Brownfield Redevelopment Program
EPA Brownfields Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the City of Independence, Missouri a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds were awarded to develop a brownfields program by conducting community outreach, environmental assessments, and to develop an area wide brownfields inventory.
By EPA definition, brownfields are defined as "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."
Independence Brownfields Program
Under the EPA grant, the City of Independence can conduct environmental assessments anywhere within City limits. However, the City decided to focus the inventory efforts on an area of western Independence as depicted on the attached map. This area was selected due to its high concentration of vacant lots, abandoned structures, and aging and increasingly low-to-moderate income population. Brownfields in the area pose health risk to the community, represent lost tax revenues, and are generally contributing to the deterioration of the area. Of the approximately 4,000 properties within the brownfields area, over 250 businesses and properties have been identified that handle hazardous materials, hazardous waste, or were known locations of a release of hazardous substances to soil and/or groundwater. Additionally, approximately 50 preliminary properties have been identified for site selection and ranking of future assessment activities.
Christina Leakey
Community Development Program Supervisor
City of Independence
111 E. Maple
Independence, MO 64050
E-mail: cleakey@indepmo.org
Phone: (816) 325-7397
Missouri Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup Program http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/bvcp/hwpvcp.htm
State of Missouri Brownfields Redevelopment Program -
EPA Brownfields Grant Programs
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pilot.htm
Federal Brownfields Tax Incentive
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/bftaxinc.htm
"Brownfields 2008"
National Brownfields Conference, May 5-7 in Detroit
http://www.brownfields2008.org/en/index.aspx