Toyota Makes $3 Million Grant Toward Public Lands Across Nation as Part of America’s Great Outdoors Initiative

The National Environmental Education Act of 1990 established the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) as a complementary organization to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NEEF recently announced a $3 million grant by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. to the Foundation to improve the capacity of community-based organizations supporting parks and other public lands. We are sharing this information with you as you have previously expressed an interest in learning about grant opportunities. If you are interested in applying for these grants you can find more information here http://www.neefusa.org/grants/every_day_grants.

View the press release online at http://www.neefusa.org/assets/files/Grant%20Announcement%20$3MM%20Toyota%20Toward%20Public%20Lands%2012%2012%2011.pdf.

EPA Announces RFP for National Brownfield Conference Sponsorship

EPA has announced the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities (as defined at Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 104(k)(1)) and non-profit organizations for financial assistance to assist non-federal personnel (states, tribes, local governments, non-profits, industry and community groups) in participating in three national Brownfields conferences to be planned and held over a five-year period, beginning in 2012. The Brownfields conferences provide training, research and technical assistance to communities to facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments and remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, and site preparation. The successful applicant will be the primary non-federal co-sponsor for the conference and EPA will be the primary federal co-sponsor.

For the entire notice, see

http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-12-02.pdf

HUD Announces Grantees of 2011 Sustainable Communities Grants

HUD Announces Grantees of 2011 Sustainable Communities Grants

(Source: NALGEP) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the recipients of the 2011 Sustainable Communities Grants, totaling over $97 million. 27 communities and organizations will receive Community Challenge grants and 29 regional areas will receive Regional Planning grants. The goal of the Sustainable Communities grants is to help communities and regions improve their economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation.

As part of budget negotiations, Congress has eliminated funding for the grant program for 2012. For more information on the negotiations, please visit http://newurbannetwork.com/article/huds-choice-neighborhoods-program-will-get-more-funds-15594.

HUD's Community Challenge Grants aim to reform and reduce barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital and sustainable communities. The funds are awarded to communities, large and small, to address local challenges to integrating transportation and housing. Such efforts may include amending or updating local master plans, zoning codes, and building codes to support private sector investment in mixed-use development, affordable housing and the re-use of older buildings. Other local efforts may include retrofitting main streets to provide safer routes for children and seniors, or preserving affordable housing and local businesses near new transit stations.

The Regional Planning Grant program encourages grantees to support regional planning efforts that integrate housing, land-use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure developments in a manner that empowers regions to consider how all of these factors work together to create more jobs and economic opportunities. The program will place a priority on partnerships, including the collaboration of arts and culture, philanthropy, and innovative ideas to the regional planning process. Recognizing that areas are in different stages of sustainability planning, HUD has established two categories for the Regional Planning Grant program. The first supports communities that are beginning the conversation about how best to align their housing, transportation, environment, and other infrastructure investments. The second recognizes that some communities have already achieved significant momentum and are prepared to move toward completion and implementation of regional plans for sustainable development.

As was the case last year, the demand for both programs far exceeded the available funding. This year HUD received over $500 million in funding requests from communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for the $96 million in available funding. This year’s grants will impact 45.8 million Americans by helping their communities and regions become more efficient and competitive while improving quality of life. Combined with the 87 grants funded last year, this program is providing opportunities for the more than 133 million Americans who live in regions and communities working to shape local plans for how their communities will grow and develop over the next 50 years. Community Challenge Grants and Regional Planning Grants are also significantly complimented and leveraged by local, state and private resources. This year, HUD’s investment of $95.8 million is garnering $115 million in matching and in-kind contributions - which is over 120% of the Federal investment - from the 56 selected grantees. This brings the total public and private investment for this round of grants to over $211 million. These grants are part of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which represents an association between HUD, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the agencies’ policies, programs, and funding consider affordable housing, transportation, and environmental protection together. This interagency collaboration gets better results for communities and uses taxpayer money more efficiently.

To learn more about the FY2011 grantees for both programs, click on the links below.

List of FY2011 Community Challenge and Regional Planning Grants

Summaries of FY2011 Community Challenge and Regional Planning Grants

Map of FY2011 Community Challenge and Regional Planning Grantees

El Paso, TX - The 2011 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement

A city of more than 750,000 residents on the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso was concerned about a variety of converging factors. Automobile-oriented development was isolating residents, while the upcoming expansion of a nearby military base created the need for thousands of housing units and increased infrastructure. In response, the city initiated Plan El Paso 2010, an effort to create more environmentally and socially sustainable communities connected by a bus rapid transit (BRT) network. El Paso's BRT is intended to improve the speed and reliability of transit between neighborhoods by integrating facilities, services, and amenities into one transportation system.




The public shaped this vision for growth during a two-week workshop that included more than 30 meetings with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders and hands-on design sessions where participants could sketch out ideas. Since over 70 percent of El Paso's residents speak Spanish as their primary language, the city conducted bilingual outreach to as many residents as possible, and a translator was present at all public events. The far-reaching plan was unanimously approved by the city council in 2009, and BRT construction began in 2010.

