Brownfields
Federal Programs Guide
2011 Edition
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Prepared by:
Environmental Management Support, Inc.
(Contract No. EP-W-07-054)
8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910
http://www.emsus.com
Prepared for:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
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Contents
Introduction iii
Overview of Brownfields Federal Programs vi
Federal Programs 1
Appalachian Regional Commission 2
Department of Agriculture
Rural Development Mission Area 4
United States Forest Service 7
Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration 9
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 12
Department of Defense
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 14
Office of Economic Adjustment 16
Department of Energy 17
Department of Health and Human Services
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 19
National Institute of Environmental Health Services 21
Office of Community Services 26
Department of Housing and Urban Development 28
Department of the Interior
National Park Service 33
Office of Surface Mining 35
Department of Justice
Community Capacity Development Office 37
Department of Labor 38
Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration 39
Federal Transit Administration 42
Environmental Protection Agency 46
Federal Housing Finance Agency 53
General Services Administration 55
Small Business Administration 57
Federal Tax Incentives and Credits 59
Brownfields Expensing Tax Incentive 60
New Markets Tax Credits 62
Low Income Housing Tax Credits 65
Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits 68
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 71
State Finance Support 75
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Introduction
Successful brownfields and land revitalization projects
are built on strong partnerships. Many local projects suc-
ceed because of the availability of technical and financial
assistance from a variety of sources to support various
aspects of the project. The broad range of support that is
available to local projects from the federal government
can play a key role in initiating and leveraging revitalization
efforts. It is not unusual for brownfields stakeholders to
use assistance from several federal government programs
to meet local revitalization goals. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) encourages stakeholders to
think broadly about brownfields projects and to consider
and take advantage of the numerous options available
for technical and financial assistance. This guide provides a
useful tool for identifying and pursuing available federal
government assistance alternatives.
BUILDING FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS TO
MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS
Federal agencies recognize the importance of brownfields
revitalization and the value of brownfields projects to
community renewal and economic redevelopment.
Many federal funding and technical assistance programs
promote and enhance local revitalization projects. Local
communities often can take advantage of these federal
resources to meet local needs and pilot-test new ap-
proaches and model projects. Federal funding opportu-
nities often can attract and leverage additional local and
regional investments in land revitalization projects.
One example of a strong federal partnership is the Partner-
ship for Sustainable Communities, an unprecedented
agreement to coordinate federal housing, transportation
and environmental investments; protect public health
and the environment; promote equitable development;
and help address the challenges of climate change. Since
2009, EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and the Department of Transporta-
tion (DOT) have been working together to promote
sustainable development in communities by more effectively
targeting federal resources and removing existing federal
regulatory and policy barriers to smart and sustainable
development.
As part of the Sustainable Communities Partnership
initiative, the three partner agencies selected five pilot
sites, located across the country, where there is a conver-
gence of public transit and the need for affordable housing.
The five sites selected as Sustainable Communities Partner-
ship Pilots are the Fairmont Line in Boston, Massachu-
setts; the Smart Growth Redevelopment District in India-
napolis; the La Alma/South Lincoln Park neighborhood
in Denver, Colorado; the Riverfront Crossings District
in Iowa City, Iowa; and the Westside Affordable Housing
Transit-Oriented Development in National City, California.
Each pilot community is receiving direct technical as-
sistance from EPA to plan for the eventual assessment,
cleanup, and sustainable redevelopment of brownfields
and the associated long-term quality of life improvements;
area-wide brownfield redevelopment planning; and
access to expert environmental and economic analysis.
Interagency teams are providing technical assistance to
pilot cities to help address community needs. The agencies
also will identify how the pilot communities can complement
and build on their past and future investments, as well as
identify opportunities to apply relevant resources from
their agencies as the pilots progress.
For example, in Iowa City the HUD/DOT/EPA Sustainable
Communities Partnership pilot targets the Riverfront
Crossings District. This pilot is an outgrowth of another
federal partnership—an agreement between EPA and
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to
address long-term recovery after major floods hit the
area in 2008. As a result, EPA, HUD, DOT, and FEMA are
working together to coordinate resources and provide
expert assistance to help Iowa City build a sustainable
future. While most of the River Crossings District area
lies in the 100-year floodplain, a small portion that lies
outside the floodplain is being considered for affordable
housing opportunities linked to an Amtrak station. A
new rapid transit train between Chicago and Iowa City
is being planned. There also are plans to build an urban
park and transform the area into a mixed-use neighbor-
hood. Cleaning up the property, reusing the land, and
providing new housing choices will create jobs and new
economic opportunities in Iowa City, as will the Sustain-
able Communities Partnership projects in the other pilot
communities.
As a result of the Sustainable Communities Partnership,
EPA, DOT, and HUD are increasing interagency coordina-
tion and collaboration and developing internal initia-
tives to support the Partnership's work. Among EPA's
other partnership initiatives is the Agency's Area-Wide
Planning Grants Pilot project. For this project, EPA is
providing assistance to 23 communities to facilitate com-
munity involvement in developing an area-wide plan for
brownfields assessment, cleanup and subsequent reuse.
The area-wide planning approach that EPA is piloting
through this initiative recognizes that revitalization
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of the area surrounding one or more brownfields is as
critical to the successful reuse of the property as assess-
ment, cleanup, and redevelopment of an individual site.
The area-wide planning approach will enhance EPA's
core brownfields assistance programs by encouraging
community involvement and locally driven planning
approaches to brownfields site assessment, cleanup and
redevelopment decisions. The pilot program will help
further community-based partnership efforts within
underserved or economically disadvantaged neighbor-
hoods by confronting local environmental and public
health challenges related to brownfields, while creating
a planning framework to advance economic develop-
ment and job creation.
Another federal partnership initiative, the Urban Waters
Initiative, seeks to more broadly engage urban commu-
nities in efforts to transform polluted, forgotten urban
waters into treasured centerpieces of urban revival. EPA
will help communities—especially underserved commu-
nities—access and improve their urban waters and the
surrounding land.
The Urban Waters Initiative includes an interagency
working group composed of staff from ten other federal
agencies to improve communities'access to federal
resources. This involves convening national and regional
forums with state, tribal and local agencies, centers of
learning, private sector and non-governmental orga-
nizations; and coordinating support to on-the-ground
projects. State, tribal, and local government agencies are
encouraged to use the Urban Waters Initiative to build
on existing partnerships and develop new relationships
with non-profits, private sector, academia and community
groups, especially those addressing environmental jus-
tice issues. Areas of activity include green infrastructure,
source water protection, water sector workforce devel-
opment, watershed planning, land revitalization, moni-
toring and assessment, fish advisories, beach monitoring
and notification. EPA's current work in the Chesapeake
Bay, Great Lakes, National Estuary Program and Large
Aquatic Ecosystem programs may offer additional place-
based opportunities to engage urban communities.
For the Lower Passaic River Urban Rivers Restoration pilot,
EPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the New
Jersey Department of Transportation are working with
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection. The goal of
this collaborative effort is to use the authorities of the
Superfund program and the Water Resources Develop-
ment Act to develop a comprehensive solution to reme-
diate and restore the Lower Passaic River. Success of the
project will result in a healthy riparian habitat, improved
water quality, more access for recreation, fewer fish con-
sumption bans, lower sediment contamination in dredged
materials, and an overall economic revitalization.
EPA also is fostering federal partnerships to promote and
encourage the reuse of brownfields for urban agriculture
projects. As cities throughout the nation seek strategies
to revitalize urban neighborhoods, local governments
and community-based non-profits are working with resi-
dents to reuse infill properties to grow plants and food.
For example, EPA is using the HUD/DOT/EPA Partnership
structure to reach out to its federal partners, including
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to explore
opportunities for collaboration with the City of Toledo,
Ohio, in redeveloping a brownfield site that the city plans
to use for an urban agriculture project. The site, which
is in a central-city neighborhood that has a high rate
of poverty and a severe lack of healthy food options,
is located within a Brownfields Impact Area along the
Detroit-Smead Corridor. This corridor runs through the
heart of one of Toledo's housing priority districts and is
served by the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority.
Redevelopment of the sites within the Detroit-Smead
Corridor will spur overall revitalization of the area and
improve environmental quality, provide career oppor-
tunities for local residents, and create a neighborhood
with access to better nutrition and a new optimism for a
healthier community.
Through another federal partnership, EPA and the U.S.
Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) are analyzing the potential for wind,
solar, or small hydro development on potentially contam-
inated sites at 13 locations throughout the country. One
of the pilot projects is examining closed landfills in Puerto
Rico to determine if the sites can potentially support
solar energy facilities. The study will screen the landfills
for solar siting potential based on criteria such as acreage,
slope, distance to graded road and transmission infrastruc-
ture, and landfill closure date.This preliminary screening
will allow NREL to identify the sites with the highest solar
potential, identify possible photovoltaic system sizes and
types for those sites, review the economics of the proposed
systems, and highlight financing options. This project is part
of EPA's RE-Powering America's Lands initiative to encourage
renewable energy development on current and formerly con-
taminated land and mine sites. The RE-Powering America's
Lands initiative identifies the renewable energy potential of
contaminated properties and provides other useful resources
for communities, developers, industry, state and local
governments, or anyone interested in reusing these sites for
renewable energy development.
These are just a few of the current brownfields-related
initiatives that recognize the importance of creating,
nurturing, and strengthening partnerships on the fed-
eral level to better respond to the needs of local commu-
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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nities. Federal partnerships can result in new opportuni-
ties for coordination, collaboration, and leveraging within
federal, state, and local governments. Such partnerships
also may test new approaches to targeting federal
investments in local projects that can be modeled by
others, and lead to the removal of regulatory and policy
barriers at the federal level to facilitate brownfields revi-
talization and the development of sustainable communi-
ties at the local level.
While federal partnerships are important, it is in large
and small communities throughout the country where
the true power of brownfields-related partnerships is felt
most acutely. This guide is intended to help communities
find new connections and leverage resources available
to aid in their brownfields efforts.
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The 2011 Brownfields Federal Programs Guide updates
the 2009 edition. The entry for each federal agency or
organization summarizes its mission and its connection to
brownfields and lists the programs that provide technical
or financial assistance relevant to brownfields. Where
applicable, a description of eligibility requirements, avail-
ability, uses and applications, as well as any restrictions
on use or eligibility is included. "Snapshots" of brownfield
projects that have successfully leveraged funding from
these programs are included to illustrate how federal
programs have stimulated brownfields cleanup and
redevelopment around the country.
The sections on "Federal Tax Incentives and Credits"and
"State Finance Support" explain options for using federal
tax incentives and bringing state and local partners into
the funding mix. Tapping into these additional funding
sources often can provide the additional resources that a
brownfields project needs.
EPA encourages stakeholders to think broadly about a
brownfields project and to consider and take advantage
of the numerous options available for technical and fi-
nancial assistance. The quick-reference table that follows
gives an overview of brownfields federal programs to
help narrow your search for federal programs that might
apply to your project.
For additional information and assistance, contact your
EPA regional brownfields coordinator (http://epa.gov/
brown fields/con tacts, h tm] or your EPA regional land revi-
talization coordinator (http://www.epa.gov/
landrevitalization/con tactus.htm}.
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Overview of Brown fields Federal Programs
FEDERAL AGENCY
Appalachian Regional Commission
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Grants through state programs
for economic development and
brownfields redevelopment
Technical assistance to address
brownfields, including mine-scarred
lands, in the 13 Appalachian states
Department of Agriculture,
Rural Development
Loan guarantees for rural
businesses
Loans for small businesses
Rural business development
grants
Renewable energy grants
Technical assistance and training
for rural businesses
Department of Agriculture,
U.S. Forest Service
Financial assistance to plant and
maintain trees for beautification
or remediation of brownfields
Technical assistance for planting
trees on mine-scarred lands and for
phytoremediation
Technical assistance for planting
trees for open space, parks, and
land conservation projects
Department of Commerce,
Economic Development
Administration
Grants for infrastructure and
building reuse in distressed areas
Grants for economic development
planning
Economic adjustment grants
Assistance for development of re-
newable energy, energy efficiency
and "green" reuse and restoration
Assistance with economic develop-
ment planning
Department of Commerce,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Site-specific projects focused
on coastal management and
environmental issues, including
brownfields
Assistance with the restoration of
contaminated coastal sites
Special projects relating to coastal
resource management
Department of Defense,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Congressionally mandated water
resource civic works
Reimbursable water- and land-relat-
ed engineering technical assistance
Watershed and ecosystem planning
support for states
Centers of expertise
Department of Defense,
Office of Economic Adjustment
Grants for planning for the redevel-
opment of closed military facilities
Assistance with planning for the rede-
velopment of closed military facilities
Department of Energy
Grants and tax incentives for
energy efficiency, combined heat-
ing and cooling, and renewable
energy
Research to reduce building energy
use
Facilitation of the transition of
brownfields clean sites to beneficial
reuses, including energy parks and
renewable energy technologies
Feasibility studies for renewable
energy projects
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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FEDERAL AGENCY
Department of Health and Human
Services, Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Grants to assess health issues as-
sociated with redevelopment plans
Limited health pilot awards for
brownfield and reuse sites
Technical assistance to public
health agencies
Assistance to review and assess
environmental sampling data and
other site data
Health-related information sharing in
reviewing environmental
assessment data
Department of Health and Human
Services, National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences
Grants to develop innovative
health and safety training
programs
Research grants to seek solutions
to health and environmental
issues
Training workers for hazardous
materials handling and disaster
preparedness
Advanced technology training
program
Training for minority workers in
environmental restoration
Department of Health and Human
Services, Office of Community Programs
Services
Job training program grants
Grants to small communities for
training and technical assistance
for rural water facilities.
Assistance to community devel-
opment corporations
Technical assistance for rural water
facilities
Department of Housing and Urban
Development
Nationwide block grant for commu-
nity development
Loan guarantees for community
development
Grants to stabilize neighborhoods
affected by abandoned housing
Grants for brownfields economic
development
Affordable housing block grants
Lead-based paint abatement grants
Department of the Interior,
National Park Service
Transfer of surplus federal land to
state and local governments for
park creation
Technical assistance for conserva-
tion and recreation projects
Department of the Interior,
Office of Surface Mining
Grants to reclaim streams affected
by acid mine drainage
Grants to states and tribes to
reclaim abandoned mine lands
Technical assistance and capacity-
building for watershed development
Watershed remediation internships
Department of Justice,
Community Capacity Development
Office
Grants to promote revitalization
activities in distressed small com-
munities
Limited discretionary grant
resources to promote comprehen-
sive strategies to reduce crime
and revitalize communities
Technical assistance to help sites
achieve their strategic goals with
professional guidance, consultation,
and team-building approaches
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FEDERAL AGENCY
Department of Labor
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Job training grants
Technical assistance to states,
localities and community organiza-
tions on workforce development
Technical assistance to states on
readiness for brownfields redevel-
opment job needs
Department of Transportation,
Federal Highway Administration
Grants for transportation projects
and planning
Grants for air quality improvement
and congestion mitigation
Grants for transportation enhance-
ment
Technical assistance for long-range
transportation planning
Department of Transportation,
Federal Transit Administration
Grants for public transportation
capital projects
Grants for fixed guideway (e.g.,
rail) and bus facilities
Grants for multimodal transporta-
tion planning
Technical assistance to transit agen-
cies working with other state and
local governmental agencies on
transit projects involving brownfields
Environmental Protection Agency
Grants for brownfields assessment,
cleanup, and for capitalizing revolv-
ing loan funds for brownfields
cleanup
Loans for water quality improve-
ment projects
Grants to states and tribes to
enhance response and brownfields
programs
Grants to conduct hazardous mate-
rials handling training
Targeted brownfields assessments
Brownfields and Land Revitalization
Technology Support Center
Information dissemination on use
of innovative technologies
Technical assistance to brownfields
communities
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Loans for housing and economic
development that benefits low-
and moderate-income families
Loans and grants for affordable
housing
General Services Administration
Assistance to match underused
federal properties and surplus fed-
erally owned brownfields with local
revitalization objectives
Small Business Administration
Loans to small businesses to invest
in major fixed assets, such as land
and buildings
Loans to small businesses for
general business purposes
Technical assistance for small business
development
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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ix
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Federal Programs
This section outlines the key programs and incentives
offered by the federal government that can be used to
support brownfield projects. Organized by agency, each
entry provides a general description of the agency's
overall mission and identifies the resources (financial
assistance and technical assistance) that are available.
Contact information is provided for each.
When considering potential sources of assistance for
brownfield efforts, keep in mind that many federal pro-
grams may not specifically use the term "brownfields."
