Brownfields 2006 Grant Fact Sheet

Unalaska, AK

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 the Brownfields 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.

CLEANUP GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the City of Unalaska for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up PCB contamination at the City of Unalaska Powerhouse Property at 1732 East Point Road. Funds will be used for removal of all soils containing PCBs, excavation and stockpiling of soil, and final placement of the soil.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Unalaska was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The community of Unalaska (population of 4,388) is located on the islands of Unalaska and Amaknak, in the heart of the North Pacific and Bering Sea fisheries, encompassing approximately 27 miles of ports and harbors. It serves as a hub for the Aleutians West Region. More than half the residents are Alaska Natives, African-American, Asian, or other minorities. Over the past four years, the unemployment rate in the region has been 58 percent more than the national rate. In the Aleutians West Region, 20 percent of residents live below the national poverty level. Contamination at the powerhouse property affects the lifestyles of the community that depends on a subsistence lifestyle. More than 95 percent of the people in Unalaska derive their income either directly from fishing or from services that provide support to the fishing industry. When the site is cleaned up, it will become the site of a new powerhouse and a walking and biking path. Cleanup of the site will protect human health and the environment, and sustain the seafood industry that depends on clean seawater. Brownfields redevelopment will enhance the community by providing more electricity, broadening the opportunities for economic development, increasing jobs and taxes, and improving the quality of life of the residents.

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 at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 10 Brownfields Team
206-553-2100
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/CLEANUP.NSF/sites/bf

Grant Recipient: City of Unalaska, AK
907-581-1251

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