"I am a lifelong resident of El Paso. I've seen the city grow from a prosperous city in the 1950s to a sprawling, large city with all of the problems that come with it. Connecting El Paso is a huge step in the right direction which will help the city bring back its quality and prosperity through smart growth."– Charlie Wakeem, resident and Coronado Neighborhood Association president

Plan El Paso 2010 creates transit oriented development in four areas:

• The Oregon Corridor, which connects a key U.S.-Mexico border crossing, the central El Paso business district, the University of Texas at El Paso, and other civic and cultural destinations. Bus and BRT lanes are currently being constructed to replace existing parallel parking.
• Five Points, a historic community, formerly connected to downtown via a streetcar line that shut down decades ago, contains homes and businesses in need of revitalization.
• Remcon Circle, the site of a BRT transfer station and a spread-out shopping area that is slated to be retrofitted to a walkable neighborhood with homes, offices, stores, and green spaces.
• The former location of the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), a 600-acre brownfield sits on one of the BRT routes. ASARCO is envisioned as a mixed-use, walkable, compact redevelopment that will stimulate cooperation between El Paso and its cross-border neighbor, Ciudad Juárez.

The city hopes that the new development in these four neighborhoods will provide welcoming streets and convenient destinations that give residents places to socialize in their neighborhoods, make them feel safe walking to local stores, and better connect them to the rest of the city with the BRT. By reinvesting in existing neighborhoods and preserving historic structures, El Paso honors the past and reinforces its sense of place.

The city council rezoned the ASARCO site using SmartCode, which will also apply to the other three neighborhoods. SmartCode emphasizes the form and design of buildings rather than their uses. It encourages mixing retail, businesses, and homes and requires streets to be welcoming to pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. It also helps create and protect parks, greenways, arroyos (seasonal streams), and open space.

EPA Urban Waters Small Grants RFP Announcement

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects to award between $1.8 to $3.8 million in funding for projects across the country to help restore urban waters by improving water quality and supporting community
revitalization. The funding is part of EPA’s Urban Waters program, which supports communities in their efforts to access, improve, and benefit from their urban waters and the surrounding land.  Healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational and employment opportunities in nearby communities.

The goal of the Urban Waters Small Grants program is to fund research, studies, training, and demonstration projects that will advance the restoration of urban waters by improving water quality through activities that also support community revitalization and other local priorities such as public health, social and economic opportunities, general livability and environmental justice for residents. Examples of projects eligible for funding include:

• Education and training for water quality improvement or green infrastructure jobs
• Public education about ways to reduce water pollution
• Local water quality monitoring programs
• Engaging diverse stakeholders to develop local watershed plans
• Innovative projects that promote local water quality and community revitalization goals

Information about Urban Waters Small Grants including the Request for Proposal (RFP) and registration links for the webinars is available at http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding.  EPA expects to award the grants
in Summer 2012.

Tennessee Adopts Sales Tax TIF for Brownfields

The Tennessee legislature adopted a bill that allows localities to devote incremental sales taxes to be included in tax increment financing projects if the site meets the definition of an "urban brownfield."  Sites must be in designated "Redevelopment Zones." 

*HB 1554 by *McCormick, Favors, Brooks K, Hardaway. (SB 1334 by *Berke, Watson.)

Industrial Development - As enacted, authorizes industrial development corporations located in municipalities in which urban brownfield redevelopment projects are located to prepare and submit economic impact plans for the development of such projects. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 53.

Fiscal Summary

(CORRECTED) Other Fiscal Impact - Future incremental property tax revenue will be redirected from the general funds of participating local governments to industrial development corporations. This bill is permissive and the number of economic impact plans that will be adopted is unknown. If two projects utilize this mechanism, there will be a permissive shift in local revenue in an amount exceeding $40,000 each year for a period of thirty years. Any corresponding impact to local sales tax revenue is estimated to be forgone in an amount that exceeds $100,000.

Bill Summary

This bill authorizes an industrial development corporation located in a municipality in which an urban brownfield redevelopment project is located to prepare and submit to the municipality for approval an economic impact plan with respect to an urban brownfield redevelopment project in the manner provided in this bill. Except to the extent modified under this bill, the present law provisions governing an economic impact plan would apply to an economic impact plan for an urban brownfield redevelopment project.

An economic impact plan submitted for approval under this section must provide that the property taxes imposed on the property, including the personal property located within the area subject to the plan, the sales taxes imposed upon sales within the area subject to the plan, the sales taxes imposed upon construction and related development or redevelopment activity in the area subject to the plan, or any combination and amount of such property and sales taxes, will be distributable in the manner described in present law and this bill, described below.

Under present law, upon the approval by the municipality of an economic impact plan with respect to an area, all property taxes levied upon property located within such area by any taxing agency after the effective date of the plan are divided as follows:

(1) That portion of the taxes that is equal to the amount of taxes, if any, that were payable with respect to the property for the year prior to the date the economic impact plan was approved, the "base tax amount," by the municipality are allocated to and, when collected, are paid to the respective taxing agencies as taxes levied by such taxing agencies on all other property are paid; provided, that in any year in which the taxes on any property are less than the base tax amount, there is allocated and paid to the respective taxing agencies only those taxes actually imposed; and
(2) Any excess of taxes over the base tax amount are allocated to and, when collected, are paid into a separate fund of the corporation established to hold such payments until applied for specified purposes.