Nevertheless, they still may offer resources applicable for
brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.
Brownfield-related resources are outlined for the follow-
ing federal agencies:
Appalachian Regional Commission
Department of Agriculture—Rural Development Mission Area
Department of Agriculture—United States Forest Service
Department of Commerce—Economic Development Administration
Department of Commerce—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Energy
Department of Defense—U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Defense—Office of Economic Adjustment
Department of Health and Human Services—Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry
Department of Health and Human Services—National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences
Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Community Services
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of the Interior—National Park Service
Department of the Interior—Office of Surface Mining
Department of Justice—Community Capacity Development Office
Department of Labor
Department of Transportation—Federal Highway Administration
Department of Transportation—Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Housing Finance Agency
General Services Administration
Small Business Administration
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Appalachian Regional Commission
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) mission
is to be an advocate for and partner with the people of
Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining
economic development and improved quality of life.
ARC membership comprises the governors of the 13
Appalachian states and a federal co-chair appointed by
the president. Each year, the governors elect one of their
members to serve as state co-chair. Local participation is
provided through multi-county local development districts
with boards composed of elected officials, business peo-
ple, and other local leaders. Congress appropriates funds
annually, which ARC allocates among its member states.
Brownfields Connections
ARC's strategic plan seeks to raise awareness of and
leverage support for the reclamation and reuse of brown-
fields. Brownfields are a key element of ARC's Asset-Based
Development initiative. ARC has made numerous grants
for brownfields-related projects since 1965, including a
2008 project co-funded with an EPA Brownfields grant.
ARC also participated in the Brownfields Federal Partnership
and Mine-Scarred Lands Working Group.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
Area Development Program
The Area Development Program promotes a diversified
regional economy through strategies that help communi-
ties create and retain businesses and jobs; helps commu-
nities develop an educated, skilled workforce and create
access to affordable, quality health care; and supports the
development and improvement of infrastructure, includ-
ing water and sewer services, and the development and
use of Internet access.
Grants are awarded to projects that further the four goals
in ARC's strategic plan:
• Increase job opportunities and per capita income in
Appalachia to reach parity with the nation;
• Strengthen the capacity of the people of Appalachia
to compete in the global economy;
• Develop and improve Appalachia's infrastructure to
make the Region economically competitive; and
• Build the Appalachian Development Highway System
to reduce Appalachia's isolation.
Most ARC grants originate at the state level. Potential
applicants should contact their state ARC program
manager to request a pre-application package. The local
development district serving the county in which the
project is located also may provide guidance on a project's
eligibility for funding and assistance in preparing a grant
application.
Eligibility Requirements: Typically, ARC grants are
awarded to state and local agencies and governmental
entities (e.g., economic development authorities), local
governing boards (e.g., county councils), and non-profit
organizations (e.g., schools and organizations that build
low-cost housing).
Limitations: ARC funding is limited to projects in 420
designated counties in the 13 Appalachian states. ARC
focuses resources on distressed counties and designated
distressed areas. Because individual states may limit ARC
funding to specific areas, applicants should consult ARC
program managers for information on their state's ARC
funding priorities.
ARC expects grantees to contribute matching resources
to projects, to the extent they are able to do so, and to
seek additional non-ARC funding assistance in a diligent
manner. ARC has specific requirements for matching
funds; individual states may have additional requirements.
State ARC program managers or local development
districts can provide information about state matching
requirements.
Availability: All applicants considering brownfields
redevelopment activities should contact their state ARC
program manager to request pre-application information.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Planning and technical assistance to address brown-
fields problems;
• Infrastructure needed to convert brownfields to new
economic uses; and
• Conversion of obsolete industrial sites to public purposes.
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Outreach/Technical Assistance
Mine-Scarred Lands Working Group
ARC participated in the Mine-Scarred Lands (MSL) Work-
ing Group, which was established in 2003 as a component
of the Brownfields Federal Partnership. To learn about
mine-scarred lands challenges and how federal, state
and local entities can work together, the MSL Working
Group identified six demonstration projects, including
three in Appalachian coal communities: Hazleton, Penn-
sylvania, Lee County, Virginia, and Kanawha County, West
Virginia. Details on these pilot projects are provided
in Mine-Scarred Lands Revitalization: Models through
Partnerships (Publication Number: EPA-560-R-05-003
September/October 2005).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Molly Theobald
Director, Program Operations
Appalachian Regional Commission
1666 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20009-1068
202-884-7767
mtheobald@arc.gov
Main Site
http://www.arc.gov
ARC State Program Managers
http://www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeld=T3
Local Development District Contacts
http://www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeld=20
ARC-Designated Distressed Counties
http://www.arc.gou/program areas/
ARCDesianatedDistressedCountiesFiscalYear20n.asD
SNAPSHOT-MINGO COUNTY, WEST
VIRGINIA
The 75-acre, $28 million Mingo County Wood Prod-
ucts Industrial Park was redeveloped on the site of
an abandoned strip mine first excavated for coal in
1888. Much of the redevelopment activity involved
site preparation—including construction of an
access road, wastewater and stormwater systems,
and links to public water supplies. A range of public
sources were leveraged, including more than $6 mil-
lion in state and federal grants from the Economic
Development Administration, the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (through West
Virginia's small cities Community Development
Block Grant allocation), and several state agencies. A
key component of the financing package came from
a $1 million grant made by the Appalachian Region-
al Commission that covered the cost of providing
potable water service to the industrial park.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Department of Agriculture—
Rural Development Mission Area
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in a key
position to support activities critical to community
brownfields revitalization efforts. USDA's Rural Develop-
ment office operates several types of programs that rural
communities can find useful in redevelopment projects.
Nearly all of these programs may contribute to brown-
fields projects: (1) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Improvements Program; (2) Housing Programs; (3)
Community Facilities Programs; (4) Business Programs; (5)
Cooperative Programs; (6) Electric Programs; (7) Tele-
communication Programs; (8) Water and Environment
Programs; (9) Community Development Programs; and
(10) Utilities Programs.
The USDA Rural Development Program is administered
on a state-by-state basis and through districts within
each state. Identifying a State Director's Office and local
contact will facilitate access and help in applying for
grants and loans from the various Rural Development
programs. (See http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/State
OfficeAddresses.html to find individual State Director's
Office websites and contact information.)
Brownfields Connections
' Grants, loans, and loan guarantee assistance for a va-
riety of business, commercial, and industrial projects
in small towns and rural areas.
• Support for the installation and improvement of
critical infrastructure needed to support economic
development.
• Financing for the construction of key public facilities.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program
The Business and Industry (B&l) Guaranteed Loan Pro-
gram provides financial backing for rural businesses. The
program guarantees up to 80 percent of a loan made by
commercial lenders to businesses located in rural areas.
The program is administered at the state level by USDA
Rural Development state offices.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include: coop-
eratives, corporations, partnerships, trusts or other profit
or non-profit entities; Indian tribes; and municipalities,
counties, or other local governments.
Availability: The maximum loan for a rural cooperative
organization is $40 million. The total amount of Agency-
backed loans to one borrower may not exceed $25 mil-
lion. Repayment schedules for real estate loans are not
to exceed 30 years. Equipment loans are not to exceed
15 years.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Buildings and real estate development
• Machinery and equipment
• Debt refinancing
http://www.rurdev.usda.aov/rbs/busp/b&i gar.him
Intermediary Relending Program
The Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) capitalizes lo-
cally managed revolving loan funds for small businesses
not able to secure adequate bank financing on their
own. Similar to the B&l program, resources from the IRP
can be used for real estate and equipment purposes.
Eligibility Requirements: Intermediaries may be private
non-profit corporations, public agencies, Indian tribes or
cooperatives with at least 51 percent rural membership.
Availability: Intermediaries may receive initial loans
of up to $750,000 as well as subsequent loans of up to
$750,000. Loans to intermediaries are scheduled for
repayment over a period of 30 years. The interest rate on
loans for intermediaries is one percent per year.
Uses/Applications (all apply to loans from intermediar-
ies to ultimate recipients):
• Establish new businesses or expand existing business;
• Create employment opportunities or save existing jobs;
and
• Community development projects.
h ttp://www. rurdev. usda.gov/rbs/busp/irp. h tm
The Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program
The Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) program
promotes sustainable economic development in rural
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communities with exceptional needs. This program may
be particularly helpful as grants may be made for the
identification and analysis of business opportunities;
the establishment of support centers to assist with the
creation of new rural businesses; to conduct regional,
community, and local economic development planning;
and other related training, planning, and coordination
efforts.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include public
entities, non-profit corporations, Indian tribes, and co-
operatives that have expertise in the activities proposed.
