WHAT ARE BROWNFIELDS
EPA defines a Brownfields site as "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" (CERCLA 1980, as amended, (39)).
Examples of Brownfields sites
- Former Gas Stations
- Former Dry Cleaners
- Factories, Warehouses
- Parking Lots
- Abandoned Railroads
- Air Strips
- Bus Facilities
- Meth Houses
- Mine Scarred Lands
- Sewer Lagoons
-Sheep Dip Vats
- Dump Sites
-Lots where heavy machinery & petroleum products were stored, used or repaired
Benefits of Brownfields Projects
- Creation of new jobs
- Revitalization of blighted areas
- Cleaner communities
- Reduction in sprawl
- Healthy neighborhoods
- Healthy environment
- Historic preservation
- Ecological restoration
- Economic development
- Improve quality of life
- Job training opportunities
- Expand local tax base
- Development of "greenfields" sites
- Environmental benefits & open space
- Deconstruction & recycling opportunties
And many more.....
Goals and Elements of the 128(a) Tribal Response Program
Goal 4: Healthy Communities & Ecosystem
Objective 4.2 Communities- Sustain, clean up & restore Communities & the ecological systems that support them
Sub-objective 4.2.3- Assess, clean up & redevelop Brownfields
Elements of the Response Program
- Timely survey and inventory of Brownfields sites;
- Mechanisms and resources to provide meaningful opportunities for public participation;
- Mechanisms for approval of a cleanup plan, verification and certification that cleanup is complete;
- Maintain and make available to the public a record of sites addressed and proposed to be addressed by the cleanup program.
- The ENIPC Inc. OETA will enhance and implement the Brownfields 128(a) program to:
- Provide outreach to increasing awareness of Brownfields to communities
- Provide training to staff and tribal enviromental professionals about the US EPA state and Tribal Response Program and its elements and;
- Continue with established survey and inventory, and the public record and;
- Develop capacity to conduct site investigations and phase I and II assessments of Brownfields sites
Brownfields Assessments Grants- Provide funding for brownfields inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach
1. Community Wide Grant ($200K)
An applicant may apply for a community-wide assessment grant if a specific site had not been identified or if the assessment will address more than one site within the community.
2. Site-Specific Grant ($350K)
A site-specific assessment grant must be applied for if the assessment is limited to one and only one, site.
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants ($1M)
Provide funding to capitalize loans that are used to clean up brownfields
Brownfields Job Training Grants
Provide environmental training for residents of brownfields communities: including Green remediation techniques~Recycling center operator training~ Spill response & cleanup~ 1st responder, first aid, & emergency response ~ Commercial driver's license (CDL), heavy machinery & forklift operator ~ HAZMAT~ Weatherization & energy auditing ~ Landscaping, native plant revegetation & ecological restoration ~ Site preparation for solar & renewable energy ~ Underground storage tank removal.
Brownfields Cleanup Grants (up to $200K/site)
Provide direct funding for cleanup activities at certain properties with planned greenspace, recreational, or other nonprofit uses.
The Brownfields program has completed the cleanup of the Old Juvenile Court building with a grant from the EPA and funds from the gap program, Brownfields would like to thank the EPA and all other departments for their help.
In February of 2018 the Brownfields program successfully cleaned up the old armory building.