This bill provides that in addition to the above-described allocation of property taxes, an economic impact plan may further provide that the non-school portion of the local sales tax increment be allocated to and, when received, be paid into a separate fund of the corporation established to hold such payments, along with any other amounts received by the corporation pursuant to this bill or present law, until applied for the purposes described in this bill pursuant to the economic impact plan. In calculating the non-school portion of the local sales tax increment, the plan may also include any new local sales taxes received from construction or related redevelopment activity occurring within the area subject to the plan. Upon the approval by a municipality of an economic impact plan containing all or any portion of the permitted excess local sales taxes, the local sales taxes received by the municipality will be divided and allocated as so provided.

This bill authorizes the corporation to prepare, and the municipality to approve, an economic impact plan that allocates an amount greater than the base tax amount and the base sales tax amount to the taxing agencies. All sales and property taxes allocated for an economic impact plan approved pursuant to this bill would only be applied by the corporation to pay expenses of the corporation in furtherance of economic development in the municipality, to pay or reimburse qualified costs or to pay debt service on bonds or other obligations issued by the corporation to finance any of the foregoing.

ON MAY 20, 2011, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1334 FOR HOUSE BILL 1554, ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1334, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes to this bill:

(1) Decreases the acreage requirement in the definition of "brownfield site" from 20 to five acres;
(2) Removes the definition of "renewal community" and adds a definition for "redevelopment zone," which is either an either an area designated as of January 1, 2009, as a renewal community by the federal department of housing and urban development or an area designated as of January 1, 2009, as a low income community for purposes of the federal New Markets Tax Credits program. A redevelopment zone must also be located in Hamilton, Knox, Davidson or Shelby county; and
(3) Revises the requirement, in the definition of "urban brownfield redevelopment project" that the parcel or parcels be located in a renewal community and contain at least one brownfield site to instead require that the parcel or parcels be located in a redevelopment zone and either contain at least one brownfield site or contain a site of at least 10 acres that has remained vacant or substantially unoccupied for at least five years and, at any time within 20 years prior to the effective date of this bill, included a manufacturing, industrial, distribution or retail facility containing at least 1,000,000 square feet.

AMENDMENT #2 changes the required population in the definition of "redevelopment zone" from "300,000 or more" to "80,000 or more."

This amendment also encourages redevelopment of large brownfield sites in "economically disadvantaged areas within large and mid-size counties within the state" instead of in "renewal communities within the state."

Siemens Sustainable Community Awards Program - Now taking Nominations through January 13, 2012

The 2012 nomination season is open!

Throughout the country, local governments, chambers of commerce, economic development authorities, and other organizations have taken tremendous steps to improve quality of life, be a steward of the environment, and increase the ability to sustain a successful community for generations to come.
These efforts deserve national recognition. The Siemens Sustainable Community Awards program provides that national platform for recognition and information-sharing.

The annual Siemens Sustainable Community Awards program is a partnership between Siemens USA and the U.S. Chamber BCLC. Nominations for the 2012 awards will be accepted October 4, 2011 — January 13, 2012. Use the resources below to complete your nomination.

http://sustainablecommunity.uschamber.com/

FREE EPA Brownfield Grant Webinar - Nov. 17th

Join the EPA Regions 8, 9 & 10 Questions & Answers Webinar

Thursday, November 17 1:00 – 2:00 PM (PST)

Brownfields experts will field questions about the FY12 ARC guidelines. Region 8 Ted Lanzano Bill Rothenmeyer      Stephanie Metz Region 9 Diane Strassmaier   Sara Russell   Region 10 Susan Morales

No Need to Register

Just go to https://epa.connectsolutions.com/brownfields/ and call in!   Toll Free: (866) 299-3188 Conference Code: 3033127074   PDF slides are also available at www.epa.gov/region9/brownfields

U.S. Forest Service 2012 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share grant program

2012 Call for Proposals
 
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, (NUCFAC) announces the posting of the U.S. Forest Service 2012 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share grant program.
Interested public may download a copy of the application and instructions from: www.grants.gov, reference: CFDA 10.675, or by following the links below:

• Application and Instructions
• SF 424 (Individual)
• SF 424 A
• SF 424 B

Applications are due to grants.gov by: 11:59 PM, EST, December 1, 2011.
By request, hardcopy applications are available. They are to be submitted via Courier Service 10 copies + a disk by the due date and time to:
Nancy Stremple
U.S. Forest Service,
Urban and Community Forestry
201 1400 Independence Ave.
Yates Building (1 Central) MS-1151,
Washington, DC 20250-1151

For more information or assistance, contact:
Nancy Stremple, Executive Staff
Phone: 202-205-7829
Email: nstremple@fs.fed.us

Apply for Free Technical Assistance: Deadline Nov. 22nd

Through a grant to Project for Public Spaces from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities under their Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program, Livability Solutions will be offering free technical assistance workshops to 6 to 12 communities around the country, enabling local governments and communities to implement changes that will move them along the road towards smart growth and sustainability. This technical assistance will take the form of one- to two-day workshops in one or more of our unique suite of livability tools.

