EPA Announces #Brownfield Grants

Release Date: 05/08/2013
Contact Information: Enesta Jones, jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of 240 recipients recommended to receive $62.5 million in grants to protect people’s health and the environment in local communities. These new investments, funded by EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grants, provide communities with funding necessary to assess, cleanup and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.

“Brownfields sites are community assets and a key component of the Obama Administration’s efforts to provide tools to sustainably revitalize communities and foster economic development,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “Through these grant resources local communities can continue to assess, cleanup and redevelop properties to meet local needs for jobs, housing and recreation while protecting people’s health and the local environment.”

These Brownfields grants target under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed. Approximately $29.5 million are going to communities that have been impacted by auto plant closures. Other selected recipients include tribes and communities in 45 states across the country. Communities selected range in population from a few hundred, like City of St. Marks, Fla. to New York City, which is home to more than 8 million people. Specifically, 106 grants will support communities with populations greater than 100,000 and 134 grants will go to communities with fewer than 100,000 residents -- with 29 of these will go to communities of less than 10,000 people. Nearly half of the grantees this year are new recipients.

The InterRoyal Mill in Connecticut and a former Electroplater property in New York are just two examples of former industrial sites receiving assessment funding. In Rhode Island, cleanup funding will go toward cleaning up an abandoned former service station and other contaminated properties at the Uniroyal rubber plant site. Other types of sites selected for cleanup include a closed middle school, salvage yard, hospital and manufacturing properties. Future anticipated uses include neighborhood redevelopment, commercial revitalization, an arts center, business park, wellness center/clinic, community health center, theater, and office space.

There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated sites in the United States. More than 20,000 properties have been assessed, and more than 850 properties have been cleaned up through EPA’s Brownfields program. EPA’s Brownfields investments have also leveraged more than $19 billion in overall cleanup and redevelopment funding from public and private sources. On average $17.79 is leveraged for every EPA Brownfields grant dollar spent. These investments resulted in approximately 87,000 jobs nationwide. When Brownfields are addressed, nearby property values can increase 2-3 percent. A 2011 pilot study indicated Brownfields site redevelopment increases location efficiency, which means that residents live closer to where they work and play reducing their commute times and greenhouse gas emissions. EPA’s preliminary research has also shown that redeveloping Brownfield sites results in an efficient reuse of existing infrastructure and decreasing instances of stormwater runoff. These projects can have a positive impact on community revitalization by leveraging jobs, producing clean energy, and providing recreation opportunities for surrounding neighborhoods.

More information on Brownfields grants by state: http://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/

More information on EPA’s Brownfields:
Program http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

Success Stories http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm

Benefits http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/overview/Brownfields-Benefits-postcard.pdf

OCT. 22 - EPA WEBINAR: #Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grants

Name: The FY13 #Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant Guidelines

Audience:  All potential Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grant applicants

Date & Time:  Monday, October 22, 2012 @ 2pm EST

Webinar Location:  https://epa.connectsolutions.com/awpguidelines/
Call-in for Audio: 866-299-3188 / code: 202 566 2773

Summary: The purpose of this webinar is to walk through the FY13 Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grant Guidelines, discuss eligibility and ranking criteria and answer any questions potential applicants may have.

Instructions: To access the powerpoint presentation and post questions/comments please join the webinar by clicking on the link above. For audio, please dial in using the conference call number provided.

Best #Brownfield CLEANUP Proposals from Last Year

We've updated our CLEANUP Page to include the 2012 EPA #Brownfields Cleanup Grantees.  Here's a link:

Southern Brownfield Report CLEANUPS Page

Webinar: EPA’s Brownfield Area-wide Pilot Program: Lessons Learned and Upcoming New Funding Opportunity

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM EDT

Source: NALGEP.org

The NALGEP Brownfield Communities Network is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfield Area-wide Pilot Program.

