Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet

Oakley, CA

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development 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. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields 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.

ASSESSMENT GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Oakley for a brownfields assessment grant. The city is focusing on several areas of the city, including the Western Entryway, the Downtown Area, and Southern Main Street. Grant funds will be used to inventory and prioritize sites in these areas, conduct Phase I and Phase II assessments of sites suspected to be contaminated with hazardous substances, and support community outreach.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Oakley was selected to receive an assessment grant. Oakley is located in the eastern portion of Contra Costa County, along the shore of the San Joaquin River Delta. It is a small city (population 25,600) with a large percentage of minorities. The city has a history of being associated with heavy industry and unsightly operations, such as junkyards. The city is targeting several areas where brownfields are concentrated, including the Western Entryway, the Downtown Area, and Southern Main Street. Sites being considered for assessment in these areas include a seven-acre parcel proposed for development into a civic center, a former chemical plant site that will remain undeveloped for wetlands and recreational use, and a 20-acre commercial parcel. All of these sites are in low-income neighborhoods. Improvements in these areas will increase access to recreational areas, support businesses along commercial corridors, and improve the overall quality of life for current residents.

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 at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 9 Brownfields Team
415-972-3188
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/

Grant Recipient: City of Oakley, CA
925-625-7000

Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of Oakley has not received brownfields grant funding.

The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.