More Info: http://livabilitysolutions.org/?p=1

Nov. 9th: Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance Webinar

Details

Date:	Wed, Nov 9, 2011
Time:	02:00 PM EST
Duration:	1 hour
Host(s):	Forterra (formerly Cascade Land Conservancy), Global Green USA, Project for Public Spaces, Smart Growth America, and US EPA

In this webinar, learn about the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program and how it can help your community get the kind of development it wants and needs.  First get an overview of the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program and EPA’s direct technical assistance. Then hear about each of the four grantee’s programs to provide free technical assistance.  Finally, learn the sustainable communities tools that each organization is offering as well as important deadlines and the application process. 

Sign up: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=8muhx96pmdei

Google Earth Coverage of Brownfields in ACRES

USEPA Geospatial Data of Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System Brownfields Project Locations

This KML file was produced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on OCT-25-2011 and contains data specifying the locations of EPA Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System Brownfields Project Locations that are being provided by EPA for use by commercial mapping services and others with an interest in using this information. Updates to this file are produced on a regular basis by EPA and those updates as well as documentation describing the contents of the file can be found at URL:http://www.epa.gov/enviro

 LINK TO KML

Successful Brownfield PLANNING Grant - New Bern, NC

In May 2010, the City of New Bern, NC submitted a Brownfield Area-wide PLANNING Grant to EPA.  We were fortunate enough to receive a copy of the successful proposal.  A link to it is below:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8_KPWB0jP6AMmFmYTIzMGMtZDI3Yy00MGNhLTkyOGYtMGU2NTM4YmRiOThl

EPA Announces Solar Assistance at Superfund Sites

(11/4/11) WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are evaluating the feasibility of developing renewable energy production on Superfund, brownfields, and former landfill or mining sites. As part of the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative, EPA is investing approximately $1 million for projects across the United States aiming to revitalize abandoned sites while protecting people’s health, the environment and providing economic benefits to local communities, including job creation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s RE-Powering America’s Land initiative
encourages renewable energy development on current and formerly contaminated
land and mine sites when it is aligned with the community’s vision for the site. EPA
and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
are collaborating on a project to evaluate the feasibility of siting renewable energy
production on potentially contaminated sites. This effort pairs EPA’s expertise on
contaminated sites with NREL’s expertise in renewable energy. The feasibility studies will provide site owners and communities with a realistic and achievable plan for putting renewable energy on a given site.

Savannah GA - Former Tronox Facility

The 1,480-acre former Tronox facility located near Savannah, Georgia, once housed
titanium dioxide and sulfuric acid production facilities, a former wastewater
treatment plant, and several rail lines. From 1985 to 2008, a municipal solid waste
incinerator also was in operation on a leased five-acre portion of the site. Soil and
water along the existing facility are contaminated with metals, volatile organic
compounds, and semi-volatile organic compounds.

The proposed project envisions covering the former municipal waste landfill with a
solar system and repurposing of the municipal solid waste incinerator as a biopower
plant. Because there is significant utility infrastructure at the site, the need for
significant investment in transmission equipment to sell power for grid distribution
will be minimal. If constructed, these projects may provide sufficient energy to
power the facilities still in operation at the site.

EPA and NREL are collaborating to conduct a study on the potential for solar or biopower potential generation on the Former Tronox Facility site. The feasibility study will evaluate the technical and economic opportunities and challenges at the site. It will:

• Provide a preliminary analysis of the viability of the site;
• Assess solar resource availability or biopower potential;
• Identify possible system or facility size, design and location; and
• Review the economics of the proposed facility.

Columbus, MS - Former Kerr-McGee Superfund Site

 The former Kerr McGee Chemical Facility is approximately 90 acres and is adjacent
to residential property and commercial businesses. Beginning in 1928, the site
operated as a wood-preserving facility using creosote, creosote coal tar solutions
and pentachlorophenol, resulting in ground water and soil contamination. Since
operations ended in July 2003, all tanks, equipment and process buildings have
been removed. A small office and maintenance building housing groundwater
treatment equipment are all that remain. The local community has been actively
involved in following the cleanup process. The site was listed on the Superfund NPL
in September 2010.

Redevelopment of the site is envisioned as an integration of resident and business
needs with the goal of creating a revitalized, sustainable site centered on a proposed
solar facility. This clean energy center ultimately could power a community center,
new small businesses, new health centers, parks and gardens, which collectively
would help promote a healthier and more sustainable community. Depending on
overall system size, the goal is to further contribute to the community with the
reinvestment of potential revenue to complete the cleanup process.

EPA and NREL are collaborating to conduct a study on the potential for solar power generation on the former Kerr McGee Chemical Facility site. The feasibility study will evaluate the technical and economic opportunities and challenges at the site. It will:

• Provide a preliminary analysis of the viability of the site;
• Assess solar resource availability;
• Identify possible system size, design and location; and
• Review the economics of the proposed system.

St. Bernard, LA - Former Kaiser Aluminum Landfill

Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District, the Chalmette National Battlefield and
Cemetery, and the Mississippi River. Kaiser Aluminum disposed of spent potliner
(SPL) from the aluminum process in a 25-foot mound on the river side of the site.
The SPL mound is properly capped as approved by the Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality (LDEQ), but this inhibits traditional redevelopment of the site,
which has been vacant for more than 20 years.

