EPA Announces $600,000 in Brownfields support for City of Tacoma

EPA Press Release:

EPA Announces $600,000 in Brownfields support for City of Tacoma

Contact: Mark MacIntyre, EPA/Seattle 206-553-7302, macintyre.mark@epa.gov

(Seattle, WA – May 28, 2014)   Three re-development projects in Tacoma, Washington, will receive a total of $600,000 in Brownfields funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Quickly approaching its 20^th anniversary, EPA’sBrownfields Program encourages cleanup and redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 Brownfields sites.

“Brownfields grants are catalysts for communities,” said Dennis McLerran, EPA Regional Administrator in Seattle, Washington. “They jumpstart local projects, bringing valuable real estate back into productive use. Through Brownfields, we’re joining with public and private partners to revitalize blighted property, create more green jobs and protect public health in Idaho

The Tacoma Housing Authority (Tacoma, Washington) has been selected to receive three 2014 Brownfields general program funds are:

Tacoma Housing Authority, WA (3 Cleanup Grants) $600,000    

Project Contact: Ms. Sandy Burgess (sburgess@tacomahousing.org), 253-207-4473/

Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up Hillside Terrace 1 and 2; Salishan Phases 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7; and Salishan Phases 5 and 6. All three sites have been in residential use for at least 60 years, and are contaminated from the production, use, and storage of methamphetamine. Grant funds also will be used to create a community involvement plan.

• Cleanup of the Salishan Housing Phases 5 and 6 $200,000
• Cleanup of the Salishan Phases 1,2,3,4, and 7 $200,000
• Cleanup of Hillside Terrace 1 and 2 $200,000

These grants will help the City of Tacoma assess, clean and redevelop abandoned, contaminated properties known as Brownfields. Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

In 2002, the definition of a Brownfield was expanded to include mine-scarred lands or sites contaminated by petroleum or the manufacture of illegal drugs. Grant recipients are selected through a national competition.

More Information on the national Brownfields Program is available here: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

More information on EPA Region 10’s Brownfields program is available here:

http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/sites/bf