Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan
Fund Pilot Fact Sheet

PILOT SNAPSHOT

Date of Announcement: May 2002 Amount: $800,000 BCRLF Target Area: Mill Sites Brownfields Corridor

BACKGROUND

El Paso County will join the Colorado Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Coalition (CBRLF). The Coalition is comprised of the cities of Commerce City, Denver, Englewood, Lakewood, Loveland, and Westminster, and two State agencies: the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. (CDPHE). The County (population 517,000) is located 50 miles south of Denver and includes the Cities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. In the late 1800s, gold mining caused a development boom in the southern Rocky Mountains. Ore was processed by four mills in the foothills of Pikes Peak. This area is known as the Mill Sites Brownfields Corridor within the City of Colorado Springs. Waste tailings disposed of in ponds, landfills, and tailings piles adjacent to the abandoned mills have caused widespread heavy metal contamination of soils in the area. The area contains low-income housing, parks, and open space.

El Paso County is committed to brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. This commitment is demonstrated by the county's record of conducting assessments and the cleanup of brownfields. El Paso County promotes the state Voluntary Cleanup Program as the appropriate mechanism under which to clean up contaminated sites.

BCRLF OBJECTIVES

The county's goals for the BCRLF Pilot are to achieve cleanup standards that allow contaminated properties to achieve their full social and economic potential.

The County will seek use of BCRLF funds for three priority brownfields sites. Tailings near the Shadow Park Mobile Home Park need to be cleaned up to improve living conditions for residents. Tailings piles on the former Golden Cycle Mill site need to be cleaned up to enable development of commercial and retail facilities. Contaminated soils need to be cleaned up to allow renovation of El Paso County's Penrose Equestrian Center, which is located on a former mill site.

FUND STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS

El Paso County will join the existing Colorado Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Coalition. The Coalition was created to provide a centralized, cost-effective administrative organization to make low-cost funding available for environmental cleanups. The CDPHE is the cooperative agreement recipient and will serve as the lead agency and site manager. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority will serve as the fund manager. El Paso County's Environmental Services Department will work cooperatively with the CDPHE to facilitate remediation projects funded through the BCRLF Pilot.

LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES

In addition to private sector lenders, several active financing programs can be leveraged. The Pikes Peak Regional Development Corporation provides loans for the development of new employment opportunities. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority finances housing, business, and economic growth opportunities. A tax increment financing district was recently created in Colorado Springs. In addition, El Paso County will provide an estimated $60,000 of in-kind services.

CONTACTS

El Paso County Environmental
Services Department
(719) 520-7820

Region 8
Brownfields Coordinator
(303) 312-6982

Visit the EPA Region 8 Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/region08/land_waste/bfhome/bfhome.html

For further information, including specific Pilot contacts, additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields

Use of BCRLF Pilot funds must be in accordance with CERCLA, and all CERCLA restrictions on use of funding also apply to BCRLF funds.