning for cleanup at one or more brownfields sites as part of a community-wide effort.
· 17 revolving loan fund grants, totaling $17 million, will provide loans and subgrants for communities to begin cleanup activities at brownfields sites. Revolving loan funds are generally used to provide low interest loans for brownfields cleanups.
· 99 cleanup grants, totaling $19.36 million, will provide funding for grant recipients to carryout cleanup activities at brownfield sites they own.

Since the beginning of the brownfields program in 1995, EPA has awarded 1,702 assessment grants totaling $401 million, 262 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $256.7 million, and 655 cleanup grants totaling $129.4 million. As part of Administrator Jackson’s commitment to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase of $215 million for brownfields with a focus on planning, cleanup, job training and redevelopment.

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed. The brownfields law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum, or sites contaminated as a result of manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs (e.g. meth labs).

More information on EPA’s brownfields program, success stories, and FY 2010 grant recipients: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields