EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Four Communities in Kentucky

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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EPA Provides Brownfields Grant and Assistance to Maine Communities

BOSTON - Communities in Maine will receive 9 grants totaling $1.795 million for brownfield site revitalization and technical assistance, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced today. These communities are among 172 across the country to receive funding.

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U.S. EPA Announces $900,000 to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to Assess and Clean Up Contaminated Sites in Oahu

HONOLULU – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) will receive a total of $900,000 in federal grant funds for brownfield site revitalization efforts.

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Spirit Lake Tribe cleanup project in Fort Totten, North Dakota receives $200K

DENVER – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Spirit Lake Tribe to receive a $200,000 Brownfields grant to clean up contaminated buildings in the Rolling Hills Housing area in the Community of Fort Totten, North Dakota.

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Municipality of Spokane Selected for $600,000 in Brownfields Cleanup Grants

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EPA Brownfields Cleanup Funding Announced for Earth Conservancy

WASHINGTON (May 31, 2017) – Today, the U.S.

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Bent County, Colorado cleanup project receives $132K to revitalize Fort Lyon campus

DENVER – The U.S.

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U.S. EPA Announces $300,000 in Brownfields Grants to the City of Pittsburg to Revitalize its Northern Industrial Waterfront

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S.

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New Orleans Regional Planning Commission to receive $300,000 from EPA to assess environmental

DALLAS – (May 31, 2017) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $300,000 to the Regional Planning Commission of New Orleans. The organization is one of 172 communities across the country selected to receive funding for brownfields site revitalization efforts.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Five Communities in Alabama

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Three Communities in South Carolina

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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EPA Advises Facility Operators to Minimize Releases during Hazardous Weather Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2017 EPA Advises Facility Operators to Minimize Releases during Hazardous Weather Events

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Mississippi Receives Record Nine Brownfield Grants Totaling $2.89 Million

 

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

Phil Bryant, GOVERNOR

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Gary C. Rikard, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact: Robbie Wilbur

May 31, 2017                                                                          601/961-5277

 

Mississippi Receives Record Nine Brownfield Grants Totaling $2.89 Million

           

(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced Wednesday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a record nine Brownfields grants to entities in the State of Mississippi.  The amount awarded totals more than $2.89 million. 

 

“The State of Mississippi received more grants this year than any other state in EPA’s Region 4.  In addition, these nine grants total more than the state has ever received in any other year.  These grants will improve the environment as well as help boost the economy of these areas as they assess and plan projects in their areas,” said Gary Rikard, MDEQ Executive Director.  “Our success this year is a result of the hard work of our community leaders, their grant writing staffs, and the staff of MDEQ’s Brownfield Program.  We should all be proud that we have been able to obtain this funding that can have a real impact in these communities.” 

 

MDEQ staff have worked with local governments and the Mississippi Municipal League to offer technical assistance and Brownfield grant writing workshops to communities seeking the EPA funds.  In EPA Region 4, 111 applications were received for funding, with 40 ultimately receiving some level of funding.  Mississippi entities submitted 10 applications with 9 entities receiving funding. 

 

·         The City of Vicksburg will receive $400,000 for two brownfields cleanup grants ($383,500 for hazardous substances and $16,500 for petroleum). The funds will be used to clean up the 1832 Kuhn North Facility and the 1959 Kuhn South Facility of the former Kuhn Memorial Hospital. Both cleanup sites were part of a 12.8-acre former hospital, which has been vacant since 1989. They are contaminated with metals, PCBs, and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds for both sites also will be used to conduct air monitoring and support community involvement activities.

·         Canton – $300,000 ($200,000 for hazardous substances and $100,000 for petroleum) to include an update of the city’s brownfields inventory.

·         Clarksdale – $300,000 ($166,200 for hazardous substances and $133,800 for petroleum) to include an update of the city’s brownfields inventory. Assessment activities will focus on the 18th Street Neighborhood and the Brickyard Area.