Eligible entities must demonstrate that the funding will
result in economic development and must have perfor-
mance measures.
Availability: Priority points for funding are awarded to
projects that are sustainable and explain the quality
of expected economic activity, leverage other funds,
demonstrate a need to improve economic conditions in
the service area, and provide a useful, new, best practice.
The maximum grant for a project servicing a single state
is $50,000.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Provide economic planning for rural communities;
• Provide technical assistance for rural businesses; and
• Provide training for rural entrepreneurs or economic
development officials.
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP RBOG.html
The Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program
The Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program
provides grants to public entities and private non-profit
corporations for projects designed to finance and facilitate
the development of small and emerging private for-
profit or non-profit small businesses. A RBEG grant may
include funding for infrastructure items such as access
to streets and roads, utility extensions, water supply, and
waste disposal facilities, etc. In addition, RBEG grants
may be utilized for the acquisition of land, buildings,
plants, equipment, parking areas, and technical assis-
tance regarding transportation services.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include non-
profits, local governments, states, and tribes. Small and
emerging businesses requiring assistance must have
fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in
revenues.
Availability: Preference is given to projects costing less
than $100,000.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Provide needed infrastructure
• Fund technical assistance needs
• Establish or fund revolving loan-fund programs
h ftp://www.ru rdev. usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant
Program
The loan program provides funds to intermediaries that
have or have had a borrowing relationship with the Rural
Utility Service. Intermediaries may receive zero-interest
loans, which are passed through to rural small businesses
to assist business and create new jobs or retain existing
jobs. The grant program provides grant funds to inter-
mediaries to establish revolving loan funds for use in
making loans to rural small businesses for the creation
and retention of viable jobs in rural areas.
Eligibility Requirements: To receive funding under the
program (which is forwarded to selected eligible proj-
ects) an entity must:
• Have borrowed and repaid or pre-paid an insured,
direct, or guaranteed loan received under the Rural
Electrification Act, or
• Be a not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive
assistance from the Rural Development Electric or
Telecommunication Program
• Be a current Rural Development Electric or Telecom-
munication Program Borrower
Availability: The maximum funding for a loan is
$740,000. The maximum funding for a grant to establish
a revolving loan fund is $300,000.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Industrial development parks;
• Business incubators; and
• Establish revolving loan funds.
h ftp://www.ru rdev. usda.gov/rbs/busp/redlg. h tm
Community Facilities Program: Guaranteed
Loans, Direct Loans, and Grants
The guarantee portion of this program provides an
incentive for commercial lending that will develop es-
sential community facilities. The direct loan program
does the same thing, except that USDA functions as the
lender. In either case, the loans can run for up to 40 years
or for the useful life of the facility (if less than that). In
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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the case of distressed rural communities that cannot
qualify for a private or USDA loan for essential commu-
nity facilities, USDA Rural Development can make grants.
Water and Waste Disposal Loans, Loan Guaran-
tees, and Grants
USDA Rural Development offers several programs aimed
at developing and repairing water, sewer, storm drainage,
and solid waste systems in rural areas with populations
of 10,000 or less. These programs can be used to support
industrial activities. The loans can run up to 40 years
with interest dependent upon the median household
income of the borrower.
Renewable Energy for America Program
The Renewable Energy for America Program has compet-
itive grant funds available to purchase renewable energy
systems and make energy efficiency improvements
for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to
reduce energy costs and consumption. It includes grants
of up to $500,000 for Renewable Energy Systems and
grants of up to $250,000 for Energy Efficiency Improve-
ments. Loans for Renewable Energy Systems have a
maximum of $25 million. Repayment terms for the loans
for real estate must not exceed 30 years, and loans for
machinery and equipment must not exceed 20 years.
h ttp://www.rurdev. usda.aov/rbs/farm bill/index, h tml
SNAPSHOT - POTOSI, WISCONSIN
The century-old former Potosi Brewery had been
abandoned for more than 30 years and was con-
taminated with asbestos, lead paint, and other
environmental hazards. With assistance from the
USDA's Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan
Program, the community restored and reopened the
property in June 2008 as a state-of-the-art brewery
and museum complex. USDA's backing of the origi-
nal $2.6 million loan, extended by Mound City Bank,
was a key to launching the project. A second guar-
anteed loan of $660,000 provided additional capital
to cover increased development costs. Most of the
remaining funding for the $7.5 million project came
from state grants. The new Potosi Brewery complex
has become the new Main Street anchor for this
town of 700 residents.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
http://www.dm.usda.gov/hmmd/brownfields.htm
Blake Velde
USDA Brownfields Coordinator
DA/OPPM/EMD
1400 Independence Ave., SW MS-9100
Washington, DC 20250
202-205-0906
Blake.Velde@usda.gov
Main Site:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov
State Contacts:
httD://www.rurdev.usda.aov/StateOfficeAddresses.html
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Department of Agriculture-
United States Forest Service
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the
health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests
and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future
generations.
Within the State and Private Forestry deputy area, the
Cooperative Forestry Programs provide technical, financial
and research assistance to help states, private landowners
and communities develop best management practices of
natural resources for the ecosystem services they provide,
and promote community resilience and economic devel-
opment.
Brownfields Connections
' Technical assistance for brownfields projects in
selected area (targeted to EPA grantee local govern-
ments and federal Empowerment Communities and
Enterprise Zones).
• Technical and financial assistance for sustainable
redevelopment and brownfield reuse projects in 50
states and nine affiliated territories through the state
forestry agencies.
• Assistance to EPA and other federal agencies with the
redevelopment of brownfields located in rural com-
munities or near mine-scarred lands.
• Support for communities that want to convert exist-
ing brownfields into natural open space, parks, or
tree-covered linear parks, or conduct other land con-
servation projects to increase access to nature.
• Assisting rural and urban brownfields communities
with applying for USDA grants and loans.
RESOURCES
Financial and Technical Assistance
Urban and Community Forestry Program
The Urban and Community Forestry Program responds
to the needs of urban areas by maintaining, restoring,
and improving urban forest ecosystems on more than
70 million acres. Through these efforts, the program
encourages and promotes the creation of healthier, more
livable urban environments across the nation. Urban
forests are dynamic ecosystems that provide environ-
mental services such as clean air and water. Trees cool
cities and save energy, improve air quality, reduce storm
water runoff, strengthen local economies, improve social
connections that create restorative commons to improve
health and wellbeing, and complement smart growth
principles. The Urban and Community Forestry Program
provides financial and technical assistance to plan, protect,
establish, and manage and utilize trees, forests, and
related resources.
Eligibility Requirements: Local governments, non-profit
organizations, community groups, educational institu-
tions, and tribal governments are eligible for assistance.
The program is delivered through the state forestry agen-
cies in states and affiliated territories.
Availability: Funding depends upon annual Congressional
appropriations.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Revitalizing city centers, older suburbs, and exurban
areas through green infrastructure planning;
• Planting, caring for, and using trees as part of brown-
fields reuse;
• Restoring degraded rivers;
• Planting trees for phytoremediation at brownfield
sites; and
• Providing service learning for youth working in the
environment through the Neighborwoods Program.
h ttp://www. fs. fed, us/ucf/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Blake Velde
USDA Brownfields Coordinator
DA/OPPM/EMD
1400 Independence Ave. SW MS-9100
Washington, DC 20250
202-205-0906
blake.velde@da.usda.gov
Main Web Site
h ttp://www. fs. fed, us/ucf/
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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SNAPSHOT-CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Assistance from the U.S. Forest Service can contribute
to projects in urban settings, as well as in more
rural areas. For example, the developers for the Ford
Motor Company's Chicago Manufacturing Campus
worked with the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, the City of Chicago, and the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources to restore
wetlands and provide innovative storm water drain-
age and natural landscaping on a portion of the site
that is traversed by Wolf Lake, an important Calumet
Area water tributary. The project transformed what
used to be a channelized ditch into a functioning
creek corridor and wetlands/floodplain.
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Department of Commerce—
Economic Development Administration
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was
established in 1965 to help economically distressed
areas of the United States generate jobs, retain existing
jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth.
EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas
experiencing chronic high unemployment or underem-
ployment, low per capita income, or other severe eco-
nomic distress. Traditionally, over half of all EDA resources
go to small towns and rural areas. EDA's mission is to
lead the federal economic development agenda by
promoting innovation and competitiveness and pre-
paring American regions for growth and success in the
worldwide economy.
EDA is authorized to provide broad-spectrum support for
brownfields site assessment; market feasibility studies; inci-
dental remediation, such as lead and asbestos abatement;
and site redevelopment and reuse that furthers economic
growth. EDA typically focuses on the reuse of brownfields.
EDA encourages market-driven brownfields reuse to return
non-productive, blighted, and formerly contaminated real
estate to local tax roles and foster capital reinvestment that
creates jobs at higher skill and wage levels.
EDA funds brownfields-related projects through its exist-
ing assistance programs. In most years, the majority of
investments in brownfields-related projects are made
through EDA's Public Works and Economic Development
Facilities Program.
Brownfields Connections
' Funding for public works and infrastructure enhance-
ments—targeted to state, local, and tribal governments
and public and private non-profit organizations.
• Funding to capitalize revolving loan funds for state
and local implementation of strategies to attract
private sector investment—targeted to local govern-
ments, states, and regional development organizations.
• Planning grants to economically distressed states and
regions—targeted to state, regional, local, and tribal
governments.
• Funding for infrastructure modernization at closed
military bases—targeted to local governments, devel-
opment organizations, and reuse authorities.
• The Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund
promotes a green economy.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
Public Works and Economic Development
Assistance Program
EDA's support through this assistance program helps
communities revitalize, upgrade, and expand essential
public infrastructure and facilities to attract new indus-
try or business expansion, diversify local economies, and
generate or retain long-term private sector jobs and in-
vestments. The primary goal of these investments is the
creation of new, or the retention of existing, long-term
private sector job opportunities in communities. Such
investments are common in brownfields redevelopment
and include the renovation and reuse of older, generally
publicly owned buildings, as well as the construction of
new infrastructure and facilities on reclaimed sites.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants in com-
munities experiencing economic decline and distress
include Indian tribes or a consortium of tribes; states,
cities, or other political subdivisions of a state; non-profit
organizations acting in cooperation with a political sub-
division; and institutions of higher education.
Limitations: Individuals or for-profit entities seeking to
start or expand a private business are not eligible.
Availability: EDA allocated $114,280,000 for the Public
Works and Economic Development Facilities Program in
FY 2009. EDA has quarterly rounds of funding. See the
EDA website for specific requirements at http://www.eda.
gov/lnvestmentsGmnts/Gmnt%20Process.xml
Uses/Applications Include:
• Support for the construction or rehabilitation of
essential public infrastructure and facilities necessary
to generate or retain private sector jobs and invest-
ments, with brownfields named as an eligible activity;
• Support for infrastructure for a site, especially to mod-
ernize industrial parks;
• Rehabilitation of buildings after a site is cleaned, or
conduct other similar brick-and-mortar activities; and
• Heritage preservation projects.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Economic Development Planning Assistance
Program
EDA's investments through the planning assistance program
help support development, implementation, and revision
of comprehensive economic development strategies
(CEDS) and related short-term planning activities. An
EDA-approved CEDS is required for some EDA funding
opportunities. Short-term planning may include area
master plans, geographic information system brown-
fields inventories, and site-specific feasibility studies.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants in com-
munities experiencing economic decline and distress
include planning organizations, such as Indian tribes or
a consortium of tribes; states, cities, or other political
subdivisions of a state; non-profit organizations acting in
cooperation with a political subdivision; and institutions
of higher education.
Limitations: Individuals or for-profit entities seeking to
start or expand a private business are not eligible.
Availability: EDA allocated $31 million to the Planning
Assistance Program in FY 2009. Also in FY 2009, an addi-
tional $147 million in planning grants were made under
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. EDA has
quarterly rounds of funding. See the EDA website for
specific requirements at http://www.eda.gov/
lnvestmentsGrants/Grant%20Process.xml
Uses/Applications Include:
• Develop, maintain, and implement broad economic
strategies known as CEDS and related short-term
planning activities;
• Fund up to 50 percent of planning costs for brownfields
projects, especially projects that will create new jobs; and
• Integrate brownfields redevelopment into CEDS.
Economic Adjustment Assistance Program
The program is designed to respond flexibly to pressing
economic recovery issues. It can provide a variety of
assistance to prepare and implement adjustment strategies
in regions experiencing adverse economic changes. An
example of economic need is a sudden and severe economic
dislocation caused by a manufacturing plant closing.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants in commu-
nities experiencing economic decline and distress include
Indian tribes or a consortium of tribes; states, cities, or
other political subdivisions of a state; non-profit organi-
zations acting in cooperation with a political subdivision;
and institutions of higher education.
Limitations: Individuals or for-profit entities seeking to
start or expand a private business are not eligible.
Availability: EDA allocated $35,330,000 to the Economic
Adjustment Assistance Program in FY 2009. EDA has
quarterly rounds of funding. See the EDA website for
specific requirements at http://www.eda.gov/
lnvestmentsGrants/Grant%20Process.xml
Uses/Applications Include:
• Help communities organize and develop a planning
process, resulting in a CEDS. An EDA-approved CEDS is a
prerequisite for requesting an EDA-funded economic ad-
justment infrastructure improvement or revolving loan fund
investment, or other EDA infrastructure investments; and
• Help communities implement one or more initiatives
identified in their EDA-approved CEDS, including
funding for brownfields planning, infrastructure con-
struction, and revolving loan fund capitalization.
Outreach/Technical Assistance
University, National, and Local Technical
Assistance Program
EDA oversees university-centered, national, and local
technical assistance programs to promote innovative
approaches that stimulate economic development and
alleviate unemployment, underemployment, and out-
migration in distressed regions. The goal is to help fill
knowledge and information gaps that may prevent leaders
in the public and non-profit sectors of economically dis-
tressed regions from making optimal decisions on local
economic development issues.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants in communities
experiencing economic decline and distress include Indian
tribes or a consortium of tribes, states, cities, or other politi-
cal subdivisions of a state; non-profit organizations acting in
cooperation with a political subdivision; and institutions of
higher education.
Limitations: Individuals or for-profit entities seeking to
start or expand a private business are not eligible.
Availability: EDA allocated $9,400,000 to the Technical As-
sistance Program in FY 2009. EDA has quarterly rounds
of funding. See the EDA website for specific requirements at
http://www.eda.gov/lnvestmentsGrants/Grant%20Process.xml
Uses/Applications Include:
• Finance local market analyses, feasibility studies, and
similar small planning projects necessary to support
site redevelopment, including brownfields reuse. Fea-
sibility studies are an effective tool for determining
whether the market will support a particular activity
or site reuse;
• Disseminate timely information on best practices and
studies of economic development issues of national
-------
significance to practitioners to alleviate economic dis-
tress and promote economic development; and
• Invest in institutions of higher education to establish
and operate university centers that conduct applied
research and provide technical assistance to public
and private-sector organizations with the goal of
enhancing local economic development.
Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund
EDA's Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund
(GCCMIF), established in FY2008, helps strengthen the link-
ages between economic development and environmental
quality. The purpose and mission of the GCCMIF is to finance
projects that foster economic development by advancing
the green economy in distressed communities. The GCCMIF
supports projects that create jobs and increase private capital
investment while reducing the nation's dependence on
fossil fuels, enhance energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas
emissions, and protect natural systems.
Availability: In FY 2009, EDA allocated $14,700,000 to
the GCCMIF.
Limitations: Individuals or for-profit entities seeking to
start or expand a private business are not eligible.
Eligibility Requirements: GCCMIF assistance is available
to finance a wide range of projects, including strategy
development and construction. To access the GCCMIF,
an applicant must provide appropriate information to
allow EDA to verify that the proposed project fulfills the
objectives of the fund by both project type and project
output. Specifically, the applicant must demonstrate that
the project will be one of the following project types:
• Renewable Energy. The development, production, or
use of energy derived from sources that do not de-
plete finite natural resources, including wind, solar,
biomass, and geothermal energy.
• Energy Efficiency. A reduction in the energy produced
or the energy consumed for the same level of output
with the goal of lowering energy costs.
