Bay Area counties vie for brownfield toxic cleanup money

By Erica Holt, Bay City News Service

July 30, 2006

Several Bay Area counties have been shortlisted to receive a piece of a $20 million fund for revitalizing underused sites contaminated by underground petroleum leaks, the state Water Resources Control Board reported.

Projects in Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Sonoma Counties are now on a priority list for a chunk of change to clean up underground fuel-contaminated "brownfield" sites, the water board reports.

California Environmental Protection Agency officials report that "brownfields" are properties with real or perceived contamination that may be vacant or underused due to environmental cleanup costs and liability concerns.

The funding comes from the Orphan Site Cleanup Account, established by Assembly Bill 1906, which provides funding for land revitalization projects.

San Joaquin, San Diego, Fresno, Riverside, Kern, Orange and Los Angeles counties have also submitted project proposals.

The proposed land redevelopments range from single-family homes and low income housing to retail centers and parks.

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