·         Crystal Springs – $300,000 ($123,000 for hazardous substances and $177,000 for petroleum) to include area-wide planning and the prioritization of the city’s brownfield sites.

·         East Central Planning and Development District – $299,700 ($155,100 for hazardous substances and $144,600 for petroleum) to include an inventory and prioritization of brownfield sites. Assessment activities will focus on the cities of Forest, Philadelphia, and Meridian.

·         Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, Inc. – $600,000 ($400,000 for hazardous substances and $200,000 for petroleum) to include the expansion of a brownfields inventory. Assessment activities will focus on four census tracts within Choctaw, Clay, Noxubee and Oktibbeha Counties. Partners include the cities of West Point, and Starkville, and the counties of Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston.

·         Greenville – $300,000 ($200,000 for hazardous substances and $100,000 for petroleum) to include area-wide planning. One area of focus is the Lower Mississippi River Port Investment Initiative Area.

·         Louisville – $400,000 ($205,000 for hazardous substances and $195,000 for petroleum) to include the prioritization of brownfields sites and begin area-wide planning. Assessment activities will focus on West Louisville, East Louisville, and southeast Winston County. Partners are the City of Noxapater and Winston County.

 

A Brownfield is a property, of which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.   EPA's Brownfields Program enables states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.

# # #

 

City of Eugene and Partners Selected for $500,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

EPA has selected the City of Eugene as the coalition lead, in partnership with the City of Springfield and Lane County, for two brownfield environmental site assessment grants totaling $500,000.

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EPA Provides Brownfields Grant and Assistance to two NH Communities

BOSTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that communities in New Hampshire would be given two awards totaling $500,00 for brownfield site revitalization. These communities are among 172 across the country to receive EPA Brownfields funding.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Three Communities in South Carolina

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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Grays Harbor Council of Governments Selected for $600,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

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U.S. EPA Announces $1.4 Million in Brownfields Grants to Promote Economic Redevelopment in Southern California Communities

LOS ANGELES – Today, the U.S.

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Montana communities receive more than $1.5 million for property cleanup and redevelopment

DENVER – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected six Montana organizations to receive more than $1.5 million in Brownfields grants to assess, cleanup and redevelop properties that have been identified by local interests as priorities for productive reuse.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Seven Communities in Georgia

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Five Communities in Florida

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Eight Communities in Mississippi

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Five Communities in North Carolina

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Four Communities in Kentucky

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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Acadiana Planning Commission uses EPA grant to assess contaminated properties

DALLAS – (May 31, 2017) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $300,000 to the Acadiana Planning Commission in Lafayette, La. The organization is one of 172 communities across the country selected to receive funding for brownfield site revitalization efforts.

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for West Virginia

WASHINGTON (May 31, 2017) – Today, the U.S.

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Kodiak Island Borough Selected for $600,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Eight Communities in Mississippi

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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Oklahoma City receives $300,000 from EPA to assess environmental hazards

DALLAS (May 31, 2017) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is one of 172 communities across the country selected to receive funding for brownfield site revitalization efforts.

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Municipality of Anchorage Selected for $300,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

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Montana communities receive nearly $1.5 million for property cleanup and redevelopment

DENVER – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected six Montana organizations to receive nearly $1.5 million in Brownfields grants to assess, cleanup and redevelop properties that have been identified by local interests as priorities for productive reuse.

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Hardesty Renaissance Economic Development Corporation Selected for $200,000 EPA Brownfields Grant to Continue Cleanup of Abandoned Former Federal Complex in Kansas City, Mo.

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Port of Skagit Selected for $195,000 Brownfields Assessment Grants

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EPA Brownfields Funding Announced for Five Communities in North Carolina

ATLANTA – Today, the U.S.

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City of Bastrop to receive $300,000 from EPA to assess environmental hazards

DALLAS – (May 31, 2017) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $300,000 to the City of Bastrop, La. The organization is one of 172 communities across the country selected to receive funding for brownfield site revitalization efforts.

