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U.S. EPA announces $400,000 for Indiana brownfields

Release Date: 5/11/2005
Contact Information:

CONTACT: (EPA) Mick Hans, (312) 353-5050

For Immediate Release
No. 05-OPA064

CHICAGO (May 11, 2005) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $400,000 to a pair of Indiana communities to help address brownfield sites. Brownfields are abandoned or under-utilized properties where the stigma of possible pollution or a lack of solid technical information has discouraged redevelopment.

"EPA's Brownfields program puts both property and people back to work," said Region 5 Acting Administrator Bharat Mathur. "The grants we're awarding today to Indiana communities can convert eyesores into engines of economic rebirth."

Nationally, EPA announced $75.9 million in grants. A total of 218 applicants, including three tribal nations, were selected to receive 291 grants. One category of grants provides funds to evaluate contaminated properties. Another category provides funds to do cleanup work. Eleven other applicants around the country will receive job training grants.

Grant recipients in Indiana:

• Indianapolis: $200,000 to supplement a current volunteer-based inventory of brownfields sites as well as conducting site assessments and a human health risk study in three inner city areas: Fall Creek Place neighborhood, LaSalle Park area and Monon Trail Greenway corridor. Community outreach activities will also be performed using the grant.
• Michigan City: $200,000 for planning a cleanup of the Benz Enterprises LLC Boat Storage facility that lies within the Trail Creek Waterfront Redevelopment Area and contains soil and underground water contaminated with metals and chemicals. The grant money will also be used for community outreach activities.