Siskiyou County Economic Development Council (SCEDC)  is pleased to announce that the City of Yreka has been awarded $400,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help prepare brownfield sites for redevelopment. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. SCEDC Executive Director, Tonya Dowse, said “This is a great tool that will help the community move sites towards development for job creation and economic growth.”

City Councilman and SCEDC Board Member Jim Griffin is “very pleased” with the cooperative efforts of the SCEDC and the City and anticipates that these assessments will help local property owners determine cleanup needs and move forward with development of brownfields in the City. 

The City applications were selected last month for $200,000 for petroleum brownfield sites (such as old gas stations or sites that used petroleum products) and $200,000 for other hazardous materials site assessments.   The funds will be used to inventory and prioritize brownfields, conduct environmental site assessments for hazardous substances and petroleum contamination, conduct cleanup planning, and support outreach activities. 

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfield sites in order to reduce health threats, create jobs, and preserve greenspace. The SCEDC will be seeking property owners who are interested in obtaining these optional assessments. Property owners who want to participate in this voluntary program should contact the SCEDC at 530-842-1638.