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City of St. Helens Selected for $300,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

EPA has selected the City of St. Helens, Oregon for two brownfields environmental site assessment grants totaling $300,000. With this funding, St.

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EPA Selects Communities in Alaska, Oregon and Washington for Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grants

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City of Bremerton Selected for $300,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

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Montrose, Colorado receives $300K for property assessment and redevelopment

DENVER – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the City of Montrose, Colorado as a recipient of a $300,000 Brownfields grant to assess properties that have been identified as priorities for productive reuse.

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Skamania County Selected for $300,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

EPA has selected Skamania County for two brownfields environmental site assessment grants totaling $300,000.

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City of Dubuque, Iowa, Selected for $200,000 EPA Brownfields Grant to Clean Up, Revitalize Former Junkyard in Washington Neighborhood

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Laramie, Wyoming receives $300K for environmental assessment and property redevelopment

DENVER – The U.S.

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EPA and the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma clean and revitalize property with EPA grant

DALLAS (May 31, 2017) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma is one of 172 communities and tribes across the country selected to receive funding for brownfield site revitalization efforts.

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Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Medford and Grants Pass Selected for $600,000 in Brownfields Assessment Grants

EPA has selected Rogue Valley Council of Governments and coalition partners Jackson County and the cities of Medford, Central Point and Grants Pass for two brownfields environmental site assessment grants totaling $600,000.

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EPA Awards $1.15 Million to South Carolina to Protect Water Quality

ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1,156,250 grant to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to help protect human health and the environment.

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EPA Schedules Public Meeting for the Burlington Industries Cheraw Site in Cheraw, S.C.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting at Long Middle School on June 1, 2017, at 6 p.m. to discuss activities at the Burlington Industries Cheraw Site located in Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

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U.S. EPA to Announce Funding to Create Parks and Community Gardens

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EPA Schedules Public Meeting for the Burlington Industries Cheraw Site in Cheraw, S.C.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting at Long Middle School on June 1, 2017, at 6 p.m. to discuss activities at the Burlington Industries Cheraw Site located in Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S. EPA to Announce Funding for Revitalization of Industrial Waterfront

SAN FRANCISCO –  Tomorrow, May 31, U.S. EPA Acting Regional Administrator Alexis Strauss will announce funding to assess and clean up contaminated properties along Pittsburg’s industrial waterfront, as well as in other Bay Area locations.

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Investigation Into Suspected 'Cancer Cluster' in Florida

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — An investigation into a suspected "cancer cluster" at the site of two demolished schools will involve an independent review of environmental testing dating back decades and a request by health authorities to see patient medical records.

The Herald-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/2qlrodF ) families of alumni from Bayshore High School and the adjoining and abandoned Manatee Technical Institute believe potentially hundreds of cancer cases could be traced back to soil or other contamination at the school sites in Bradenton, Florida. Bayshore was demolished and rebuilt in 1999, and Manatee Technical was recently demolished.

Source: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida/articles/2017-05-28/investigation-into-suspected-cancer-cluster-in-florida

 

Hazardous waste cleanup begins at Crest Rubber Company in Alliance, Ohio

For Immediate Release: No. 16-OPA061

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FBA LEGISLATIVE ALERT - HB 7109 signed into law today; VCTC doubled

FBA LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Governor Rick Scott signed HB 7109 into law today (the Florida Legislature's tax package).   Florida's Voluntary Cleanup Tax Credit (VCTC) will now be increased and doubled from $5 million per year to $10 million per year.   This takes effect as of July 1, 2017.

The FBA applauds this measure and thanks FDEP, Governor Scott, and the Florida Legislature in supporting this important legislation and the FBA membership, Florida's Brownfield stakeholders, and Rheb Harbison and Dean Cannon (the FBA lobbyists) for all of their incredible work.

