Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Petaluma, 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, 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 petroleum

EPA has selected the City of Petaluma for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct two separate community-wide Phase I assessments, and prepare computerized maps of potential sites and a comprehensive inventory. Based on the Phase I assessments, the city will conduct focused Phase II investigations of sites meeting criteria for redevelopment. Petroleum contamination has been detected in the groundwater.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Petaluma was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Founded in 1852, Petaluma is a historic river town that became a center for agriculture, shipping, and manufacturing. Potential contamination from former industrial, shipping, and gasoline businesses have limited urban renewal, forcing many of the residents to work and shop elsewhere. Located near San Francisco, 15.8 percent of the city's 54,548 residents are minorities, and 3.3 percent have incomes below the poverty line. Although household income is relatively high, skyrocketing housing costs are disproportionately affecting residents. The city's population is expected to grow by 23 percent by the end of the decade. Eliminating barriers to redevelopment of existing sites will provide an environment conducive to social and economic growth.

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: Petaluma, CA
707-778-4555

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