EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants:
Interested in Applying for Funding?
Here's what you need to know to get started...
What is the U.S. EPA Brownfields Program?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Brownfields Program is
designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic
redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely
clean up, and sustainably reuse
brownfields. EPA provides technical
and financial assistance for
brownfields activities through an
approach based on four main goals:
protecting human health and the environment, sustaining reuse, promoting
partnerships, and strengthening the marketplace.
Brownfields grants serve as the x£ „ f, ,. ,, , "T~~
. , Benefits of brownfields cleanup ana reuse:
foundation of the Brownfields increases local tax base
Program. These grants support facilitates job growth
revitalization efforts by funding UtiHzeS existing infrastructure
J ° conserves open land
environmental assessment, cleanup, \^ improves and protects the environment
and job training activities.
Assessment Grants provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and
community outreach.
Revolving Loan Fund Grants provide funding to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to
carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.
Job Training Grants provide environmental training for residents of brownfields communities.
Cleanup Grants provide direct funding for cleanup activities at specific sites.
A brownfield 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
V contaminant.
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What are Brownfields Cleanup Grants?
Brownfields Cleanup Grants provide funding for a
grant recipient to:
/ Carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.
For a more detailed discussion on the use of
brownfields grant funding, please refer to the EPA
Proposal Guidelines for Brownfieds Assessment,
Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants (Proposal
Guidelines).
Who is Eligible to Apply for a
Brownfields Cleanup Grant?
Entities eligible to apply for and receive Cleanup Grants
include state, local, and tribal governments, with the
exception of certain Indian tribes in Alaska; general
purpose units of local government, land clearance
authorities, or other quasi-governmental entities;
regional council or redevelopment agencies; state or
other government entities created by the state
legislature; or nonprofit organizations. In order to
receive a Cleanup Grant, the applicant must own (e.g.,
possess fee simple title) the site for which they are
applying by the time the grant is awarded and no later
than September 30, 2005. A minimum of a Phase I
site assessment must be completed prior to proposal
submission.
Some sites are excluded from the definition of a
brownfield site unless EPA makes a site-specific
funding determination that allows grant funds to be
used at that site. For a more detailed discussion of
eligible brownfield sites, refer to the Proposal
Guidelines.
How Much Brownfields Cleanup Grant
Funding is Available?
Cleanup Grants provide up to $200,000
Cleanup Grants provide:
/ Up to $200,000 per site. No entity may apply for
funding cleanup activities at more than five sites.
/ Cleanup Grants require a 20 percent cost share,
which may be in the form of a contribution of
money, labor, material, or services, and must be
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for eligible and allowable costs. Please refer to
the Proposal Guidelines for a full explanation.
How Long is the Grant Period?
The performance period for a Cleanup Grant is two
years.
How Do I Apply for a Brownfields
Cleanup Grant?
Current Proposal Guidelines
ailable at: http://www.epa.gov/
swerosps/bf/applicat.htm#pg
are
Applicants must use the Proposal Guidelines for
Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and
Cleanup Grants published by EPA. Applicants submit
a proposal for each grant type that they are applying
for (i.e., assessment, revolving loan fund, and/or
cleanup). Each proposal must address the selection
criteria outlined in the guidelines. Proposals must
include:
/ A cover letter describing the project
/ Applicant information
/ Applicable mandatory attachments (e.g., state letter)
/ Responses to evaluation criteria
Grant proposals should be concise and well organized,
and must provide the information requested in the
guidelines. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet
threshold eligibility requirements and must respond to
evaluation criteria. Factual information about your
proposed project and community must be provided.
Where Do I Find the Proposal
Guidelines?
/ Electronic copies of the Proposal Guidelines can
be obtained from the EPA Brownfields Web site
at:
http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/applicat.htm#pg
/ Information on the Brownfields Grant programs
may be found at www.fedgrants.gov
Is Pre-Application Assistance
Available?
/ EPA posts Frequently Asked Questions on its Web
site at:
http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/pg/fy2005pgfaq.htm
/ If resources permit, EPA Regions may conduct
open meetings with potential applicants. Check
with your regional office for date and location
information. Your Regional Brownfields contacts
can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/corcntct.htm
/ EPA will respond to questions from individual
applicants about threshold criteria, including site
eligibility and ownership. EPA staff will not meet
with individual applicants to discuss draft
proposals or provide assistance in responding to
ranking criteria.
What is the Evaluation/Selection
Process?
Brownfields Grants are awarded on a competitive
basis. Evaluation panels consisting of EPA staff and
other federal agency representatives assess how well
the proposals meet the threshold and ranking criteria
outlined in the Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields
Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup
Grants. Final selections are made by EPA senior
management after considering the ranking of
proposals by the evaluation panels.
Responses to threshold criteria are evaluated on a
pass/fail basis. If the proposal does not meet the
threshold criteria, the proposal will not be evaluated.
Please note, in some circumstances, EPA may seek
additional information.
What are the Application Due Dates
and Award Dates?
/ Cleanup Grant proposals are due by November
12, 2004.
/ EPA plans to announce Cleanup Grants in Spring
2005.
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA-560-F-04-256
September 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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