Best regards,

Michael Sznapstajler
FBA President

Jason Lichtstein and Jay Nordqvist
FBA Legislative & Policy Committee Co-Chairs

Florida Brownfields Association
1625 Summit Lake Drive, Suite 300
Tallahassee, FL  32317
850-402-2954

 

 

EPA Budget: EPA is investing over $118 million in support for Brownfields

EPA Budget Returns Focus to Core Statutory Mission
05/23/2017
Contact Information: 
(press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON –The proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced today, provides $5.655 billion to help the agency protect human health and the environment. With a 31 percent cut from the FY 2017 Annualized Continuing Resolution, and a 30 percent reduction from the FY 2017 Enacted budget, the President’s budget aims to reduce redundancies and inefficiencies and prioritize EPA’s core statutory mission of providing Americans with clean air, land, and water.
 
“The President’s budget respects the American taxpayer,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “This budget supports EPA’s highest priorities with federal funding for priority work in infrastructure, air and water quality, and ensuring the safety of chemicals in the marketplace.”

DETAILS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDE:

Supporting the President’s Focus on the Nation’s Infrastructure
The infrastructure of the nation is not limited to roads and bridges. The infrastructure needs of our communities are broader. They include making improvements to drinking water and waste water infrastructure as well as a focus on cleaning up contaminated land. Efforts in the Superfund and Brownfields programs can lead to tangible benefits for communities: a cleaner environment and the redevelopment of sites back to beneficial or to new economic use, which is important to the economic well-being of communities and provides a new foundation for American greatness.

-- In FY 2018, the Superfund Remedial program provides $342 million to support states, local communities and tribes in their efforts to assess and cleanup many of the worst contaminated sites in the United States and return them to productive use. EPA will maximize appropriated dollars by reducing administrative costs, identifying efficiencies, and prioritizing the cleanup of sites where funds are available from existing settlements with responsible parties.

-- In FY 2018, EPA is investing over $118 million in support for Brownfields to help communities oversee, assess, safely cleanup and redevelop brownfield properties. The cleanup and reuse of contaminated lands often can play a role in economically revitalizing a community.

FREE WEBINAR: 05/31/2017 - Vapor Intrusion: Investigating and Understanding Risk

Land Science is pleased to present a webinar with Dr. Kenneth S. Tramm, a founding Principal with Texas-based engineering firm, Modern Geosciences. In our previous webinar, Dr. Tramm discussed how vapor intrusion is impacting the environmental due diligence industry, with a focus on screening for vapor intrusion. During this upcoming free webinar, Dr. Tramm will provide us with an overview on investigating vapor intrusion and understanding risk. Joining Dr. Tramm will be Thomas Szocinski, Director of Vapor Intrusion at Land Science, who will share successful vapor mitigation case studies.   Register for Webinar   Date and Time: Wednesday, May 31st, 2017 11am Pacific / 2pm Eastern   Key vapor intrusion topics include: Assessment of vapor intrusion Installation of soilgas monitoring points An overview of the tailored vapor intrusion evaluations that are possible   About the Presenters: Kenneth Tramm, PhD, PG, CHMM Principal with Modern Geosciences Dr. Tramm is a founding Principal with Modern Geosciences, a Texas-based engineering firm. His day-to-day work includes air quality monitoring, environmental due diligence, risk-based closures, and remediation design. Prior to founding Modern Geosciences he previously directed environmental due diligence at two international engineering firms.   Thomas Szocinski, CEP Land Science Director of Vapor Intrusion Thomas Szocinski is the Director of Vapor Intrusion for Land Science. He is a nationally recognized vapor intrusion expert with over 15 years' experience as an environmental scientist, focusing on vapor intrusion assessment and mitigation, remediation, site assessment, and Brownfield site management.

EPA Announces Superfund Task Force

WASHINGTON – As part of his continued effort to prioritize Superfund cleanups, U.S.

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EPA Approves National Guard Request to Modify Training Restrictions; Cites Continued Emphasis on Protecting Cape Cod Aquifer

BOSTON - After soliciting and considering comments from the public, the U.S. EPA has approved a Massachusetts Army National Guard request to resume military training at Joint Base Cape Cod with oversight by the Massachusetts Environmental Management commission.

