Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Steve Russell says the EPA selected Oklahoma City to receive $500,000 to help continue its work cleaning up contaminated brownfield properties.
“Ultimately, actions such as these help us to be good stewards of the environment and can even save money before a situation becomes worse,” said Russell in making the announcement.
Brownfields are abandoned, idled or underused industrial or commercial facilities which also present environmental contamination problems.
“Oklahoma City has one of the most robust and successful brownfields programs in the country,’ said Acting Regional Administrator Sam Coleman. “We are eager to put these supplemental funds to work and watch them generate jobs and spur economic growth.”
Oklahoma City has an impressive record of cleaning up brownfields and turning them into meaningful, sustained opportunities that can even add to economic health. Brownfields funds were used to turn Oklahoma City’s Bricktown from a decaying, contaminated industrial area to an inner city entertainment district boasting $40 million in property value and $40 million in annual wages. Historic city landmarks such as the Skirvin Hotel and others were restored with help from EPA assessment and cleanup grants.