EPA launched the Brownfield Area-wide Pilot Program in 2010 and provided grants and technical assistance to 23 pilot communities across the nation.  According to EPA, the program aims to “assist communities in responding to local brownfield challenges, particularly where multiple brownfield sites are in close proximity, connected by infrastructure, and overall limit the economic, environmental and social prosperity of their surroundings.”

The webinar will address the progress of the Area-wide program with a focus on lessons learned thus far, examples of successful pilots, and plans for the upcoming Request for Proposals for the next round of Area-wide pilot grants.  Speakers will include: 

• Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator, U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
• Drew Curtis, Community Development Program Manager, Ironbound Community Corporation

To register, go to the following web address:   https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/232971496

EPA #Brownfields Grant Webinars - 9/25, 9/27, 9/28

In response to the listening sessions held earlier this year, the Office of Brownfield and Land Revitalization will host two outreach webinars aimed at providing a national overview of the Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Clean Up (ARC) Request for Proposal (RFP). These webinars are geared to anyone that intends to apply for funding in FY13. Outreach webinars will be held on Tuesday, September 25 and Friday, September 28, 2012. 

Additionally, EPA in partnership with K-State will host a webinar on Thursday, September 27 that will address using TABez as a tool to assist with writing Assessment and Cleanup proposals.

Webinar Information
Name: FY 13 National Outreach (No. 1)
Location: https://epa.connectsolutions.com/fy13-arc-outreach/
Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm EST

Name: FY 13 National Outreach (No. 2)
Location: https://epa.connectsolutions.com/fy13-arc-outreach-2/
Date: Friday, September 28, 2012
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

Name: TABez Webinar
Location: https://epa.connectsolutions.com/tabez/
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm EST

Note: Registering for TABez prior to attending the webinar will greatly increase the learning experience. Register at http://www.tabez.org/. Additionally, the FY12 Brooksville, FL assessment proposal will be used to demonstrate the TABez tool. This proposal can be found on the TABez website under Sample Grant Applications.

Should you have any questions regarding this webinar series, please feel free to contact Jeanette Mendes at (202) 566-1887 or email at mendes.jeanette@epa.gov.

#Brownfield ASSESSMENTS Web Page - UPDATED!!!

We've updated our ASSESSMENTS Page to include the 2012 EPA #Brownfields Assessment Grantees.  Here's a link:

Southern Brownfield Report ASSESSMENTS Page

EPA Brownfield Grants - Summary of Changes to FY 13 ARC Guidelines

1.A.3               Coalition Assessment Grants (Assessment Page 5, RLF Page 4)

Add:                Coalition members may not be members of other coalitions or apply for their own assessment funding. 

Change:           Decrease the amount of funding from $1,000,000 to $600,000

Add:                A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) documenting the coalition’s site selection process must be in place prior to the expenditure of any funds that have been awarded to the coalition. The coalition members should identify and establish relationships necessary to achieve the project’s goal.  A process for successful execution of the project’s goal, to include a description and role of each coalition member should be established along with the MOA.  The purpose of the MOA…

I.D                   Livability Principles (Assessment Page 7, RLF Page 6, Cleanup Page 6)

Change from:   On June 16, 2009, EPA joined with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide.  It is the goal of this partnership to discourage sprawl and encourage or incentivize location efficient investments, smart growth practices, and green infrastructure development.

As a result of this federal partnership, a set of guiding livability principles have been developed.  The Livability Principles can be found at www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/index.html#livabilityprinciples and include:

(1) Provide more transportation choices, (2) Promote equitable, affordable housing, (3) Increase economic competitiveness, (4) support existing communities, (5) Leverage federal investment, and (6) Value communities and neighborhoods.  EPA recognizes that eligible activities listed in these guidelines advance the partnership’s livability principles by providing funding to inventory, characterize, assess and conduct planning that promotes cleanup and sustainable reuse of brownfield sites.

