EPA Guidance - Cleaning Up Brownfields under State Response Programs – Getting to ‘No Further Action’

This newly published report by EPA provides information on certain aspects of state response programs available to owners and prospective purchasers of brownfields. It is a guide for owners of brownfields properties on the general requirements for enter­ing a brownfield into a state cleanup program and the process for attaining a state decision or certification of the need for “no further action” under each state response program. This report is a central source of information regarding the process available in each state for attaining a state decision or certification of the need for “no further action” under each state response program. The report summarizes information gathered from state response program contacts and state response program websites.   A link to the report is found below:

Cleaning Up Brownfields under State Response Programs – Getting to ‘No Further Action’ (PDF)(132 pp, 13 MB)

Brownfields 2017 Date Set

2017 National #Brownfield Training Conference

David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA

December 5-7, 2017

ANNOUNCING New Request for Proposals: FY 2017 Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant Guidelines

EPA has announced the availability of funding to eligible entities who wish to develop an area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. This funding is for research and/or technical assistance activities directed to one or more brownfield site(s) located in a specific area (such as a neighborhood, downtown or business district, local commercial corridor, community waterfront or city blocks). Each project funded under this grant must result in an area-wide plan which includes specific plan implementation strategies for assessing, cleaning up, and reusing the brownfields site(s) as well as related brownfields and project area revitalization strategies. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 20 projects in total, funded at up to $200,000 each.

The proposal submission deadline is August 10, 2016.

Best news of all is that there will be an Outreach Webinar.  EPA will walk through the guidelines for competitive proposals with prospective applicants. There will be an opportunity for questions.

The Webinar will be held June 16, 2016 from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm EDT. Registration is not necessary; access the webinar here: http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/fy17bf_awp/ and call in 1-866-299-3188; code 202 566 0633#.

Please note that applicants who received an AWP grant in Fiscal Year 2010, 2013 or 2015 (FY10 or FY13 or FY 15) are generally not eligible to apply under this competition. EPA is making an exception for POWER+ (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) applicants. The POWER+ Initiative is an Administration priority that started in FY16 and continues through FY17. A POWER+ applicant must propose one or more eligible catalyst, high priority brownfield site(s) within the same brownfields project area as a coal-fired power plant that has recently closed (2008 or later) or is scheduled to close.

Follow these links for all the AWP details.

o   FY2017 Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grant Guidelines

o   Frequently Asked Questions

o   Tips for submitting FY17 BF AWP Proposals through www.grants.gov (PDF) (2 pp, 121 K, About PDF)

o   Getting Started Early - Preparing your FY17 BF AWP Grant Proposal in advance of the RFP

EPA Announces $55.2 Million in FY16 Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup Grants

EPA announced today that 131 communities will receive 218 grants totaling $55.2 million in EPA Brownfields funding. These funds will aid communities and businesses to return economic stability to under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods through the assessment and cleanup of abandoned industrial and commercial properties.   For more information, go to:

EPA Brownfields Newsroom - https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-current-news-and-events

FY2015 MS Brownfield Program Annual Report

Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Grant Tip Sheets

The next Brownfields Area-Wide Planning grant competition is scheduled to open next month.  Two tip sheets are now available to help communities apply. EPA's Getting Started Early memo and grants.gov submission tips are available at  Area-Wide Planning Grant Planning - Helpful Guides.

Webinar: April 1, 2016 – Lessons in Green and Sustainable Remediation

http://redevelopmentinstitute.org/webinar/april12016/

Description

This course will explore green and sustainable remediation (GSR) in action. The evolution of GSR has been influenced by the spotlight put on industrialized society to rethink behavior and re-engineer practices to reduce energy consumption and natural resources. GSR expert and Sustainable Remediation Forum (“SURF”) President, John Simon will explain the basic concepts of GSR and how it can be applied to reduce the environmental footprint of remediation projects while also benefiting the surrounding community and its economy. We will discuss case studies that use sustainable best management practices during the investigation, remediation, operations, and monitoring of hazardous site cleanups. The course will also explain the drivers behind GSR and what prompts responsible parties to integrate these concepts into their cleanup programs. This introductory webinar is certain to prove a benefit to remediation practitioners including consultants, contractors and regulators who are interesting in this developing area of the remediation industry.

WEBINAR: Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Webinar Series: New Investments with New Markets Tax Credits

CDFA Brownfields Financing Webinar Series: New Investments With New Markets Tax Credit from CDFA on Vimeo.

As part of CDFA's Brownfield Technical Assistance Program, the Brownfield Financing Webinar Series will include three 90-minute webinars over the year and will focus on effective utilization of brownfields and redevelopment financing tools, while highlighting best practices, case studies, and CDFA’s technical assistance program participants. This series is designed for professionals who work directly with brownfield sites as well as economic development professionals and communities interested in shaping programs to enhance redevelopment financing opportunities.

Part three of this series discusses the recent allocation of $3.5 billion in New Markets Tax Credit awards by the U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI fund and the significant potential this tool has to support the financing of brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. 

To view the presentation slides, click this >>> Link
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