• Reuse/Recycling/Restoration. The reuse of a given prod-
uct (or products) or production of a new or innovative
product from recyclable materials. This might include
waste management practices that reduce raw material
usage and the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
This category also includes ecosystem restoration, green
building, new construction, or renovation that is certified
by the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or other
comparable certification program.
In addition, an applicant must demonstrate that the proj-
ect will result in one (or more) of the following outputs:
• Development and/or manufacture of a green end-
product. Investments that produce an end-product
that furthers or contributes to sustainability in gen-
eral and/or the environmental quality of the associ-
ated community or region. The end-product can take
numerous forms (i.e., activity, item, plan, or program).
• Greening of an existing function or process. Investments
must result in green enhancements to the resource,
energy, water, and/or waste, or efficiency of an existing
function or process. The enhancements reflect changes
to the lifecycle process of an existing function so that the
function is performed in a more sustainable manner.
• Creation or renovation of a green building. Invest-
ments must result in the construction or renovation
of a structure using green building techniques that
result in a net positive outcome in terms of energy,
materials, and/or water use efficiency. Such buildings
or structures must have LEED or other comparable
green building certification.
Uses/Applications Include: Based on project type and out-
put, an applicant must identify, preferably in quantifiable
terms, the potential green project benefits such as renew-
able energy capacity per year, overall energy savings, or
carbon emission offsets of a GCCMIF financed investment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Kenneth M. Kukovich, EDA National Brownfields
Coordinator
Room HCHB 7227
1401 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20230
202-482-0806
kkukovich@eda.doc.gov
Main Site
http://www.eda.gov
http://www.eda.gov/AboutEDA/Programs.xml
http://www.eda.ciov/lnvestmentsGmnts/Gmnt%20Process.xml
SNAPSHOT-BRUNSWICK, MAINE
Funding for cleanup and redevelopment of the
Maine Street Station in Brunswick, Maine, came
from a variety of sources. The $850,000 provided by
the Economic Development Administration for the
project was a crucial part of the $2.9 million project,
which transformed a 3.8-acre former rail yard and 20
adjacent acres into office space, apartments, com-
mercial and retail space and a new train station that
is expected to bring thousands of tourists to the
area when Amtrak service reaches the town in 2012.
V J
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Department of Commerce—
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) works to balance
environmental and economic needs at waterfront locations.
NOAA coordinated the interagencyTortfields" initiative,
which focused on the redevelopment and reuse of idled
or abandoned lands in and around ports, harbors, and
marine transportation hubs. Focused assistance was
provided to four Portfields pilots in New Bedford, Mas-
sachusetts; Tampa, Florida; Bellingham, Washington; and
the southern Louisiana region. The practices and lessons
learned through the pilot projects are being actively
transferred to other port communities. As the lead
trustee for the public's coastal natural resources, NOAA
works to prevent and mitigate harm to coastal resources.
Brownfields Connections
' Technical assistance to coastal state, territorial, and
local governments for coastal resource protection
and management.
• Expertise to improve cleanup and redevelopment and
expedite decision-making.
• Programs that benefit local economies and improve
quality of life in coastal communities by applying
sustainable economic development programs.
• Local workshops sponsored by NOAA can focus on
brownfields revitalization efforts to help communities
gather input from all parties involved in the revitaliza-
tion process, creating strong partnerships for more
efficient action.
• NOAA's strong partnerships with the costal states'
coastal zone management programs can help rebuild
community waterfronts and redevelop brownfields.
• Use of advanced marine transportation tools and
services can revitalize port areas.
• Improve quality of life, the environment, and the
regional economy by working with local communities
and other agencies on coastal brownfields.
• Training, guidance, and decision-making tools for spec-
ific watersheds, ports, and harbors to assist coastal comm-
unities with the assessment, cleanup, and restoration of
contaminated coastal sites (including brownfields).
RESOURCES
Outreach/Technical Assistance
National Ocean Service's Office of Response and
Restoration
NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) provides science-
based solutions through collaborative partnerships to
address evolving economic, environmental, and social
pressures on our oceans and coasts. NOS delivers the
tools and services needed to understand and respond to
challenges along 95,000 miles of shoreline and 3.5 mil-
lion square miles of U.S. coastal, Great Lakes, and deep-
ocean waters. Thousands of brownfields that once were
thriving industrial facilities are located along coastal
waterfronts. With a coastal focus and experience in solv-
ing environmental challenges, several NOS programs
provide resources and technical assistance to coastal
communities that assist with brownfields cleanup and
reuse. The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R)
provides scientific support to the U.S. Coast Guard for
spills and coordinates with other agencies for hazardous
material releases to ensure protection and restoration of
its trust resources. OR&R also coordinates with federal,
state, and tribal natural resource trustees to assess and
restore degraded coastal resources and the services they
provide. Among its specialized skills, OR&R forecasts the
movement and behavior of spilled oil and chemicals,
evaluates risk to resources, and recommends protective
cleanup actions.
Eligibility Requirements: OR&R coordinates with federal
and state trustee agencies.
Limitations: Projects are selected based on OR&R's
strategic priorities and available funds.
Availability: Limited to sites that impact trust resources.
Uses/Applications Include: Assistance is limited based
on agency priorities.
httD://www.resDonse.restoration.noaa.aov
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Coastal Services Center
The Coastal Services Center (CSC) partners with state
and local organizations to address coastal resource
management issues, particularly the issues of hazards
and coastal development. Each year, NOAA's Coastal
Services Center selects projects that support its overall
mission to foster and sustain the environmental, social,
and economic well-being of the nation's coast. Some
projects focus on needs identified by state and local
partners, some projects help other NOAA offices service
the coastal management community, and some proj-
ects explore new issues and technologies expected to
become important over the long term. The Center is a
partner in over 100 ongoing projects geared to resolving
site-specific coastal issues, including brownfields rede-
velopment. The Center also works on projects designed
to benefit the nation's coastal management community
as a whole. These efforts include a training program that
offers numerous classes to meet the technical and man-
agement needs of coastal managers.
Eligibility Requirements: Assistance is provided to state
and local coastal resource managers and federal, non-
governmental, and non-profit organizations.
Limitations: Projects are selected based on the Center's
strategic priority-setting process.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Smart Growth initiatives; and
• Brownfields information outreach.
Availability: Assistance is limited based on agency
priorities.
http://www.csc.noaa.qou
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Michel Gielazyn, Ph.D.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Office of Response & Restoration/ Assessment and
Restoration Division
263 13th Ave South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
michel.gielazvn@noaa.gov
Main Site
http;//www.response.restorot/on.nooo.oou
SNAPSHOT-PROVIDENCE, RHODE
ISLAND
NOS provided $2 million for site preparation, design,
and construction of a boathouse, dock, and inter-
pretive trails to help transform Field's Point, a former
city dump on Narragansett Bay, into a community
education center. Save the Bay, a major environmental
advocacy organization in Rhode Island, spear-
headed the effort, which included construction of
a complex that features a 15,000 square-foot green
building with classroom and education space featuring
a living roof and other environmentally friendly fea-
tures. Initial cleanup funding was secured from the
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation,
which lent $700,000 from its own EPA-capitalized
brownfields revolving loan fund. Nearly 60 other
public, private, philanthropic, and non-profit enti-
ties also funded the project.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Department of Defense-
Li.S. Army Corps of Engineers
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) provides as-
sistance for the development and management of the na-
tion's water resources in an environmentally sustainable,
economic, and technically sound manner. The USAGE
provides comprehensive planning, design, construction,
engineering management, and technical support to
the Army and to the nation. Unlike most other agencies
comprising the federal brownfields partnership, USAGE
supports communities by way of specific, Congressional-
ly authorized projects or through water resource-related,
reimbursable ("Support for Others"), engineering activities.
In addition, USAGE responds to engineering-related
brownfields questions and project inquiries from any
community within the U.S. and its territories for major
water resource-related endeavors. USAGE will guide
communities to appropriate Congressional contacts for
authorization and appropriation support for individual
projects.
Brownfields Connections
' Reimbursable technical services are provided to other
federal agencies engaged in brownfields activities
targeted to local governments. Such services align
water resources development and management efforts
with community brownfields objectives.
• Implementation of civil works water resource projects
emphasizing integrated and sustainable systems-based
solu-tions for ecosystem restoration, inland and coastal
navigation, and flood and storm damage reduction—
targeted to state and local governments.