Change to:       EPA’s Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan, and Cleanup (ARC) Program is being carried out under the Partnership for Sustainable Communities (PSC) among the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and EPA.  The Partnership was conceived to advance development patterns and infrastructure investment programs that achieve improved economic prosperity, healthy, environmentally sustainable, and opportunity-rich communities for all Americans, regardless of race or income.  Recognizing the fundamental role that public investment plays in achieving these outcomes, the Administration charged three agencies whose programs impact the physical form of communities—HUD, DOT, and EPA—to coordinate and incorporate the Livability Principles into their policies and funding programs to the maximum degree possible.  The Livability Principles can be found at www.sustainablecommunities.gov and include:   (1) provide more transportation choices, (2) promote equitable, affordable housing, (3) increase economic competitiveness, (4) support existing communities, (5) leverage federal investment, and (6) value communities and neighborhoods.

Under ranking criterion V, Project Benefits, applicants will be evaluated on how their proposed BF ARC project will advance the Livability Principles (see Section V. B.).   Specifically, ranking criterion V, Project Benefits asks applicants to describe how their proposed BF Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, or Cleanup project will lead to sustainable and equitable outcomes.

Add:                Linking BF Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Approaches to Sustainable and Equitable Development Outcomes

Under the Project Benefits criteria, EPA will evaluate the extent to which applicants incorporate sustainable and equitable cleanup and reuse approaches into their proposed BF Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (BF ARC) project.  The Agency will also consider how well an Applicant’s proposed project is coordinated with HUD, DOT, EPA programs and programs available from other potential federal and non-federal partners.  Sustainable and equitable approaches can ensure brownfields are cleaned up and reused in ways that:

·       contribute to greener and healthier homes, buildings, and neighborhoods;

·    mitigate environmental conditions through effective deconstruction and remediation strategies which address solid and hazardous waste, and improve air and water quality;

·    improve access by residents to greenspace, recreational property, transit, schools, other nonprofit uses (e.g., libraries, health clinics, youth centers, etc.), and healthy and affordable food;

·    improve employment and affordable housing opportunities for local residents;

·    reduce toxicity, illegal dumping, and blighted vacant parcels; and

·    retain residents who have historically lived within the area affected by brownfields.

Sustainable development practices facilitate environmentally-sensitive brownfield cleanup and redevelopment while also helping to make communities more attractive, economically stronger, and more socially diverse.  While ensuring consistency with community-identified priorities, sustainable development approaches encourage brownfield site cleanup and reuse in ways that provide new jobs, commercial opportunities, open space amenities, and/or social services to an existing neighborhood.  Brownfield site preparation strategies that prevent contaminant exposure through green building design, materials recycling, enable urban agricultural reuse, promote walkability to/around the site and contribute to community walkability, and on-site stormwater management through green infrastructure, among other approaches, can contribute to sustainable development outcomes. 

Equitable development outcomes come about when intentional strategies are put in place to ensure that low-income and minority communities not only participate in, but benefit from, decisions that shape their neighborhoods and regions.  There are many different approaches that promote equitable development, such as ensuring a mix of housing types across a range of incomes, access to fresh food, access to jobs, and access to local capital.  Programs or policies can be put in place to help ensure creation or integration of affordable housing; local or first-source hiring; minority contracting; inclusionary zoning (where a percentage of new housing is designated as affordable housing); healthy food retailers in places where they do not exist (e.g. food deserts); co-operative ownership models where local residents come together to run a community-owned, jointly owned business enterprise; rent control or community land trusts (to help keep property affordable for residents); supportive local entrepreneurial activities, and adherence to equal lending opportunities.

EPA encourages applicants to provide specific examples of how the proposed BF Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, or Cleanup project will work to remove economic, environmental and social barriers to make sustainable and equitable brownfields cleanup and reuse of the highest priority.   

Please note, if the above language (I.D. Livability Principles) is modified before the proposal submission deadline, the guidelines will be amended to reflect this change which could affect your proposal’s content.

