Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Ouray County, 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.

ASSESSMENT GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances

EPA has selected Ouray County for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to assess mine-scarred properties in 4,000 acres of a watershed, in order to prioritize properties for public acquisition and cleanup. Funds will be used for Phase I site assessments, Phase II site assessments on three to five high-priority sites, community outreach, environmental liability analysis, and GIS mapping. One significant mine will be assessed for possible acquisition, cleanup, and reuse as a historic mining museum and visitor center.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Ouray County was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. About 1,400 of Ouray County's 3,948 residents live in the target area along the Canyon Creek watershed, which is the site of dozens of inactive mining facilities abandoned since 1930. Because of its immense historical value and visitor interest, the county is a National Historic District. The county's partner in the grant is the Red Mountain Project, a local effort to conserve 11,000 acres of historic mining properties. Ouray County also is working with other national and local organizations to prevent the loss of natural, recreational, and historic resources in the area due to residential development, over-use, and neglect. The assessment is expected to create economic benefits for the county by improving and restoring ecosystem health, protecting scenic open space, and preserving historical buildings and structures.

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: Ouray County, CO
970-325-7320

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