Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet

California Department of Toxic Substances Control, West Sacramento, 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 California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to inventory more than 500 parcels in the City of West Sacramento, conduct Phase I and II environmental site assessments, and develop cleanup plans for sites in two areas of the city targeted for redevelopment. Funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The grant will be used to fund a project in the City of West Sacramento. West Sacramento (population 31,615) is comprised of four small, older rural communities across the Sacramento River from California's capital, Sacramento. Twenty-two percent of city residents live in poverty, and 41 percent of households earn less than $25,000 annually. Historically, land use in the city centered around activities supporting the state capital region, including industrial, transportation, and distribution facilities. After years of a stagnating economy, the city has drawn the attention of the development market. However, the areas with the highest redevelopment potential are plagued by brownfields. The areas targeted for redevelopment, Pioneer Bluff and the East-West End of West Capital Avenue, are major entrances to the city. They contain over 500 parcels that have been used for tank farms, gas stations, petroleum transmission lines, and fueling stations for commercial fleets. Assessment and cleanup of these sites will expedite the city's plans to redevelop these areas, adding thousands of housing units, park land and open space, and commercial, retail, and office space. Revitalization of these two areas is expected to create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in revenue for the city.

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/index.html

Grant Recipient: California Department of Toxic Substances Control
916-255-3730

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