V.A.                Review and Selection Process (RLF Page 20)

Add:                For evaluation and selection purposes, EPA’s Office of Brownfield and Land Revitalization (OBLR) will prepare two ranked lists of eligible RLF proposals. One list will be comprised of “new” applicants defined as those applicants who have never received an EPA brownfield RLF grant before with the exception of a pilot grant EPA awarded in 2002 or earlier. A second list will be comprised of “existing and former” applicants defined as those applicants who have a current brownfield RLF grant or have had a grant that was awarded in 2003 or later.  The Agency intends to use approximately 50% of the total amount of funding available under this announcement for grants to “new” applicants. This percentage is an estimate and is subject to change based on funding levels, the quality of proposals received and other applicable considerations.

V.B.2.c.ii         Adverse Audits (Assessment Page 33, RLF Page 26, Cleanup Page 34)

Change:           Describe any adverse audit findings associated with a state or federal grant.

Add:                Respond to this criterion regardless of whether or not you have had a federal or non-federal assistance agreement.

V.B.4               Project Benefits (Assessment Page 34)

Add:                While citing to health statistics is appropriate the preparation or citing to health studies is unnecessary.   

V.C.                Other Factors (Assessment Page 35/36, RLF Page 29, Cleanup Page 37)

Add:                Fair distribution of funds between urban and non-urban areas including an equitable distribution to “micro” communities (those communities with populations of 10,000 or less).  EPA strongly encourages non-urban communities, including “micro” communities to apply.  Additionally, the EPA has a special consideration to ensure fair distribution of funds between urban and non-urban areas (Section V.C. Other Factors).  The EPA selection official may consider this factor when making the final selections;

Add:                Provide summary on how applicable special considerations apply

Add:                The needs of communities adversely affected by natural disasters (2005 or later)

Add:                Communities experiencing plant closures that occurred in 2007 or later,…

Add:                Whether the applicant is a recipient of an EPA Brownfield Area-Wide Planning grant.

Change from:   Whether the applicant is a recipient of a HUD/DOT/EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities grant

Change to:       Whether the applicant is a recipient or a core partner of a HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities (PSC) grant that is directly tied to the project area, and can demonstrate that funding from a PSC grant has or will benefit the project area.  To be considered, applicant must attach documentation which demonstrates this connection to a HUD-DOT-EPA PSC grant

Appendix 3     Special Considerations Checklist (Assessment Page 60, RLF Page 54, Cleanup Page 62)

Add:                EPA will verify these disclosures prior to selection and consider this information during the evaluation process.  Describe how each consideration applies to your proposal and/or attach documentation, otherwise, this information will not be considered in the grant selection process.

Change:           Community is impacted by recent natural disaster(s) (2005 or later).  To be considered, applicant must identify here the timeframe and type of natural disaster.

                       

Change:           Community experiencing plant closures (or other significant economic disruptions) (2007 or later), including communities experiencing auto plant closures due to bankruptcy or economic disruptions.  To be considered, applicant mus identify here the timeframe and name of the plant recently closed and jobs lost, or reason for other significant economic disruption.

Add:                Applicant is a recipient or a core partner of a HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities (PSC) grant that is directly tied to the project area, and can demonstrate that funding from a PSC grant has or will benefit the project area.  To be considered, applicant must attach documentation which demonstrates this connection to a HUD-DOT-EPA PSC grant.

Add:                Applicant is a recipient of an EPA Brownfield Area-Wide Planning grant.

2013 EPA Brownfield Grant Guidelines Released: DEADLINE Nov. 19, 2012

• FY13 Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants
  EPA-OSWER-OBLR-12-07 - Closing Date: November 19, 2012
  The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act ("Brownfields Law", P.L. 107-118) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish guidance to assist applicants in preparing proposals for grants to assess and clean up brownfield sites. EPA's Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, communities, tribes, and nonprofits to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites. EPA provides brownfields funding for three types of grants: Brownfields Assessment Grants, Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants, and Brownfields Cleanup Grants. Under this RFP, EPA is seeking proposals for Assessment Grants, only, to provide funds to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning (including cleanup planning) and community involvement related to brownfield sites.
  • FY13 Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Grants (PDF) (58 pp, 581K,  About PDF)
    
