United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5101) EPA 500-F-97-096 April 1997 Brownfields Pilots National Workshop Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101) Quick Reference Fact Sheet EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative 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. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. EPA's Brownfields Initiative strategies include funding pilot programs and other research efforts, clarifying liability issues, entering into partnerships, conducting outreach activities, developing job training programs, and addressing environmental justice concerns. The first Brownfields Pilots National Workshop, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was held February 13 and 14, 1996, in Washington, D.C. The workshop provided a forum for key stakeholders to discuss issues and ideas concerning effective implementation of the Brownfields Initiative. PARTICIPANTS More than 300 representatives from Brownfields Pilot States and cities, the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), other Federal agencies, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), and key stakeholders, as well as EPA brownfields coordinators and program staff, participated in the workshop. PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP The National Workshop was an important milestone in EPA' s Brownfields Initiative. The workshop built upon the success ofthe Brownfields Economic Rede- velopment Initiative. ACTIVITIES AT THE WORKSHOP The following is a summary ofthe workshop. HIGHLIGHTS 9 More than 300 stakeholders attended the first Brownfields Pilots National Workshop. 9 Participants raised key issues and developed recommendations for the national Brownfields Initiative. 9 Representatives of EPA's National and Regional brownfields pilots shared critical information on brownfields issues. 9 Participants pursued opportunities to make maximum use of Federal, state, and community resources to address solutions to brownfields issues. February 13, 1996 Plenary Session: Presentations The plenary session began with remarks by Mr. Elliott P. Laws, Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA; Mr. Steven Herman, Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, EPA; Mr. Chester Straub, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Op- erations, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC); and Mr. Charles Lee, Chairman ofthe Waste and Facility ------- Siting Subcommittee. NEJAC. Following the open- ing remarks, representatives of four Brownfields Pilot projects presented case studies that highlighted the four themes of the workshop: community in- volvement, workforce development, sustainable re- development, and health-risk issues. Concurrent Breakout Sessions In the afternoon, EPA conducted four breakout sessions, one for each of the four workshop themes. to provide participants an opportunity to discuss issues related to the pilot projects. Brownfields Pilot project representatives exchanged information on approaches taken and experience gained. February 14, 1996 Plenary Session: Findings and Recommendations The second plenary session summarized the findings and recommendations from each of the breakout sessions. These presentations were followed by a question-and-answer period moderated by Mr. Timothy Fields, Jr., Deputy Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA. Mr. Fields and Mr. Donald Ellisburg, a member of the NEJAC Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee, gave closing remarks. The workshop concluded with a keynote address by EPA Administrator Carol Browner. THE WORKSHOP Each breakout session developed and presented their findings and recommendations during the Plenary Session. Recommendations are those of both panelists and session participants and cover each of the four sessions. Many common concerns were identified in these breakout sessions. Session on Sustainable Redevelopment Issues * Promote educational outreach through dissemination of information to small businesses. lenders, prospective purchasers, and other stakeholders including other Federal and State agencies. * Develop an Executive Order on the Brownfields Initiative that will ensure that Federal agencies work in a consistent, coordinated manner toward economic redevelopmentand revitalization of urban areas. « Create a resource catalogue of Federal programs addressing financial and redevelopment issues related to brownficlds assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. « Examine legislative and regulatory programs to ensure consistency with the objectives of the Brownfields Initiative. « Ensure, at minimum, a continuation of Federal resource commitments to support the Brownfields Initiative. Session on Community Involvement Issues * Develop "measures of success" for brownficlds projects. « Create a resource catalogue of Federal programs addressing financial and redevelopment issues related to brownfields assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. * Identify available and new funding sources for Community Groups. « Encourage better leveraging of scarce dollars and resources for cleanup activities. « Promote the exchange of information and experience between EPA - both Headquarters and Regions, and States and local entities. Staff and other resource exchanges should be fostered. Session on Workforce Development Issues * Create opportunities for the creation of long-term. sustainable jobs for communities. * Provide incentives to business and industry for the training and employment of community residents. Brownfields Fact Sheet April 1997 Brownfields Pilots National Workshop EPA 500-F-97-096 ------- • Ensure that job training and education programs match the needs of businesses and the goals of the community. • Facilitate coordination and communication among the brownfields parties both public and private and work to create and encourage effective partnerships. * Provide incentives for business to redevelop and relocate