Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, Belfair, WA

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, the President 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.

CLEANUP GRANT

$123,200 for petroleum

EPA has selected the Pacific Northwest Salmon Center for a brownfields cleanup grant. The cleanup grant will be used to clean up petroleum-contaminated soil at three parcels of a 10.7-acre redevelopment property in Belfair, which has been used for a gas station, automotive maintenance and repair facilities, and a welding operation. The cleanup is part of redevelopment plans for a 25-acre Pacific Northwest Salmon Center.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Pacific Northwest Salmon Center was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Fishing and timber had been the predominant industries in Belfair (5,600 residents), near the mouth of Hood Canal. The region has suffered from the closure of many timber-related industries; a loss of critical habitat for Chum and Chinook salmon, both threatened species; scarce job opportunities; and a shift to more seasonal employment. The poverty level exceeds 12 percent, and unemployment now averages 8 percent in surrounding Mason County. Cleanup and redevelopment of the site will spur mixed-use, environmentally friendly economic opportunities for employment and tourism, and help revitalize Belfair's stressed economy, with the new salmon center expected to draw 500,000 visitors annually.

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 10 Brownfields Team
206-553-2100
www.epa.gov/r10earth, click on "Superfund,"scroll down to "Related Programs" and click on "Brownfields"

Grant Recipient: Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, WA
360-275-0373

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