    
• FY13 Guidelines for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants
  EPA-OSWER-OBLR-12-08 - Closing Date: November 19, 2012
    Under this RFP, EPA is seeking proposals for RLF Grants, only, to provide funds to capitalize a revolving fund and to make loans and provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.
  • FY13 Guidelines for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants (PDF) (52 pp, 490K,  About PDF)
    
    
• FY13 Guidelines for Brownfields Cleanup Grants
  EPA-OSWER-OBLR-12-09 - Closing Date: November 19, 2012
  Under this RFP, EPA is seeking proposals for Cleanup Grants, only, to provide funds to carry out cleanup activities at a specific brownfield site owned by the applicant.
  • FY13 Guidelines for Brownfields Cleanup Grants (PDF) (62 pp, 541K,  About PDF)

EPA Region 4/States Host The Brownfield Program 2013 Grant Application Training

EPA’s Region 4 Atlanta, GA Brownfields office will be hosting a series of teleconference sessions for the FY2013 Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) application guidelines. These guidelines are expected to be available nationally the week of August 13 (applications due around October 15). 

 

Each year, Region 4 hosts a training session designed to highlight changes to the guidelines and tips and tricks based on weakness noted in applications the prior year. This year, EPA and its State partners will focus on:

• applicant ‘readiness’; 
• providing multiple, shorter training segments; and 
• reminding you that your State Agency Brownfields contact can be a resource to you in preparing your application (certain parts require State involvement). 

The Brownfield grant program has become very competitive with about 1 in 5 applications in Region 4 being successful. EPA Region 4 and our State partners seek to improve those odds.Five (5) teleconference sessions are planned. There will be 125 phone lines available. Please use a conference phone if multiple people in your organization plan to participate. The first teleconference will focus on grant application readiness, and the other four (4) will follow the four sections each of the Assessment, RLF and Cleanup guidelines, with the minor changes for 2013 highlighted. The sessions will be between 30 and 45 minutes. The powerpoint presentations will be available on the Trainex registration site noted below prior to the teleconference, and on the Region 4 website after the end of the five (5) sessions.

Please Register at: www.trainex.org/r4bf

Region 4 website: http://www.epa.gov/region4/rcra/bflr/index.html

Session #1: Tuesday, Aug 21 10 am Grant Application Readiness
Session #2: Wednesday, Aug 22 10 am Ranking Criteria 1: Community Need
Session #3: Tuesday, Aug 28 10 am Ranking Criteria 2: Project Description & Feasibility of Success
Session #4: Wednesday, Aug 29 10 am Ranking Criteria 3: Community Engagement & Partnerships
Session #5: Tuesday, Sept 11 10 am Ranking Criteria 4: Project Benefits and Summary

Webinar: EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant Guidelines - August 23

Brownfields Cleanup Grant Guideline - August 23, 2012, 4:00PM-5:00PM EDT (20:00-21:00 GMT). This webinar will go into details about the EPA's Brownfield Cleanup Grant. This grant funds cleanup activities for applicants who: currently own a brownfield site that has met the statuary requirements for liability protection by completing a Phase 1 prior to purchase; has completed a Phase 2; and has completed an analysis for brownfields cleanup alternatives (ABCA). The webinar will go over the guidelines relating to threshold criteria which determine who is an eligible applicant, what brownfield sites are eligible for funding, and community notification of the application. Next the webinar will focus on the ranking criteria which address the need for a brownfield cleanup in your community and description of your project. Audience: Any potential brownfield applicant which includes any governmental entity, nonprofits, and tribes. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/live .

Webinar: Brownfield RLF Grant Guidelines - August 30

Brownfields RLF Grant Guideline - August 30, 2012, 4:00PM-5:00PM EDT(20:00-21:00 GMT). This webinar will go into details about the EPA's Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund grant. This grant funds cleanup activities through grants and loans. Grants can be given to brownfield site owners including nonprofits and governmental entities. Loans can be given to brownfield site owners including nonprofits, governmental entities and private property owners. The webinar will go over the guidelines relating to threshold criteria which determine who is an eligible applicant, fiscal requirements to run a loan program, and community notification of the application. Next the webinar will focus on the ranking criteria which address the need for a brownfield cleanups in your community and description of your revolving loan program. Audience: Any potential brownfield applicant which includes any governmental entity and tribes. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/live .

