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U.S. EPA presents $200,000 Brownfields grant to Rio Dell; EPA and City officials tour selected properties slated for revitalization

Release Date: 10/20/2006
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano, 415-947-4306

(10/20/06 s SAN FRANCSICO) Today David Jones, Associate Waste Division director for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency toured four properties in Rio Dell slated for a contamination assessment under the agency’s Brownfields program.

Jones presented Mayor Leonard with a ceremonial check for $200,000, a grant from the EPA’s Brownfields Petroleum assessment program.

“The City of Rio Dell has taken the first step toward adding a new chapter to revitalize their downtown area,” said Jones. “With this grant the city and EPA are showing that environmental protection and economic improvement go hand in hand.”

The agency’s Brownfields Program has linked EPA with local communities like Rio Dell, helping to address environmental issues associated with vacant or under-utilized properties for soil assessment or contamination cleanup.

“When highway 101 was rerouted away from Rio Dell in the 1970’s reduced traffic through town, lead to the closing and abandonment of gas stations and businesses,” said Graham Hill, Rio Dell Acting City Manager. “Receiving this EPA funding provides a great opportunity for our city to bring spirit and vitality back to our business corridor.”

Since 1998 the EPA has awarded more than $2.4 million to cities and properties in Humboldt County to assess and safely clean up potentially contaminated or otherwise blighted properties.

Properties that will be assessed for potential or historic contamination in Rio Dell include:

· 255 Wildwood Ave., site of a former BP Mini Mart;

· 541 Wildwood Ave, site of a former Willie Webb’s Flying A/Webb’s Phillip’s 66;

· 40 Dixie St. site of Dellarsina Body and Fender Shop;

· 1403 Eeloa Ave. site of the Humboldt Pacific Transport Corporation Yard.