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Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet
Big Sky Economic Development Authority, Billings, MT
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 this 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
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the Big Sky Economic Development Authority for two brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct at least 12 Phase I and up to five Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to perform the same tasks at sites with potential petroleum contamination. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities.
COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION
The Big Sky Economic Development Authority was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. The Authority serves the City of Billings and Yellowstone County (total population 138,213) and will focus its brownfields efforts on the East Downtown Urban Renewal District (population 3,624), a community east of downtown Billings. In this neighborhood, 31.5 percent of residents live below the poverty level, and the median family income is $28,147. The area has been home to a meat-packing plant and other industrial and commercial operations that have likely used or generated hazardous substances. Of the 276 properties in the area, 65 are vacant or abandoned. They also include a former oil and gas company, car dealerships, and at least 10 service stations. Assessment of brownfields in the target area will provide information about environmental contamination and is expected to be the Authority's first step toward implementing its Urban Renewal Plan for economic growth.
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.
EPA Region 8 Brownfields Team
303-312-7074
EPA Region 8 Brownfields web site
Grant Recipient: Big Sky Economic Development Authority, MT
406-869-8408, ext. 111
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.