Webinar: EPA Brownfield Grant Guidelines - August 16th

Brownfields Assessment Grant Guideline - August 16, 2012, 4:00PM-5:00PM EDT (20:00-21:00 GMT). This webinar will focus on the Brownfield Assessment Grant program. Grants in this program cover all brownfield work prior to cleanup including: brownfield inventories; Phase 1 background on a property; Phase 2 sampling to determine extent of contamination at a site; and cleanup planning. Applicants to this program can choose to submit a community wide assessment which designates a target area from which many properties will be chosen for assessment work after the grant is awarded, to site specific property assessments where assessment work will focus on one property. The panel will also review applications from one entity vs. coalition applications. The assessment grants are available only to governmental entities. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/live

Brownfield Grants Overview from EPA

EPA recently held a webinar on its Brownfield Grants.  The now ARCHIVED webinar presents an overview of the EPA's Brownfield Assessment, Cleanup and Revolving Loan program. Grant guidelines for FY13 are expected to be published at the end of summer so taking time now to learn about the program will be especially useful to new applicants. The presenters will go over: basics of the brownfield program; the three types of grants; who is eligible to apply; and what projects the grants cover. This webinar is meant as a primer for the subsequent webinars we'll be hosting in August where we go into much more details for each of the three grants. Those webinars will be held on Aug. 16 - Assessments, Aug. 23 - Cleanup, and Aug. 30 - Revolving Loan Fund.

Links to this ARCHIVED WEBINAR,

PDF -  http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/r9bfoverview_071212/prez/Brownfields-101-7-12-12-Cluin-version-pdf.pdf
Audio - http://clu-in.tv/seminars/tio071212_full.mp3  

Texarkana, Texas, Receives Two EPA Brownfields Grants Totaling $1.3 Million

Source: Texasbusiness.com
7-2-12

Texas Business reports:  TEXARKANA, Texas—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced grant awards from the brownfields redevelopment program bringing the total to $1.3 million.

A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. 

“These brownfields grants will help convert environmental eyesores into sources of local pride,” said EPA acting regional administrator Sam Coleman in a prepared statement.  “EPA is committed to putting both people and property back to work and turning problem properties into community assets.”

 In May 2012, the EPA announced the city of Texarkana was selected to receive a $900,000 brownfields revolving loan fund grant which focused on 200 properties in the Historical Downtown and 7th Street Corridor.  

An additional multi-purpose grant totaling $400,000 will be used to assess and clean up a site located at 203/205 West Broad Street.  Past uses of the site included various shops and storage space.  The site is contaminated with both inorganic and organic materials, as well as heavy metals.  The funds will also be used to conduct a Phase II environmental assessment and develop a cleanup plan and remove contaminated materials from the buildings and cleanup soil.  The project is expected to preserve the façade and all salvageable interior features of a historic 1885 site for commercial development.

MORE

Valdosta Brownfields Assessment Grant Project Comes to a Close

Source: WCTV.TV
7/2/12

The City of Valdosta has closed out its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Assessment Grant, effective June 30, 2012. This $400,000 grant, awarded in July 2009 for a period of three years, allowed the city to identify, prioritize, and assess brownfield sites throughout our community.

A brownfield is a property in 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 empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.

Funding for this grant was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Valdosta was the only Georgia community to be funded by EPA with ARRA funds within the 6-state Region 4.

