Brownfields 2007 Grant Fact Sheet

Aurora, MO

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders 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

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Aurora for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to develop cleanup plans and clean up mine wastes on 49 acres of the 170-acre Baldwin Park. The park area was mined for heavy metals from 1885 until 1952. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community involvement activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Aurora was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located on a high plateau in the southwest corner of Missouri, Aurora (population 7,000) prospered as a result of the discovery of metal deposits and subsequent mining activities. The city has been negatively impacted by the decline of its mining industry and the legacy of wastes left behind. Aurora has nearly 1,000 acres of mine-impacted brownfields. Heavy metals contamination continues to impair surface water quality and impacts the health of residents and the environment. Eighteen percent of individuals in Aurora live below the federal poverty level, and the median household income is significantly lower than the national average. Cleanup of the Baldwin Park site will help remove the stigma associated with the brownfields, and allow the city to add previously unavailable recreational opportunities to its park lands.

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 7 Brownfields Team
800-223-0425
http://www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/brownfields/index.htm

Grant Recipient: City of Aurora, MO
417-678-2533

The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The cooperative agreement for the grant has not yet been negotiated. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.