RESOURCES
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Reimbursable Support
USAGE may perform technical oversight and management
of engineering, environmental, and construction contracts,
including technical assistance for brownfields-related
activities, for non-Department of Defense (DOD) federal
agencies and states on a reimbursable basis. The work is
fully funded by the customer (e.g., local government).
Uses/Applications Include:
• Technical and project management capabilities for
most water- and land-related natural resources activities;
• Engineering, facility design, construction management,
and other technical services; and
• Environmental restoration.
Planning Assistance to States (Section 22)
The USAGE provides technical assistance to states to
support preparation of comprehensive water and related
land resources development plans, including watershed
and ecosystem planning. The USAGE assists in conducting
individual studies supporting the state plan.
Assistance is given on the basis of state requests and
availability of USAGE expertise rather than through
Congressional authorization procedures.
Section 22 cannot be used to supplement other ongoing or
pending USAGE efforts, or to offset required state contri-
butions to federal grant programs.
Eligibility Requirements: There is general authority for
USAGE to cooperate with states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and federally
recognized Indian tribes. Reimbursable support from
USAGE is not available to private entities.
Limitations: The non-federal sponsor contributes 50
percent of the costs, which may be 100 percent in-kind
service for Section 22 agreements executed after Novem-
ber 7, 2007. Nationwide annual funds may not exceed
$10 million, with a maximum of $500,000 in any one year
per state or Indian tribe, or a maximum of $2 million per
state or tribe per year for Section 22 agreements executed
after November 7,2007.
Availability: The availability of planning assistance
depends on annual congressional appropriations to the
program.
Centers of Expertise
There are several USAGE Centers of Expertise whose
specialized capabilities may be helpful in solving specific
brownfields challenges. These include the Curation and
Management of Archaeological Collection Center, the
Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise (EXCM)
the Photogrammetric Mapping Center, the Preservation
-------
of Historic Buildings and Structures Center, the Rapid
Response Corps of Engineers Center of Expertise, and
the Sustainable Design and Development Center. As-
sistance from these centers is generally available on a
reimbursable basis.
Eligibility Requirements: There is general authority for
USACE to cooperate with states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and federally
recognized Indian tribes. Reimbursable support from
USACE is not available to private entities.
Availability: Priority is given to requests for support that
have national significance.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Preserving historic buildings and structures;
• Rapid response to hazardous, toxic, and radioactive
waste incidents; and
• Coordinating acid mine drainage cleanup with other
infrastructure issues (e.g., wastewater systems).
Curation and Management of Archaeological
Collections Center of Expertise
Provides technical assistance in the preservation, stor-
age, and management of archaeological and historical
materials and associated documentation.
http://www.mvs.usace.armv.mil/engr/curation/Home.html
Photogrammetric Mapping Center
Provides rapid-response, full-service photogrammetric
mapping support and maintains technical capability and
proficiency in all aspects of photogrammetry.
http://mvs-wc.mvs.usace.armv.mil/tcx.html
Center of Expertise for the Preservation of
Historic Buildings and Structures
Applies academic and practical skills in the fields of history
and architectural history, architecture, and maintenance
and rehabilitation treatments through an information
clearinghouse. The Center can provide technical direction
to those seeking the best means of preserving and main-
taining historic properties.
http://www.nws.usace.armv.mil/PublicMenu/Menu.cfm?
sitename=historic&pagename=mainpage
Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise
Provides remediation services for properties contami-
nated with hazardous waste, radioactive materials, and/
or ordnance in compliance with federal, state, and local
laws and regulation. The Center's projects strive for
sustainability while meeting current and future land and
water use needs, safeguarding human health and safety,
improving quality of life, and enhancing the natural
environment. USACE supports military and civil agencies
nationwide in environmental and munitions responses.
http://www.environmental.usace.armv.mil/
Rapid Response Corps of Engineers Center of Expertise
Provides quick-response environmental services.
h ttp://www.nwo. usace.armv.mil/h tml/cd-rr/default. h tm
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PaulM. Lancer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: CEMP-PE
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20548
202-761-5517
paul.m.lancer@usace.armv.mil
Main Site
httD://www.usace.armv.mil
SNAPSHOT- VINTONDALE,
PENNSYLVANIA
Creative financing was an integral part of the effort to
clean up and redevelop the 35-acre mine-scarred Vinton
Coal Company site in Vintondale, Pennsylvania. Today,
visitors to Vintondale can visit a park with ballfields
and walk on trails to learn about the area's coal-mining
history and the science behind the remediation, while
enjoying new wetlands. Substantial funding came from
the EPA. The Pennsylvania Council on Arts and the
Wildlife Habitat Council also provided financial assis-
tance. Through a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, manufactured soil was spread across the
site and in the construction of wetlands. Volunteers then
seeded the property with native grass mixtures and
over 17,000 wetland plants. The Pennsylvania Depart-
ment of Transportation's wetland mitigation program
was used to set up a community endowment to ensure
long-term funding of the project.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Department of Defense—
Office of Economic Adjustment
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) is the Depart-
ment of Defense's (DOD) primary source for assisting
communities that are adversely impacted by defense
program changes, including base closures, realignments,
or expansions, and contract or program cancellations.
Within OEA, the primary resource for DOD's economic
adjustment projects is the Defense Economic Adjustment
program for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).
Brownfields Connections
' Extensive assistance and information on planning for
the redevelopment of closed military facilities.
RESOURCES
Technical and Financial Assistance
Community Economic Adjustment Planning
Assistance
Technical guidance and planning grants are provided
to assist local governments or states in preparing rede-
velopment plans for military installations approved for
closure or realignment, which makes surplus federal
property available for civilian redevelopment. OEA
encourages communities to consider existing environ-
mental conditions and integrate cleanup measures with
redevelopment plans. Many base closure actions result
in extensive planning and review of local economic
development goals. Therefore, there is an opportunity
to adapt the concepts and techniques of brownfields
redevelopment within the program.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include states,
cities, counties, other political subdivisions of a state,
special purpose units of state or local government, and
tribal nations. Applicants must provide documentation
that a defense action such as a base closure has occurred
or will occur, the action has imposed or is likely to impose
a direct and significant adverse consequence, and other
impact assistance is not available to the applicant.
Availability: Requests for OEA assistance can be made
by, or on behalf of, state and/or local elected officials.
Annual non-competitive grant awards typically range
from $50,000-$2 million.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Prepare redevelopment plans for surplus military
installation property.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Bryant Monroe, Program Lead (BRAC)
Office of Economic Adjustment
400 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, VA 22202-4704
703-604-5150
brvant.monroe@wso.whs.mil
Main Site
http://www.oea.ciov
16
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Department of Energy
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The overarching mission of the Department of Energy
(DOE) is to advance the national, economic, and energy
security of the United States; to promote scientific and
technological innovation in support of that mission; and
to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national
nuclear weapons complex.
DOE supports brownfields reuse by providing technical
assistance in the fields of energy use and environmental
remediation and in the Los Alamos National Labora-
tory Sustainable Design Guide. DOE is the caretaker and
manager of both the facilities that manufactured nuclear
weapons and the property on which those weapons are
located.
Brownfields Connections
' Technical assistance in the field of environmental
cleanup and stabilization.
• Financial assistance to transfer property for a public
purpose.
• Green Energy Parks at DOE facilities.
• Evaluations of brownfields as sites for renewable en-
ergy technologies.
RESOURCES
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE) works with industry and outside agencies through
two mechanisms: financial assistance and procurement.
Through financial assistance, EERE provides funding
for renewable energy and energy efficiency research
and development (R&D). Financial assistance awards
transfer money, property, or services to a recipient so
that it can accomplish a public purpose authorized by
federal statute. Financial assistance is provided with
grants, cooperative agreements, continuation awards,
and renewal awards. EERE also works with businesses,
industries, and others for the procurement of goods and
services. A procurement contract is used to purchase,
lease, or barter property or services for the benefit of the
federal government.
Eligibility Requirements: Financial assistance is avail-
able for businesses, industries, universities, and others.
Limitations: Competitive grants are the most common
type of financial assistance awarded by EERE. Coopera-
tive agreements are also competitive.