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EPA requires BNSF Railway Company to begin work at abandoned uranium mines

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an agreement with BNSF Railway Company to begin cleanup at the Haystack Mines Site, a group of three abandoned uranium mines near Prewitt, New Mexico and the Baca/Prewitt chapter, on Navajo Nation. 

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EPA Investigation Shows No Manhattan Project Waste in Homes Sampled in Spanish Village, Bridgeton, Mo.

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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EPA partners with Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma to continue cleanup at Tar Creek Superfund site; EPA awards over $4 Million to tribe

DALLAS (May 18, 2017) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) recently awarded $4,896,088 in financial assistance to the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma. The tribe will use the funds to continue remediating contaminated soils from tribal lands.

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EPA Provides $200,000 for Green Job Training in Puerto Rico

(New York, N.Y.) Illustrating its strong commitment to improving the environment and investing in the economic health of communities, the U.S.

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EPA Provides $200,000 for Green Job Training in Buffalo, New York

(New York, N.Y.) Illustrating its strong commitment to improving the environment and investing in the economic health of communities, the U.S.

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Florida Brownfields Association - 2017 Legislative Update

The Florida Brownfield Assn. (FBA) has developed the following Legislative 2017 End-Of-Regular Session Summary.  For more information about FBA and the benefits of membership, please refer to their web site at http://www.floridabrownfields.org"

 

 

 

FBA LEGISLATIVE

2017 END-OF-REGULAR SESSION SUMMARY

 

Dear FBA Members:

The 2017 regular session of the Florida Legislature has concluded.   This provides a highlight and an end-of-session summary of legislative items that the FBA was involved in and/or followed.    

 1.    Increased VCTC Funding.    HB 7109, the Florida Legislature's comprehensive tax cut bill, passed the full Florida House and the Florida Senate on the last day of the session, on May 8.   HB 7109 includes a permanent statutory increase in the Voluntary Cleanup Tax Credit (VCTC) from $5M per year to $10M per year.    This bill has not yet been sent to Governor Rick Scott for review and action.    A permanent increase in VCTC funding has been a long-standing goal of the FBA's.

 2.    Brownfield Job Bonus Refund.    Legislation proposing the statutory repeal of various state financial and economic incentives and programs, including the Brownfield Job Bonus Refund, did not pass this session.   The budget bills that passed the Florida Legislature included continued funding for the Brownfield Job Bonus Refund.   At the same time, the budget bills have not yet been sent to Governor Scott for review and action.

3.   Contamination Notification Legislation.   SB 1018, revising state contamination notification laws, passed the Florida Senate and then the Florida House.   This bill has not yet been sent to Governor Rick Scott for review and action.  SB 1018 defines the term "reportable pollution release," requires an owner or operator to report within 24 hours after the discovery, and requires FDEP publish the information and establish an electronic mailing list to disseminate the information.

Other provisions in SB 1018 that may be of interest to Brownfield users address how petroleum Advanced Cleanup funding under the state petroleum cleanup program will be allocated. There is specific language recognizing an eligible site's priority ranking may inhibit redevelopment.   From a $30 million advanced cleanup allocation from the Inland Land Protection Trust Fund, up to $5 million of these funds may be designated by FDEP for advanced cleanup of individual sites planned for redevelopment, with a maximum $1 million for individual sites per fiscal year.  This funding allocation is to be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis is exempt from the requirement to pay 25 percent of cleanup or cost share commitments. 

SB 1018 also provides a new provision for Advanced Site Assessment as part of FDEP's drycleaner cleanup program.   A property owner who is eligible for site rehabilitation under FDEP's drycleaner solvent cleanup program may request an advanced site assessment in advance of the site priority list ranking.  Allocated funding may not exceed 10 percent of the annual Water Quality Assurance Trust Fund appropriation for the drycleaning solvent cleanup program, and the total funds committed to any one site may not exceed $70,000.

