E.P.A. awards $467,000 brownfields grant to Solano Co. Water Agency

SAN FRANCISCO - The E.P.A. announced today that the Solano Co. Water Agency, in collaboration with the Westside Sacramento Integrated Water Management Group, will gain $467,378 in federal grant funds to assess contamination from abandoned mines in Lake, Napa, Solano, and Yolo counties, California This coalition of counties are among 147 communities nationwide receiving backing to assess and clean up historically contaminated properties, also known as brownfields, for reuse and development.

"EPA is committed to helping communities strengthen their local economy by cleaning up abandoned industrial and commercial properties - places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are needed most," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "Solano Co. Water Agency and their coalition partners will use these funds to address abandoned mine properties that may be reused for open space, trails, and habitat restoration."

Solano Co. Water Agency will assess and prioritize mine-scarred brownfields on private lands that may be revitalized for public benefit, including open space, trails, economic development, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement. Approximately 100 abandoned mines are located in the upper Cache Creek and Putah Creek Watersheds of the inter-coastal mountain range west of the Sacramento River in Lake, Napa, Solano, and Yolo counties.

Since the inception of EPA's brownfields plan in 1995, cumulative plan investments have leveraged in excess of $22 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged per E.P.A. brownfield dollar expended. These investments have resulted in approximately 105,942 jobs nationwide. EPA's brownfields plan empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.

More information on EPA's brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

More information on the Solano Co. Water Agency: http://www.scwa2.com/

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