Given the variety of crops grown in the region, the site may be a good candidate for
biorefinery or biopower projects. While the SPL mound covers about 19 acres of the
site, the remaining 20 acres are relatively flat, open land, making the installation of
an alternative energy project very feasible. The local utility is committed to working
with the project team to explore renewable energy options, help facilitate the
project, and possibly purchase energy produced at the site. This feasibility study will
enable the St. Bernard Parish and the St. Bernard Parish Economic Development Foundation to examine options for a renewable energy project and better market the site to potential developers.

EPA and NREL are collaborating to conduct a study on the potential for biopower power generation on the Former Kaiser Aluminum Landfill site. The feasibility study will evaluate the technical and economic opportunities and challenges at the site. It will:

1. Provide a preliminary analysis of the viability of the site;
2. Assess biopower potential;
3. Identify possible facility type, size, and location; and
4. Review the economics of the proposed facility.

Project for Public Spaces: Free Technical Assistance Webinar, Nov. 9 @ 2PM EDT

PPS is proud to be one of four recipients of grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency under their Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. The Building Blocks program funds quick, targeted assistance to communities that face common development problems. Three other nonprofit organizations have received competitively awarded grants under this program this year to help communities get the kinds of development they want — Cascade Land Conservancy, Global Green USA, and Smart Growth America.

This grant will enable us and our partners at Livability Solutions to offer FREE technical assistance to communities that have set goals for achieving improved livability, smart growth, or sustainability, but have run into barriers in achieving these goals. You can read more about the opportunity and see the application on the Livability Solutions website.

Interested in applying, but have questions? We’re pleased to announce an upcoming webinar that will provide a forum where you can get answers. From Smart Growth America’s blog:

Upcoming webinar on Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities
Want to learn about all the available resources under the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program? Confused on what types of tools are being offered and the deadlines for each? Join the EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities and the four nonprofits providing technical assistance for a webinar on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM EST. The webinar will explain the programs, their processes and timeline. Participation is free, but advance registration is required: click here to register.

IBM Opens $50 Million Smarter Cities Challenge Grant Program

Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100-city, $50 million grant program in which IBM's top technical experts and consultants provide actionable advice to urban centers. 

[MORE]

Follow-up to EPA Webinars on ARC Grant Proposal Guidelines - Cleanup Grant ABCA Requirement, TAB EZ, and Site Eligibility

From EPA Region 4 via email:

Several questions have been raised regarding the requirement for a draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) required to be submitted with a cleanup grant proposal.  The attached Content and Background document [SEE BELOW] is presented as supplemental information for the Webinar material.  Applicants are not required to use this format, but it may be useful in preparing a Cleanup proposal.  Specific information on the ABCA requirement is also contained in Item #71 of the FAQ document released with the Request for Proposals.

Also, under a grant from EPA, Kansas State University (KSU) has
developed a software tool that can assist communities who are applying for grants under EPA's Fiscal Year 2012 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (ARC) grant competition.  TAB EZ was developed by KSU and CABEM Technologies, Inc. as a public service. TAB EZ is available free of cost to everyone nationwide. TAB EZ is not a substitute for reading the guidelines.


TAB EZ is available at http://www.tabez.org/

Lastly, for communities or non-profit organizations intending to apply for cleanup or site-specific assessment grants,  we urge you to pay careful attention to site eligibility requirements for both hazardous substance properties and petroleum properties (or both).  We have had many questions on qualification for BFPP Status (Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser), and the requirement that there not  be a viable responsible party for petroleum grants.  We urge you to read the Grant Guidelines carefully for these two items before attempting to prepare and submit a
grant proposal.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA)

Content

I.          Introduction & Background

a.   Site Location (address)

b.   Previous Site Use(s) and any previous cleanup/remediation

c.   Site Assessment Findings (briefly summarize the environmental investigations that have occurred at the site, including what the Phase I and Phase II assessment reports revealed in terms of contamination present, if applicable)

d.   Project Goal (site reuse plan)

II.         Applicable Regulations and Cleanup Standards

a.   Cleanup Oversight Responsibility (identify the entity, if any, that will oversee the cleanup, e.g., the state, Licensed Site Professional, other required certified professional)

b.   Cleanup Standards for major contaminants (briefly summarize the standard for cleanup e.g., specify state standards for residential or industrial reuse)

c.    Laws & Regulations Applicable to the Cleanup (briefly summarize any federal, state, and local laws and regulations that apply to the cleanup)

III.       Evaluation of Cleanup Alternatives

a.   Cleanup Alternatives Considered (minimum two different alternatives plus No Action)

b.   Cost Estimate of Cleanup Alternatives (brief discussion of the effectiveness,

     implementability and a preliminary cost estimate for each alternative)

c.   Recommended Cleanup Alternative

Background

The ABCA must be available, along with the proposal, for public comment at least two weeks prior to submission to EPA. Please see Section III.C.6. of the 2012 Cleanup Proposal Guidelines for more details. The information should be derived from the response to the Project Description criterion.

The ABCA is intended as a brief preliminary document.  As part of the Threshold review, Cleanup proposals will be checked to ensure the ABCA is attached.  EPA will not perform a detailed review of the ABCA, and state review is not needed. The content of the ABCA will not be scored as part of the Ranking process.  If the proposal is selected for funding, applicants will be required to finalize the ABCA as a part of their pre-cleanup activities.

