Brownfields Supplemental Assistance Fact Sheet

PILOT SNAPSHOT
	Date of Announcement: March 2000 Amount: $150,000
Profile: The Pilot targets brownfields in the most distressed communities in the county. Of almost 30,000 acres of industrial land in Wayne County, at least one-third are brownfields.

BACKGROUND

EPA awarded Wayne County supplemental assistance for its Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot. The county, which includes the City of Detroit (a federally designated Empowerment Zone), has a population of 2.1 million. Automobile and steel manufacturing are the area's major industries; Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and National Steel are all located in Wayne County. Of the almost 30,000 acres of industrial land in Wayne County, it is estimated that at least one-third are brownfields (15.5 square miles). These brownfields are located in urban, suburban, and rural areas; several closed plants, illegal dumps, and closed landfills are located in the most distressed communities in the county.

OBJECTIVES AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES

The county's primary objective is to return the vacant properties to economic and public reuse as industrial plants or recreational areas. This redevelopment will create jobs, attract further investment, and increase the tax base in the distressed communities. Since the original Pilot was awarded, the county has formed a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) under the State of Michigan's brownfields program. This authority gives each municipality within the county access to several state programs, including BRA tax increment financing, BRA single business tax credits, brownfields redevelopment grants, and technical assistance. Municipalities within the county submit brownfield candidates for assistance under the county's brownfields program. Once a brownfield is targeted, the county provides assessment, cost analysis, and community outreach assistance. The supplemental assistance will allow the county to continue to implement this program.

To accomplish these objectives, the Pilot plans to:

• Select additional brownfields within the county for further investigation;

• Conduct environmental site assessments at targeted brownfields;

• Prepare Baseline Environmental Assessments (BEAs) and due care plans under State of Michigan specifications;

• Conduct brownfields cost analysis of cleanup and reuse plans to evaluate the need for other public-sector financing to complete the project; and

• Continue community outreach related to these activities.

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

CONTACTS

Wayne County Brownfields Redevelopment Authority
(313) 224-0749

Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA - Region 5
(312) 886-1960

Visit the EPA Region 5 Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/R5Brownfields/

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:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/