4.   CRA Legislation.   Legislation proposing significant reduction and revision in CRA authorities did not pass this session. 

If you have any comments or questions, please don't hesitate to let us know.    Thank you,

Michael Sznapstajler
FBA President

Jason Lichtstein and Jay Nordqvist
FBA Legislative & Policy Committee Co-Chairs

EPA Selects Florida State College at Jacksonville, Fla. for Brownfield Job Training Grant

Transforming Lives and Land Across the Country through EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program

 

05/16/2017

 

Contact Information: 

 

Dawn Harris-Young (harris-young.dawn@epa.gov)

(404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main)

 

ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Florida State College at Jacksonville, Fla. is one of 14 organizations to receive funding to operate environmental job training programs for local unemployed residents. Funded through the Agency’s Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training (EWDJT) Program, the organizations will receive a total of approximately $2.7 million to help residents learn the skills needed to secure employment in the environmental field. These grants help prepare people for green jobs that reduce environmental contamination and provide more sustainable futures for the communities most affected by solid and hazardous waste contamination. 

 

Florida State College at Jacksonville plans to train 60 students and place at least 45 graduates in environmental jobs. The core training program includes 273 hours of instruction in: 40-hour HAZWOPER; OSHA courses in laboratory standards, disaster site worker, oil spills supervisor, construction safety, general industry, confined space entry, and bloodborne pathogens; environmental justice awareness; EPA 24-hour hazardous material technician; medical waste collection and hazards; environmental sampling and analysis; environmental math and chemical safety; Florida storm water, erosion, sedimentation control inspector; FEMA National Incident Management System; first aid, CPR, and AED; mold and asbestos worker; EPA lead renovator; and IPM/pest worker standards and worker safety. Participants who complete the training program can earn a total of 21 state or federal certifications. Florida State College at Jacksonville is targeting unemployed and underemployed residents in Jacksonville’s urban core.

 

“Brownfields job training programs are a win-win for communities impacted by hazardous waste sites,” said U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “These job training programs can touch and change lives by providing valuable and marketable skills that also help protect our environment.”

 

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford,  R-FL,  said, “Through the Brownfield program, dozens of Northeast Florida residents will have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to reinvent these sites while gaining real-world work experience. These program transformations will positively impact the Jacksonville community, and will increase investments in our city.”

Today’s grantees include:

·         The Fortune Society, Inc., New York City, New York

·         Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., Portland, Oregon

·         Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, New Mexico

·         Florida State College, Jacksonville, Florida

·         People United for Sustainable Housing, Inc., Buffalo, New York

·         PathStone Corporation, Arecibo, Barceloneta and Manati, Puerto Rico

·         Zender Environmental Health and Research Group, Anchorage, Alaska

·         Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps., Racine, Wisconsin

·         OAI, Inc., Chicago, Illinois

·         Salish Kootenai College, Inc., Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana

·         Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board, Lawrence, Massachusetts

·         St. Louis Community College, St. Louis County, Missouri

·         City of Richmond, Richmond, California

·         Earth Conservancy, Ashley, Pennsylvania

For over two decades, EPA’s EWDJT program has helped put people to work by building a skilled workforce across the country. The program awards competitive grants to nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities to recruit, train and place unemployed and underemployed individuals.  Individuals completing the training have often overcome a variety of barriers to employment. Many are from low-income neighborhoods. The training programs also serve dislocated workers who have lost their jobs as a result of manufacturing plant closures, minorities, tribal members, transitioning veterans, ex-offenders and other individuals who may have faced barriers to employment. 

 

“It is an honor to be awarded the Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency," said Florida State College at Jacksonville President Dr. Cynthia Bioteau. "This important program will prepare participants for a wide-range of environmental employment opportunities in Jacksonville, Florida and also supports vital collaboration with Northeast Florida employers who seek qualified workers."