The pre-proposal ABCA requirement is intended to allow additional public review “prior to EPA funding” consistent with national environmental and grant-funding policies.

EPA Region 4, 10/19/2011

FREE WEBINAR: Job Creation from Brownfields Redevelopment

Job Creation from Brownfields Redevelopment

Join us for a free Webinar on November 1 Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/901018560 Brownfield redevelopment professionals have long promoted the many economic, social and environmental benefits of cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields.  Job creation benefits associated with brownfields redevelopment is a key selling point for public funding for these projects, especially in the current economy with persistent high unemployment rates.  In this webinar, speakers will offer their perspectives on several programs that track jobs associated with brownfields clean-up and redevelopment. The EPA requires brownfields program grantees to record job numbers in their grant reporting, and it maintains the Assessment, Clean-up and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES) database to aggregate this information.  The Economic Development Administration at the Department of Commerce is an important funding source for brownfield redevelopment projects, and it requires information on jobs in funding applications. The program also tracks job creation three, six and nine years after funding is awarded, and brownfields projects can be tracked separately.  At the state level, programs like Florida’s Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus Tax Refunds program provide tax refunds for full-time equivalent jobs created on brownfield redevelopment sites.  In Florida, information on job creation and capital investment is tracked in order to demonstrate the program’s value. Speakers: Ryan Smith, Analyst, US EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) David R. Ives, Sustainability Coordinator, U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Joseph Bell, Program Manager, Enterprise Florida, Inc. This event qualifies for 1.0 AICP CM Credits (EVENT #e.18237). Title: Job Creation from Brownfields Redevelopment Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 Time: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Rural Brownfield Testimony before Congress

Aaron Scheff, of Idaho's Environmental Agency, testified before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health this week on the challenges facing rural communities with brownfield sites.  His written testimony can be found at:

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=71919586-f2d4-4a5c-8e9b-6823732aa96c

FREE WEBINAR: Brownfields Redevelopment, Community Revitalization, and Regional Planning: Making It Work Together - Oct. 25th

Brownfields Redevelopment, Community Revitalization, and Regional Planning: Making It Work Together

 

Date: Tue, Oct 25, 2011

Time: 4:00 PM EDT

Duration: 1 hour

Host(s): Smart Growth America and NALGEP

 

Communities across America are struggling to meet growing needs with fewer and fewer resources. Brownfield site cleanup and reuse can provide economic development opportunities for communities dealing with housing, transportation, or infrastructure issues.

Join Smart Growth America and NALGEP as we hear from the Environmental Protection Agency on how the federal government is working to streamline investments in community brownfield redevelopment and regional planning efforts, particularly through the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities. We then will hear the stories and lessons learned from a community in West Virginia already working on brownfield cleanup in conjunction with other economic development projects.

Speakers include Adhir Kackar and Stacy Swartwood, EPA; and Dawn Seeburger working in Ranson, West Virginia.

 

Register Now! Visit https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=1vmes3ick0o6

EPA Region 4 Brownfield Grant Writing Webinar, Oct 19, 2011

EPA Region 4 is holding a Brownfields Grant Writing Webinar on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon EDT.  This is a repeat of the Webinar held Thursday, October 13, 2011.  The same material will be covered, plus time at the end for questions and comments.

As you may be aware, EPA has published its request for Brownfields proposals for Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants.  The proposal deadline is November 28, 2011.  The FY 2012 Proposal Guidelines are posted to the EPA Brownfields website at:

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm

These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.  Opportunities include funding for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grants ranging (by type) from $200,000 to $1 Million.

This webinar will give prospective Brownfield grant applicants and grant writers an opportunity to understand the FY-2012 Proposal Guidelines.

Participants who will benefit the most from this presentation are those who have read the Proposal Guidelines and started drafting their proposals.  A file containing the presentation materials for the webinar is attached.

Information to access the webinar.

Topic: Guidelines - How to Apply for a Brownfields Grant

Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Time: 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)

Web conference link:

https://meetingvisuals.webex.com/meetingvisuals/j.php?ED=170960492&UID=496121327&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Meeting password: (This meeting does not require a password.) Meeting number: 590 783 966

Audio conference information: Call-in toll-free number: 1-866-2993188

(US/Canada)

Call-in number: 1-706-7581822  (US/Canada) Conference Code: 404 562 8680

An additional web link that may be helpful to assessment grant applicants can be found at:

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/FY12-Assessment-Guideline-Checklist.pdf

ULI Market Trends - Downtown and Infill Ranked as Better Opportunities than Greenfields  

The

ULI 2011 Market Trends report finds downtown office vacancies holding at around 11 percent while suburban vacancies are significantly higher @ 17 percent.  The report forecasts, "Developers (will) focus more on infill locations near vibrant downtown cores and urbanizing suburban nodes."

One of the few bright spots in real estate is multi-family residential where ULI advises "Infill over fringe" because
"Twenty-something echo boomers want to experience more vibrant urban areas where they can build careers, and their
aging baby boomer parents look for greater convenience in
downscaled lifestyles. Driving costs and lost time make outer suburbs less economical, while the big-house wave dissipates in the Era of Less."  

