Marysville is asking the federal government for nearly $4 million to get rid of a fenced-off mound of demolition debris in the heart of downtown, a heap locals now call “Mount Marysville.” The rubble was capped with a concrete-like coating after a 2024 fire and demolition at the former hotel site, and city officials say it holds materials that could include asbestos and lead. The money the city is chasing would pay to dig into the pile, haul any hazardous material to proper disposal sites, test soil and groundwater, and prepare the property for redevelopment.
City applies for EPA brownfields money
The City of Marysville is turning to the EPA’s Brownfields cleanup program for help, applying for nearly $4 million to clear the downtown debris, test the site and safely dispose of hazardous material, according to The Sacramento Bee. In its application, the city pegs the cost of debris removal and site testing at more than $3.9 million and argues that the pile’s location along the Highway 70 gateway feeds perceptions of decline and scares off business activity.
How the brownfields grant works and timing
The EPA’s Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup, or MARC, program allows cleanup awards of up to $4 million and spells out eligibility rules plus the assessment and cleanup steps that have to connect to redevelopment plans. In its materials for the 2026 fiscal year, the agency outlines a current solicitation window and application deadlines, which puts Marysville’s request squarely in an active federal review pipeline. EPA guidance notes that cleanup grants can require site characterization and post-removal testing before and after work, which then helps shape the full remediation strategy.
Temporary fix and safety concerns
After crews brought down the fire-damaged hotel, contractors sprayed the leftover pile with a gunite-like cap, a temporary fix meant to keep hazardous dust from drifting into nearby homes and businesses while the city lines up funding. Local reporting has captured residents and shop owners describing the fenced-off mound as an eyesore that clogged traffic around Highway 70 until the structure finally came down. Territorial Dispatch documented the gunite cap itself, while CBS Sacramento reported on preliminary testing that city officials describe as encouraging, even as they caution that more detailed testing will be needed once the cap comes off.
Cleanup plan and next steps
In its federal grant application, Marysville says its preferred approach is to fully remove both the debris pile and the hotel’s basement foundation, then follow up with soil and groundwater sampling to verify that the site is safe for future redevelopment, according to The Sacramento Bee. If the city lands a cleanup award, contractors will be required to follow federal and state hazardous-waste rules that govern how contaminated material is handled, transported and disposed of. EPA guidance says cleanup grants commonly cover both removal work and post-cleanup testing that ties the site directly to redevelopment plans.
What comes next
City officials are quick to point out that the grant is competitive and there are no guarantees, and they add that even with federal help, the process will stretch over months and require close coordination with developers and regulators. Neighbors have already started pitching ideas for the property at a recent town hall, and city leaders say they are in early conversations with potential partners while they wait for the federal review. KCRA covered the community meeting, where residents floated possibilities ranging from housing to parking to broader community uses. The city manager has said the hope is that a successful grant will finally clear the way for something new on the long-empty parcel, something that brings people and businesses back into downtown instead of driving them past “Mount Marysville” on Highway 70.
