County officials hope the grant money will help set the record straight.

The $200,000 will only analyze and identify sites that are contaminated. Any cleanup will likely cost a lot more.

The county has big plans for the area and is launching a blight study in an effort to use tax revenue generated from future development on the property to improve the site.

The West Millcreek area is right in the middle of two ambitious redevelopment projects in Murray and South Salt Lake. Both are transit-oriented developments that will include housing and retail.

That's what Salt Lake County leaders want to do in West Millcreek. The area could even include a parkway and trail system on the area's southern border, Big Cottonwood Creek.

"The time is right to move forward in assisting this once-ignored area of the county," according to the county's EPA grant application. "Absent the uncertainty from potential cleanup, remediation and toxic tort liability costs, the site is well-positioned for immediate redevelopment."

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com