Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet

East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority, LA

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.

CLEANUP GRANT

$58,696 for petroleum
EPA has selected the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up petroleum contamination at the Baton Rouge Brownfields Program site #BR113, a former automotive maintenance, tire, and detailing shop at Highland Road and Mary Street. Grant funds will support quality assurance planning and cleanup planning and activities, such as the removal and disposal of concrete and soil. Funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority (EBRPHA) was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The target site is located in Old South Baton Rouge, which EBRPHA has targeted for development. This area is one of Baton Rouge's (population 227,818) oldest subdivisions. Ninety-four percent of the area's residents are African-American, 43 percent are high school dropouts, and 23.5 percent are unemployed. Almost half of the area residents live below the poverty level. The targeted property, known as the Baton Rouge Brownfields Program site #BR113, is one of the city's most visible brownfields sites. It contains petroleum, asbestos, and lead paint contamination. In addition to the health risks posed by the contamination, the dilapidated, vacant site also has attracted criminal activity. Cleanup and redevelopment of the property will improve the aesthetics of the neighborhood as well as the public health and safety, and help bring commerce back to the target area. This property is an integral part of the HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere) project that is rebuilding and revitalizing the Old South Baton Rouge neighborhood.

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 6 Brownfields Team
214-665-6736
http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/bfpages/sfbfhome.htm

Grant Recipient: East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority, LA
225-923-8116

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