UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

REGION 7 PROJECT MANAGEMENT


The EPA has provided coordination and project management for this Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot through an assigned Project Manager. Supporting sub-agencies within the USEPA have provided guidance to the Project Manager and the City of Coralville. This has included, but is not limited to, guidance, consultation and review of technical documents.
The current EPA Project Officer is:

EPA Regional Brownfields Team
Ms. Ina Square
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 7 SUPR/STAR
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7357


The current EPA Grant Specialist is:

Ms. Connie Allen
Grants Management Office, PLMG/RFMB/GRMS
(913) 551-7363


FEDERAL BROWNFIELDS INITIATIVES
EPA defines brownfields as abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is an organized commitment to help communities revitalize such properties both environmentally and economically, mitigate potential health risks, and restore economic vitality to areas where brownfields exist. Experience gained from the brownfields assessment pilots, along with partnerships and outreach activities, is providing a growing knowledge base to help direct EPA's Brownfields Initiative. Successful brownfield redevelopment is proof that economic development and the environment can, and indeed, must co-exist.

EPA's efforts under the Brownfields Initiative can be grouped into four broad and overlapping categories:
  • Providing grants for brownfields pilot projects;
  • Clarifying liability and cleanup issues;
  • Building partnerships and outreach among federal agencies, states, tribes, municipalities, communities, and other entities; and
  • Fostering local job development and training initiatives.

The brownfields assessment pilots (each funded up to $200,000 over two years) test cleanup and redevelopment planning models, direct special efforts toward removing regulatory barriers without sacrificing protectiveness, and facilitate coordinated environmental cleanup and redevelopment efforts at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. These funds are to be used to bring together community groups, investors, lenders, developers, and other affected parties to address the issue of cleaning up sites contaminated with hazardous substances and preparing them for appropriate, productive use. The pilots serve as vehicles to explore a series of models for states and localities struggling with such efforts.

In fiscal year 2000 (FY00), an additional $50,000 may be awarded to an applicant to assess the contamination of a brownfields site(s) that is or will be used for greenspace purposes. Greenspace purposes may include, but are not limited to, parks, playgrounds, trails, gardens, habitat restoration, open space, and/or greenspace preservation. This $50,000 is available in addition to the $200,000 that is available for other eligible work defined in these guidelines. Please refer to Part II of the Evaluation Criteria section. Note that use of the additional $50,000 must be in accordance with the authorities and guidelines described below.

These pilots focus on EPA's primary mission--protecting human health and the environment. However, it is an essential piece of the nation's overall community revitalization efforts. EPA works closely with other federal agencies through the Interagency Working Group on Brownfields and builds relationships with other stakeholders on the national, tribal, and local levels to develop coordinated approaches for community revitalization.

Please visiit the EPA website for more information: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ (external link)

Created by: admin, Last Modification: Wednesday 28 of September, 2011 15:37:54 CDT by admin