PREPARED - Muni Manual

The PREPARED document was developed by EPA New England and focuses on assisting municipalities with evaluating risk and reuse.  The formal title is PREPARED: Process for Risk Evaluation, Property Analysis and Reuse Decisions.  You may also hear it called the “Muni Manual”.  While developed in the Northeast, it seems to have a lot of very practical information for evaluating properties for reuse that could be applied to our communities.  http://www.epa.gov/region1/brownfields/prepared/

EPA Region 4 Brownfield Grant Webinar - Thursday, Oct. 13th

EPA Region 4 is holding a Brownfield Grant Writing Webinar on Thursday, October 13, 2011 - From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT.

Topic: Guidelines - How to Apply for a Brownfield Grant

Date:Thursday, October 13, 2011

Time: 2:00 PM, Eastern Daylight

 EPA Region 4 is holding a Brownfield Grant Writing Webinar  on Thursday October 13, 2011, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT.  This webinar will give prospective Brownfield grant applicants and grant writers an opportunity to understand the FY-2012 Proposal Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants. Through this training, EPA will provide participants with tips on writing a winning grant proposal.

The targeted audience includes eligible Brownfield applicants, including states, tribes, local governments, quasi-governmental organizations, and non-profit organizations, as well as grant writers.  Participants should have a basic understanding of  Brownfield sites and of EPA's Brownfield program.  Participants who will benefit the most from this presentation are those who have read the Proposal Guidelines and started drafting their proposals.                       

                                                                        

Information to access the webinar.

                    

Topic: Guidelines - How to Apply for a Brownfield Grant

Date:   Thursday, October 13, 2011

Time:   2:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Time

Web conference link:

http://bit.ly/EPA4BrownfieldWebinar                                                                       

Meeting password: (This meeting does not require a  password.)

Meeting number: 593 705 089 

Audio conference information: 

Call-in toll-free number:         1-866-299-3188

Call-in number:                       1-706-758-1822

Conference Code:                   404 562 8680  

The conference link and phone line will be open 15 minutes before the 2:00 PM start. There are a maximum of 150 phone lines so we suggest representatives from the same organization call in together.

WEBINAR - TAB-EZ Updates for FY12 Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Guidelines

TAB-EZ, a grant writing tool, has been updated to reflect the U.S. EPA FY12 Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup grant guidelines released September 28, 2011. The tool can be used for preparation of EPA brownfield grant proposals for assessment and cleanup grants. TAB-EZ provides a framework for your proposal and strategies and links to reduce writing time. Dr Sabine Martin will provide information on the TAB-EZ update and Deborah Orr will provide general grant writing tips.

 

Oct 25, 2011
11:00AM-12:30PM EDT
15:00-16:30 GMT

Oct 26, 2011
2:00PM-3:30PM EDT
18:00-19:30 GMT


For more information, click here

2011 SUCCESSFUL Brownfield Assessment Grant Proposal

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government was successful last year in securing a Community Wide Brownfield Assessment Grant for $200K (Hazardous Substances).  Here's a link to a copy of the grant proposal that you can use to compare your proposal to a SUCCESSFUL proposal.


http://www.lexingtonky.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=17814

If you're interested in what the Work Plan looks like AFTER you receive a grant, here's a link to the
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Work Plan

GOOD LUCK!

Report on the Economic Benefits of Brownfield Redevelopment

What are the economic benefits of brownfields?  The study at the link below provides some answers to that question.   http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/BFEnvironImpacts042811.pdf