on brownfields sites. Session on Health Risk Issues * Promote State voluntary cleanup programs protective of human health and the environment. Public participation in State voluntary cleanup programs is a key to a successful program. « Develop simple, flexible, risk assessment procedures for brownfields sites. • Build community understanding of risk management decision-making through practical and effective risk communication and partnerships with communities. EPA ACTIVITIES Since February, the following steps have been taken: « Additional Brownfields 'Pilots Announced: In June, Vice President Gore joined Mayors, Con- gressional representatives, and EPA Administra- tor Carol Browneratthe White House to announce 20 new Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots. Since then, the total number of pilots has increased to 78. * Interagency Working Group: In July 1996, EPA hosted a Federal Interagency Brownfields meeting with Federal departments and agencies to discuss opportunities for better coordination and leveraging of brownfields efforts at the Federal level. A brownfields national part- nership strategy will be developed by an inter- agency working group. In addition, modeled on the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, MOUs have been signed with the Departments of Labor and Interior. The MOU with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was signed at the Brownfields '96 Conference in Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania in September. A fifth MOU was signed with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration in March 1997. These partnerships will provide assistance with such crucial brownfields issues as community involvement, workforce development, sustainable redevelop- ment, and health-risks. Community College Environmental Workforce Development Programs: EPA is working with the Hazardous Materials Training and Research Institute (HMTRI) to expand training and curriculum developmentin community colleges at brownfields pilot sites. HMTRI, the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis Community College hosted a workshop for 14 community colleges representing brownfields pilot sites on July 25-26, 1996 in St. Louis, Missouri. The workshop focused on brownfields issues and implementation of environmental workforce development programs. Sustainable Development: EPA, in July 1996, announced and solicited applications for the Sustainable Development Challenge Grant program, anew competitive grant program. The program is intended to encourage community, business, and government to work cooperatively to develop flexible, locally-oriented approaches that link place-based environmental management with sustainable development and revitalization. Brownfields '96: EPA; the International City/Council Management Association;the American Bar Association, Section of National Resources. Energy, and Environmental Law; the National Religious Partnership for the Environment; and the Mortgage Bankers Association of Americaco-sponsored Brownfields '96, September 19-20, 1996, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over 40 panels were held on Brownfields Fact Sheet April 1997 Brownfields Pilots National Workshop EPA 500-F-97-096 ------- financing, business reuse, community involvement, assessment and cleanup technologies, and public/ private partnerships. In addition, the latest brownfields services and technologies were on display. The 1997 Brownfields Conference is scheduled for September 3-5. in Kansas City, Missouri. Brownfields Tax Incentive: As a follow-up on President Clinton's brownfields tax incentive announcement in his 1996 State of the Union address, legislation on the brownfields tax incentive was introduced in the 104th Congress; no action was taken. Similar bills have been introduced in the 105th Congress (S. 235 atidH.R. 505). The proposal would provide a tax incentive for prospective purchasers, allowing environmental cleanup costs at brownfields pilot sites to be fully deducted in the year in which they are incurred, rather than capitalized over the useful life of the property. Presidential Initiative: In August 1996, the President called for renewed support for State and local brownfields efforts to revitalize brownfields, including expansion of grants to communities for site assessments and redevelopment planning, and support for revolving loans to finance brownfields cleanup efforts at the local level. The President also proposed additional support for State voluntary cleanup programs and workforce de velopmenttraining. Such new support would involve approximately 300 cities over the next four years. This proposal would require Federal legislation. • The Brownfields Budget: The EPA Brownfields budget for FY 1997 is $36.7 million. Some of the funds in the budget will be used to capitalize revolving loan funds for the first 29 Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot recipients. This funding of up to an additional $350,000 per site will be available through a competitive process to those 29 pilots meeting established criteria. Five million will be provided for an additional 25 Brownfields Assessment Dem- onstration Pilots (up to $200,000 each). Ten million has been provided to fund development of State voluntary cleanup program infrastructure. Three million will be used for an expanded site assessment initiative. Remaining funds will be used for technical assistance to pilots. The addi- tional revolving loan fund grants will serve to bring the knowledge base of local governments, States, and Federally-recognized Tribes to the next logical step of brownfields redevelopment— site cleanup. FOR INFORMATION For more information about the Brownfields Initiative, please call the Supcrfund Hotline at (800) 424-9346'. If you have Internet World Wide Web access, visit the EPA Brownfields Homepage at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields Brownfields Fact Sheet April 1997 Brownfields Pilots National Workshop EPA 500-F-97-096 ------- |