Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet

Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency, 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 GRANTS

$100,000 for hazardous substances
$100,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform a Phase II site assessment of the Bennett's Marina waterfront site in Rodeo. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform a Phase II site assessment of the Joseph's Fishing Resort waterfront site in Rodeo. Hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds also will be used to develop cleanup plans and conduct community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The Agency represents the target city of Rodeo and surrounding communities located along the Sacramento Delta on the San Pueblo Bay in the San Francisco area. Rodeo has 8,717 residents, including 5,199 residents in Old Town Rodeo, which borders the target area. The waterfront and marina area once was one of the San Francisco Bay area's premier fishing and boating locations, providing Rodeo with a strong economic and community base. In the early 1900s, the waterfront also housed a small refinery which is perceived to have caused contamination. Recently, siltation and increased pollution in the bay have decreased recreational activity and economic viability in Rodeo. Old Town Rodeo's household incomes are only 75 percent of the county median, and unemployment is 2.6 times greater than the county median. The Agency intends to establish an artist incubator in the Rodeo waterfront area, along with commercial and retail opportunities for small and local businesses. Brownfields redevelopment will remediate environmental and health hazards, revitalize the waterfront area, restore the area's economic health, and increase job opportunities and the tax base.

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: Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency, CA
925-335-1252

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