Summary of FY12 Brownfields ARC Grant Guidelines Changes

Area	FY11 ARC Guidelines	FY12 ARC Guidelines
All Proposals
Page Limit Attachments	18 page limit – This included the responses to both threshold and ranking criteria.	15 page limit – Information addressing threshold criteria is now submitted as part of the attachments and does not count against the page limit requirement. This change does not penalize those proposals that are site specific and have extensive site information required as part of the threshold information.
	Identified a list of acceptable attachments, however, the list did not include information on leveraging. Did not require applicants to “self-identify” which “other factors/special considerations” applied to them or their proposed project.	Require applicants to attach documentation regarding leveraged funding that is committed to the project. Applicants are required to complete checklist in Appendix 3 and submit with their proposal.
Proposal Ranking and Selection
	Select highest ranking proposals using a single list.	Select highest ranking proposals using two lists – one list of new applicants that have never received a post-law Brownfields grant and a second list of “existing” brownfields grantees. Will also select additional proposals from a second tier list of very good proposals based on highest ranked proposals in the second tier that meet “Other Factors.” Revised the list of “Other Factors” to include regional priorities and Assistant Administrator’s priorities of moving sites to cleanup and redevelopment.
General Award Information
All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI)		For Assessment Grant Guidelines, a section was added with information about AAI report requirements.
Sufficient Progress		Applicants are advised on the sufficient progress terms and conditions should they be selected for a grant award.
Protection of Nearby Sensitive Populations		Applicants are advised regarding their obligation to protect nearby sensitive populations as they conduct the work, should they be selected for award.
General Grant Information
General Description		Highlighted Brownfields Program link to environmental justice and commitment to helping communities revitalize brownfields properties.
All ARC Grants – Threshold and Ranking Criteria
Project Benefits	While the criteria included information on equitable development issues, it did not specifically use the term “equitable development.”	Applicants must describe how the proposed project will impact/address Equitable Development issues such as affordable housing, public transit, and urban greening.
Community Need - Health, Welfare and Environment	Applicants were required to provide information regarding the effects of brownfields and how this has resulted in a disproportionate impact on their community.	Applicants must provide information on the “cumulative environmental impacts” and how these issues have also contributed to a disproportionate impact on the community (not just brownfields related). Applicants must also describe how major economic disruptions (e.g., plant closures) have caused economic distress in the community.
Community Need – Financial Data	Applicants were required to provide demographic information supporting financial need in a variety of ways.  Often key information or demographic data was not provided in a consistent or uniform manner.	Applicants can use a table format to submit the demographic information about their community.  Applicants are more likely to submit key information/data and in a uniform manner by using this table which will have the National data pre-populated for them.
Community Engagement  & Partnership	Applicants were required to provide information on partnerships with other relevant state, tribal or local agencies they are working with to ensure the success of the project.	In addition to requiring a description of key roles the state/local/fed partners will play in the project, applicants are also required to identify how they would facilitate hiring from local job training programs as part of their assessment, cleanup and redevelopment activities.
	No language regarding EPA verifying community based support letters.	Added language that EPA may conduct reference checks with the partner organizations identified to confirm their involvement and support in the project.
	No examples of how the community could be engaged.	Added language providing examples of how the applicant can satisfy the on-going community engagement requirements, including public meetings, webinars, use of media and internet forums. “Applicants must demonstrate how they will engage the targeted community in meaningful ways to ensure success of the proposed project.”
Project Description and Feasibility of Success – Leveraging	Applicants were required to describe any planned or actual leveraged resources.	Applicants must demonstrate how they will leverage funds beyond the grant resources, and describe the amount and type of resources leveraged. Applicants are also required to attach documentation of committed leveraged resources to their proposal.
Programmatic Capability/ Past Performance	Applicants who had previous bf grants were required to describe how they managed the grant.	Applicants now required to also identify the planned outputs/outcomes from their past brownfields grants and if those outputs/outcomes were successfully achieved. If not, explain why not.
Assessment Grants - Threshold and Ranking Criteria
Community Need		Strengthened the language for Assessment Coalition applicants regarding how they are serving their coalition partners and communities that would otherwise not have access to resources to address Brownfields.
Project Description	Applicants were asked to describe their plan for area-wide planning or site assessment activities.	All language related to AWP was deleted.
Project Description	Applicants were asked to tie the proposed project back to their “vision” but not “master plan”	New language tells applicants that communities w/ existing “master plans” will be evaluated more favorably. Further, under the criterion, applicants must describe how the project fits in w/ the community’s plan, as well as how they are using “products or outputs from recent community planning processes” to inform the project.
Community Engagement & Partnership		Added language about assessment coalitions tailoring their community engagement specifically to the needs of their target communities.
Project Benefits	Applicants were required to describe environmental, social and public health benefits.	In addition to describing environmental, social and public health benefits, applicants must also demonstrate how the planning activities or site assessments will lead to cleanups and redevelopment to support the community’s plan.
Point Distribution	Community Need - 20% Project Description and        Feasibility Success - 40% Community Engagement - 20%, Project Benefits - 20%	Community Need - 20% Project Description and        Feasibility of Success - 50% Community Engagement - 15% Project Benefits - 15%
RLF Grants –Ranking Criteria
Program Description	No note about evaluating program description with the programmatic capability response.	Applicants will be evaluated on their responses to criteria, in conjunction w/ their descriptions of staff under programmatic capability criterion.
	No criterion on “reasonable & prudent lending practices.”	Applicants are required to describe how they will use “reasonable and prudent lending practices” to ensure redevelopment of sites.
	No criterion on market research	Applicants must explain how they have determined there is a target market and who that target market is.
	No direct criterion about the project team.	Applicants must describe their entire team and specifically describe how their project/program manager, QEP and financial manager will work together.
Point Distribution	Community Need - 15% Project Description and        Feasibility of Success - 45% Community Engagement - 20% Project Benefits - 20%	Community Need - 15% Project Description and        Feasibility of Success - 55% Community Engagement - 15% Project Benefits - 15%
Cleanup Grants - Threshold and Ranking Criteria
Threshold	Applicants were required to make the proposal available for public review and comment and hold a public meeting prior to submission of the proposal.	In addition to making the proposal available for public review and comment and holding a public meeting, the applicant is also required to make a copy of the Draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) available for public review and comment at the same time. Applicants should use ABCA template in Appendix 4.  This is meant to be a BRIEF document.
Project Description	Applicants were required to describe their cleanup plan.	Revised to require applicants to provide more specific information about their cleanup plans including the conditions of the existing property, the proposed/projected redevelopment, any previous activities to prepare the site for cleanup, and any institutional controls or engineering controls, if applicable.
Point Distribution	Community Need - 15% Project Description and        Feasibility of Success - 40% Community Engagement - 15% Project Benefits - 30%	Community Need - 15% Project Description and        Feasibility of Success - 50%, Community Engagement - 15% Project Benefits - 20%