Grant Community.com

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

66.811:  Brownfield Pilots Cooperative Agreements

Objectives:  Brownfield sites are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. The objectives of the Brownfield Pilot Cooperative Agreement are to: (1) Generally develop administrative, managerial, and technical models to assist States or political subdivisions thereof or Indian Tribes establish self-sustaining independent processes to assess and respond to environmental conditions inhibiting redevelopment of Brownfield sites; (2) specifically provide opportunities for 2-year demonstrations of site assessment activities leading to actions to respond to environmental contamination and return "Brownfield" sites to productive use, as authorized; (3) as authorized, provide financial assistance for capitalization of revolving loan funds for Brownfield cleanups; and (4) provide financial assistance for a program of training and evaluation of training needs in the procedures for the handling and removal of hazardous waste substances, including training in alternative or innovation technologies.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

66.811 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Eligibility for Assessment Demonstration pilots: States (U.S. Territories), political subdivisions (including cities, towns, counties), and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes. Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund pilots: Eligible entities must have been awarded Brownfields assessment demonstration pilots prior to fiscal year 1999, or are political subdivisions with jurisdiction over sites that have either (1) been the subject of a targeted Brownfields assessment or (2) been selected by the U.S. EPA to be the subject of a targeted Brownfields site assessment. Coalitions, formed among eligible entities, are also permitted to apply, but a single entity must be identified as the legal grant recipient. Eligibility for Job Training and Development Demonstration pilots: colleges, universities, non-profit (exempt from taxation under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), training centers, community based job training organizations, States, cities, towns, counties, U.S. Territories and Federally recognized Indian tribes. Generally, entities with experience in providing job training and placement programs are invited to apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Generally, States (including U.S. Territories), political subdivisions, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes will benefit from Brownfields pilot actions. Specifically, residents of the Brownfields pilot communities will gain valuable information and new strategies for promoting environmental cleanup through redevelopment — lessons from these pilots will provide a growing base of information and knowledge for other communities across the country seeking partnerships with stakeholders to coordinate issues related to Brownfield and leverage additional opportunities for redevelopment. Job training and development demonstration pilots will provide environmental job training and help residents of Brownfields neighborhoods take advantage of job opportunities creased as a result of the assessment of cleanup of Brownfields properties.

Credentials/Documentation:  For Brownfields assessment and capitalization of revolving loan fund pilots: costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Recipients must comply with 40 CFR Part 31 and 40 CFR Part 35, Subpart O. For job training pilots costs must be in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-87, A-21 and A-122, depending on the recipient. Recipients must comply with 40 CFR Part 30 and Part 31.

66.811 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The Brownfield assessment and revolving loan fund pilots are eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or officials designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information about the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Applicants submit pre-application packages in response to proposal guidelines issued by the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Job training pilots are exempt from intergovernmental review. (See EPA's Federal Register Notice November 26, 1986, to exempt hazardous waste training programs from intergovernmental review.)

Application Procedure:  An application form for Federal domestic assistance, SF-424, should be requested from and the completed form submitted to the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Outreach and Special Projects Staff(5105), U.S. EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

Award Procedure:  Final approval of applications for either Brownfields assessment, capitalization of revolving loan fund, and job training pilots and supporting documentation is made by EPA OSWER. Award of pilot funds are made by EPA Award Officials.

Deadlines:  Pre-application package deadlines for selection of groups of pilot projects are announced in Federal Register Notices. Additionally, unique projects may be considered when the Agency has funds available.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  For assessment demonstration and revolving loan fund pilots 90 days from submission of an application for federal domestic assistance. For job training and development demonstration pilots the range of approval/disapproval time will vary with the amount of resources available.