 

Since 1998, when the EWDJT grant program started, more than 274 grants have been awarded exceeding $57 million. Approximately 16,300 individuals have completed training, and of those, more than 11,900 individuals have been placed in full-time employment earning an average starting wage of over $14 an hour. This equates to a cumulative job placement rate of 73 percent of graduates. 

 

There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in America.  Since the beginning of EPA’s Brownfields Program, investments have leveraged more than $22 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This has resulted in approximately 117,525 jobs nationwide. On average, $16.11 was leveraged for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 8.5 jobs leveraged per $100,000 of EPA brownfields funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements. When brownfields are addressed, nearby property values within a one-mile radius can increase 5-15.2% percent according to an independent study.

 

For more information on EWDJT grantees, including past EWDJT grantees, please visit:

https://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/

 

For more information on EPA’s EWDJT program, please visit: 

https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/environmental-workforce-development-and-job-training-grants

 

Alabama Brownfields Association formed to boost economic impact of brownfield sites

Source: Alabama Brownfields Association Press Release

 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Lauren Cooper: 205-241-8127 (office); 205-910-3215 (cell)

Ashley Rogers: 205-241-8102 (office); 205-451-7206 (cell)

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –May 16, 2017– In an effort to improve the environment and stimulate economic development, a group of stakeholders has recently formed the Alabama Brownfields Association (ALBFA) to provide education, advocacy and marketing on brownfield sites throughout Alabama. Brownfields are previously used industrial or commercial sites impacted by environmental contamination that have the potential for reuse if the contamination is cleaned up.

 

The ALBFA will assist the public and private sectors with promoting economic revitalization, land reuse, conservation, restoration, remediation, financial and regulatory incentives, legislative advocacy and education.

 

“The tremendous support we’ve received in forming this association is a clear indicator of the need for one statewide group, outside of a state agency, to assist in education and advocacy for Alabama’s brownfields,” said Russell C. Griebel, Executive Vice President at United Consulting in Birmingham and 2017 President of ALBFA. "Our goal is to help public and private entities understand that brownfields should not be an impediment to development, but rather a process of identification and resolution that ultimately gives back vital redevelopment opportunities to communities in Alabama, whether for commercial or residential use or green space for parks and recreation.”

 

Founding members of the association include representatives from Amec Foster Wheeler, Balch & Bingham LLP, Birmingham Business Alliance, BLOC Global Group, Burr & Forman LLP, City of Mobile, E3 Solutions, Highland Technical Services Inc., Matrix Environmental Services LLC, PPM Consultants, Resolute Environmental, Terracon and United Consulting. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is also a founding member and will assist with brownfield education and advocacy for the ALBFA, as well as concentrate on providing funding to clean up brownfield sites.

 

“ADEM is excited about the formation of the Alabama Brownfields Association and the opportunities to bring together stakeholders from all areas of brownfields redevelopment,” said Phil Davis, chief of the land division at ADEM. “We believe the Department's support for this effort to be an important part of our redevelopment program's goal to rebuild Alabama, brick by brick.”

 

While it is unknown how many brownfield sites are in Alabama, a number of projects illustrate the impact of their reuse. Previous brownfield sites like the Lyric Theatre and Railroad Park in Birmingham and Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium have played influential roles in the regeneration of the regional economy.

 

The ALBFA is closely modeled after the Georgia Brownfield Association, which was created in 2011 and has been instrumental in the redevelopment of underutilized and environmentally impacted areas in that state.

 

To introduce the new association and discuss goals, the ALBFA and ADEM will host the 2017 Alabama Brownfields Conference on August 10 and 11, 2017, at the Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center on Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala. The association is offering various sponsorship and exhibit opportunities for the event to showcase professional groups in the brownfield community.

 

ALBFA is now accepting applications for membership and donations that will go toward hosting the August conference and its work in education and advocacy. Ideal ALBFA members will have backgrounds in architecture, economic development, environmental issues, land consulting, real estate development, governmental affairs and other areas.

 

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