EPA Doles Out $70M in Brownfield Grants

SAN FRANCISCO-The US Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $10.3 million for brownfield projects in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. The award is part of about $70 million in funds that were doled out by the EPA for the assessment, inventory, redevelopment and cleanup of properties that have sat idle due to perceived or real contamination.

In California, Oakland won more than once. The City of Oakland received $400,000 for assessing petroleum and hazardous substances in an area around the Coliseum BART Station, which is proposed to be connected to a new line from the Oakland airport. The Oakland Redevelopment Agency was awarded $200,000 to clean up the Fox Courts site at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and 18th Street. The Oakland Housing Authority won a $200,000 grant toward cleaning up hazardous substances at the Tassafaronga Village Revitalization Plan Site at 1001 83rd Ave., which encompasses three former public housing buildings and a pasta factory parcel.

Three other Northern California cities also won money. The City of Emeryville won grants totaling $400,000. The city will assess contamination and work with the community in redeveloping the AC Transit Site. The city also will develop plans for and clean up soil and groundwater contamination at the former Ambassador Laundry Site. The Richmond Community Redevelopment Agency received two grants totaling $400,000 to clean up the Sakai Nursery on S. 47th Street and Florida Avenue, and the Endo Nursery on Wall Avenue. The City of Menlo Park received $200,000 to clean up degraded diesel-contaminated soil and groundwater at the Terminal Avenue Housing Site.