Appeals:  As described in 40 CFR Part 31, Subpart F and CFR Part 30.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  For selection of Brownfield assessment pilots the following criteria were considered: effect of Brownfields on the community or communities; value added by Federal support; existing local commitment; community involvement plan; environmental justice plan; appropriate authority and government support; reuse planning and proposed cleanup funding mechanisms; flow of ownership plan; site selection and environmental site assessment plan; long-term benefits; sustainable reuse; and measures of success. For selection of Brownfields cleanup revolving loan pilots the following criteria were considered: ability to manage a revolving loan fund and environmental cleanups; demonstration of need; commitment to creative leveraging of EPA funds; benefits of Brownfields cleanup revolving loan fund pilot loans to the local community; and, long-term benefits and sustainability. For selection of Brownfields job training and development demonstration pilots the following criteria were considered: demonstrated understanding of environmental job training programs, community involvement and partnerships, institutional capacity, training program goals and plans and measures of success and understanding of training in alternative or innovative technologies.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Developing inventory of Brownfield sites; development of site response and reuse program; coordination of response and reuse group meetings; establishment of community involvement, public participation, environmental justice components of a response plan; development of communication strategies for conveyance of technical information to communities.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Unless there are unique circumstances (i.e. greenspace funding, supplemental assistance) (1) No more than $200,000 per pilot over a 2-year period for assessment demonstration pilots; (2) no more than $500,000 per pilot to capitalize cleanup revolving loan funds pilots; and, (3) no more than $200,000 per job training and development demonstration pilot.

66.811 RELATED PROGRAMS:

66.811 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

66.811 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Cooperative Agreements) FY 99 $51,000,000; FY 00 est $57,000,000; and FY 01 est $49,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  20-8145-0-7-304.

Authorization:  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, Section 104 and Section 311(b), 42 U.S.C. 9604 (d)(1), 42 U.S.C. 9660(b).

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  40 CFR Part 300, 40 CFR Part 31, 40 CFR 35, Subpart O and 40 CFR Part 30. The Agency periodically issues proposal guidelines.

66.811 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  EPA Regional Brownfield Coordinators.

Headquarters Office:  Linda Garczynski, Director, Outreach and Special Projects Staff, OSWER, EPA, Washington, DC 20460. Phone: (202) 260-4039.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

66.811 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Not applicable for Brownfield assessment and capitalization of revolving loan fund pilots. For job training pilots, although EPA is not currently requiring a match, the Agency is authorized under CERCLA 311(b) to enter into appropriate cost sharing arrangements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Brownfield assessment demonstration pilot funds are awarded for 2-year period. Brownfields cleanup revolving loan fund pilot funds are not awarded for a fixed period but recipients have 5 years from the agreement start date to request final payment from the U.S. EPA. Brownfields job training and development demonstration pilot funds are awarded for a 2-year grant period.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  (1) Funds for assessment demonstration pilot activities must show direct links to site assessment, site identification, site investigation, planning and or site characterization at sites which have an actual, threatened, or suspected release of a hazardous substance. (2) Funds for the capitalization of revolving loan fund pilots may only be used for "removal actions" as that term is defined at Section 101(23) of CERCLA. Funds may not be used to pay for "remedial actions" as that term is defined at Section 101(24) of CERCLA. (3) Funds for assessment demonstration pilots and the capitalization of revolving loan fund pilots may not be used for actual development activities (e.g., construction of a new facility). (4) Funds for pilot activities may not be used at sites contaminated by petroleum products except to address a non-petroleum hazardous substance (e.g., co-mingled waste). (5) Funds may not be used to match any other Federal funds. (6) Funds awarded for capitalization of revolving loan fund pilots must be used for removal actions at Brownfield sites that have completed or have substantially completed assessment activities, unless unique circumstances warrant an exception to this restriction. (7) Funds awarded for environmental job training must be used to prepare trainees in the handling and removal of hazardous substances, including training in innovative or alternative treatment technologies.

66.811 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Quarterly progress reports, notification of significant development, property inventory reports, procurement reports, and financial reports may be required if authorized by 40 CFR Parts 31 and 35, Subpart O and 40 CFR Part 30.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:  Record Requirements of 40 CFR Part 31 and 40 CFR Part 35, Subpart O, and 40 CFR, Part 30 are applicable, depending upon the identity of the recipient, and the program funded.