Brownfields 2007 Grant Fact Sheet

Fremont Redevelopment Agency, CA

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 Fremont Redevelopment Agency for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the 5.3-acre Niles Square property at 37592 Niles Boulevard. Previous assessments of the property have found elevated levels of heavy metals and co-mingled petroleum products in the soil.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Fremont Redevelopment Agency was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Located near the central California coast just southeast of San Francisco Bay, Fremont (population 210,387) is redeveloping its historic Niles District. This once vibrant commercial district with a rich railroad heritage has experienced a decline in rail traffic and agricultural and industrial employment. Niles Square, an abandoned rail yard, is one of about 276 known contaminated sites that impede economic development in Fremont. The majority of Fremont residents speak a language other than English at home. Post-cleanup redevelopment plans for the Niles Square site include a central plaza with mixed-use retail and new and affordable housing units. The envisioned plaza would serve as a community gathering place that attracts investment and new jobs, and enhances tax revenues.

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
415-972-3092
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/index.html

Grant Recipient: Fremont Redevelopment Agency, CA
510-494-4438

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.