Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Mineral County Fairgrounds Association, CO

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

$200,000 for hazardous substances

EPA has selected the Mineral County Fairgrounds Association for a brownfields cleanup grant. The cleanup grant will be used to remediate approximately 46 acres of land that have been contaminated by mining wastes (heavy metals). The site is currently known as the fairgrounds portion of the Creede Airport Corner property. Once cleaned up, the property is slated to be developed into a multi-use fairgrounds facility that will offer a wide range of recreational, sports, and educational opportunities for youths and adults. Its operation also should provide employment opportunities for the local population.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Mineral County Fairgrounds Association was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The targeted area is located approximately 0.75 miles outside the Creede city limits. Creede, with a population of 381, is the county seat and the only town in Mineral County (population 831). More than nine percent of the county's population have incomes below the poverty line. The target area was contaminated by mine and mill wastes during the last century. Mining in the Creede area began around 1890, and the silver-rich veins remained profitable for nearly a century, though the devaluation of silver proved difficult for the local economy. Since 1985, when the last of the mines closed, the economy has shifted from mining to services, construction, and retail in response to a rising demand for seasonal homes and tourism. The city of Creede remains a center for tourism and recreation in a the region whose economy now relies heavily on the summer tourism season.

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 8 Brownfields Team
303-312-6803
http://www.epa.gov/region08/land_waste/bfhome/bfhome.html

Grant Recipient: Mineral County Fairgrounds Association, CO
719-658-0178

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