MORE

WEBINAR: Brownfield Grants Overview

Brownfield Grants Overview - July 12, 2012, 4:00PM-5:00PM EDT (20:00-21:00 GMT). This webinar will present an overview of the EPA's Brownfield Assessment, Cleanup and Revolving Loan program. Grant guidelines for FY13 are expected to be published at the end of summer so taking time now to learn about the program will be especially useful to new applicants. The presenters will go over: basics of the brownfield program; the three types of grants; who is eligible to apply; and what projects the grants cover. This webinar is meant as a primer for the subsequent webinars we'll be hosting in August where we go into much more details for each of the three grants. Those webinars will be held on August 16 - Assessments, August 23 - Cleanup, and August 30 - Revolving Loan Fund. Audience: Any potential brownfield applicant which includes any governmental entity, nonprofits and tribes. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/live .

City of Knoxville seeks brownfield input

Source: Knoxvillebiz.com, J. Flory
6/18/12

Thanks to some cash grants from Uncle Sam, the city of Knoxville is aiming to diagnose the environmental problems of certain industrial sites near downtown.  The city will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. tonight in connection with $400,000 worth of grants from the Environmental Protection Agency. The grants are to be used for petroleum site assessments and hazardous material site assessments.  Under the city's initiative, willing property owners in the Downtown North I-275 Redevelopment area will have the opportunity for such assessments to be performed on their sites.

MORE

EPA Announces Job Training Grant Selections

On Thursday June 21, 2012, in New Orleans, EPA announced selection of the FY 2012 Environmental Workforce and Job Training (EWD&JT) grants. There will be 15 grants awarded this year. Each grant is $200K each for a total of $3 Million. Region 4 will receive one grant, Durham NC. Durham is a previous recipient of two EPA Brownfields Job Training grants and two Brownfields Assessment grants. Region 4 received 12 grant proposals in this year’s EWD&JT competition.
 
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pilot_grants.htm

Florence, AL Brownfield Grant Application Denied

Source: TimesDaily.com, R.Corey
6/5/12

Steve Stanley is disappointed the city’s application for a brownfields grant was not approved, but he and others associated with the grant bid will try again. The Environmental Protection Agency’s brownfield grant program provides money to identify, assess, and in some cases, clean up old industrial sites so they can once again be productive. A task force identified numerous locations in the city and included them in the grant application. “We thought we had a pretty strong application,” said Stanley, a member of the Sheffield City Council. He said the city has requested the EPA send the documentation they use to “grade” the application, which will identify the shortfalls. That information can be used to beef up this year’s application, Stanley said.

MORE

Brownfield Sessions at Mississippi Municipal League Annual Conference (June 25-27)

There will be several opportunities to learn more about brownfield redevelopment at the Mississippi Municipal League (MML) Conference (June 25-27) at the Gulf Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.  A full schedule can be found here (OPEN AS ADOBE ACROBAT DOCUMENT) for the conference and the sessions dealing with redevelopment are as follows:

June 25 1PM-4PM
Roundtable Discussion (Room D11-D12) - Learn More About Tools, Grants, and Incentives for Redeveloping Sites in Your Community - Trey Hess, MDEQ and Nicole Bates, EPA

June 26 1PM-2PM
SESSION I-8 Redevelopment Strategies and Incentives: EPA Brownfield Grants (Room D8)
Presenters: Willie McKercher, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and Tyson Hackenberg, Shaw Group
Moderators: Mayor Eddie Fulton, Quitman; Mayor Larry Murray, Enterprise

June 26 2:15PM-3:15PM
SESSION II-5 Statutory Requirements for Cleaning Private Property (Room D5)
Presenters Troy Johnston, Phelps Dunbar; Alan Hart, City of Ridgeland
Moderators Mayor Dale Fortenberry, Farmington; Quincy Mukoro, MML Staff

June 27 9:15PM-10:15PM
SESSION I-3 Superfund - Working Together to Clean Up Mississippi (Room D3)
Presenters Franklin Hill, Director, EPA Superfund Division;
Melissa McGee-Collier, Director, EPA Office of Community Engagement
Moderators Alderman Frank E. Williams, Ellisville; Karen Jackson, City Clerk , Pickens

June 27 11:30AM
AWARDS LUNCHEON
Special Presentations - Trudy Fisher