Availability: EERE awarded $2.2 billion in financial assis-
tance in FY2009.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Renewable energy and energy efficiency research and
development; and
• Transfer of money, property, or services.
http://www.eere.energy.gov
Office of Environmental Management
The mission of the Office of Environmental Management
(EM) is to complete the safe cleanup of the environmen-
tal legacy brought about from five decades of nuclear
weapons development and government-sponsored
nuclear energy research. The Cold War left a legacy of
1.5 million cubic meters of solid waste and 88 million
gallons of liquid waste for disposition. The EM program
has made significant progress in shifting away from risk
management to embracing a mission-completion phi-
losophy based on reducing risk and environmental liabil-
ity. As an established operating cleanup-completion and
risk reduction program, EM focuses on tasks that include
remediating soil and groundwater contaminated with
radioactive and hazardous constituents, and fulfilling its
commitment to reduce risk and complete cleanup across
all sites for future generations. EM works in 35 states and
on properties that cover two million acres.
EM's "Green Energy Parks" initiative will create or facilitate
land transfers to establish energy parks at DOE facilities.
DOE will partner with community reuse organizations
and others interested in establishing energy parks. The
type of energy at the park will depend on what the com-
munity wants and what suits the land. DOE will support
the partnership through technology and technical assis-
tance for remediation and property reuse efforts.
Limitations: Program activities are limited to contami-
nated nuclear weapons production and nuclear energy
research testing sites across the United States.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
-------
Uses/Applications Include:
• Reducing risk and environmental liability at nuclear
production and nuclear energy research sites;
• Constructing and operating facilities to treat radioac-
tive liquid tank waste;
• Securing and storing nuclear materials in a stable,
safe configuration in secure locations;
• Transporting and disposing transuranic and low-level
wastes in a safe and cost-effective manner;
• Cleaning up soil and groundwater at EM sites; and
• Establishing Green Energy Parks at DOE facilities.
http://www.em.doe.gov/pages/emhome.aspx
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the
nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and
energy efficiency research and development (R&D). Its
mission and strategy are focused on advancing DOE's
and the nation's energy goals. NREL's R&D capabilities
advance national energy goals by developing innova-
tions to change the way to power homes and business
and fuel cars. NREL works to evaluate brownfields for
renewable energy potential on behalf of the EPA. It has
collected information on brownfields that are ready
for redevelopment, and determined their suitability for
renewable energy technologies.
http://www.nrel.gov/overview
Los Alamos National Laboratory
The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a premier
national security research institution, delivering scientific
and engineering solutions for the nation's most crucial
and complex problems. Its work also advances earth
and environmental sciences. LANL produced the LANL
Sustainable Design Guide, which recommends selecting
properties with opportunities for minimal environmental
impacts, including brownfields, for development.
http://www.lanl.ciov/discover/Dlanet
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Melinda Downing LM-1
Environmental Justice Program Manager
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Legacy Management
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 6G-041
Washington, DC 20585
202-586-7703
melinda.downing&hg.doe.gov
Main Site
http://www.enerciv.ciov
SNAPSHOT-AUSTIN, TEXAS
The new 169-bed Dell Children's Medical Center of
Central Texas, was built on 32.2 acres of a 709-acre
brownfield site, the former municipal airport in Austin.
One of the most energy-efficient hospitals in the
world, the Dell Children's Medical Center is the first
inpatient hospital to achieve Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the
platinum level, the highest offered through the U.S.
Green Building Council. Developers saved $8 mil-
lion in capital outlays by outsourcing power, heating
and chilled-water needs to Austin Energy, which
installed a combined heating and power (CHP) sys-
tem. For Austin Energy, what made the project at-
tractive was its eligibility for a $3 million Department
of Energy CHP demonstration project grant under
the cost share funding integrated energy system so-
licitation program. In turn, the hospital will purchase
power and chilled water from Austin Energy's on-site
plant at tariffed rates over a 30-year term.
18
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Department of Health and Human Services
Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) is a federal public health agency that seeks to
prevent disease and harmful exposures to hazardous
substances in the environment. ATSDR conducts site-relat-
ed public health assessments or health consultations,
health studies, and health education mainly through
cooperative agreements with other federal agencies and
state and local public health departments.
ATSDR provides technical assistance and may oversee
evaluations and related public health activities performed
by state or local staff at environmentally contaminated
sites in states that have cooperative agreements. The ex-
tent of ATSDR's involvement at an individual site depends
on the health issues, the ability of ATSDR's state and
local health department partners to adequately address
those issues, and ATSDR's resource capabilities.
The 2002 Brownfields Amendments to the Compre-
hensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability Act (CERCLA) provide a public health focus on
the impacts of brownfields, particularly in disadvantaged
communities and among sensitive populations. One
facet of this public health focus urges local governments
to monitor the health of populations exposed to hazardous
substances from brownfields and to enforce institutional
controls that prevent human exposure to those substances.
Brownfields Connections
' Partnerships to assess and build the capacity of public
health agencies to participate in brownfields redevel-
opment while enhancing their understanding of the
need for health care access in communities affected
by brownfields.
• Technical assistance on risk and health assessments,
health consultations, and other support for brown-
fields provided to communities and other partners.
• National leadership to health agencies working on
brownfields.
• Training on environmental health impacts on minor-
ity communities.
• Independent reviews and assessments of environ-
mental sampling data and health and community
information to determine if past, current, or future
exposure to hazardous substances might have public
health consequences.
RESOURCES
ATSDR provides financial and technical assistance to
identify and evaluate environmental health issues associ-
ated with brownfields land reuse sites. These resources
enable state and local health departments to further
investigate environmental health concerns and educate
communities.
Finan da I Assist an ce
Community Health Projects Related to
Brownfield/Land Reuse
ATSDR's support through its Brownfield/Land Reuse Ini-
tiative program promotes health, community involvement,
partnerships, communication and education. ATSDR
works to include health considerations in brownfields
redevelopment and land reuse. Projects could include,
but are not limited to, the evaluation of environmental
contaminant exposures, identification of health indica-
tors of sustainability (pre- and post- redevelopment),
conducting risk communication and health education,
or geospatial analysis. The program intends to stimulate
collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that public
health is considered in the earliest phases of remediation
and redevelopment of brownfield properties.
Eligibility: ATSDR can only fund health departments or
their bona fide agents of states, the District of Columbia,
U.S. territories, and recognized tribal governments.
Limitations: Funds may not be used for research or clinical
care. ATSDR occasionally provides funds to health depart-
ments, universities, non-profit groups, or vendors to
conduct activities, sponsor meetings, or provide needed
services that support ATSDR's mission, but not under this
assistance program.
Availability: ATSDR allocated $450,000 for this program
in FY 2010. The ceiling for individual awards is $125,000.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Outreach/Technical Assistance
Review and Assess Environmental Sampling Data
Through ATSDR's cooperative partnerships, the agency
can review and assess environmental sampling data
and other site-related information.
Health-Related Information Sharing
ATSDR can provide health-related information on specific
hazardous substances, coordinate a response to a real
or perceived elevated incidence of disease near a site,
and help individual workers or community members find
experienced, private medical attention for significant
hazardous substance exposure.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Steven L. Jones
ATSDR Liaison Office to EPA Headquarters
Division of Regional Operations
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Ariel Rios Building - MC#5204P
Washington, DC 20460
703-603-8729
jones.steve@epa.gov
Deborah E. Burgin
ATSDR Liaison Office to EPA Headquarters
Division of Regional Operations
1201 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Ariel Rios Building - MC#5204P
Washington, DC 20460
703-603-8813
bumin.deborah@epa.gov
Ryan P. Costello
ATSDR Liaison Office to EPA Headquarters
Division of Regional Operations
1201 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Ariel Rios Building - MC#5204P
Washington, DC 20460
703-603-8766
cos tello. rvan@epa.gov
Tina Forrester, Division Director
ATSDR Division of Regional Operations
Mailstop F58
4770 Buford Hwy, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-488-3788
tforrester@cdc.gov
Main Site
h ttp://www. a tsdr. cdc.gov
ATSDR Brownfield/Land Reuse Initiative
h ttp://www. a tsdr. cdc. aov/sites/brown fields/index, h tml
SNAPSHOT-ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
The City of St. Petersburg acquired the former Mercy
Hospital site (closed in 1966), to construct the Johnnie
Ruth-Clarke Hospital and Health Care Center. The
$4.7 million redevelopment included restoration of
the original hospital building and construction of a
24,000-square-foot addition. St. Petersburg put up
the initial $450,000 investment in the project from
the city's Community Development Block Grant to
help with site preparation and cleanup. This set the
stage for HHS to provide $3.7 million for construction
of a medical clinic, which will play a major role in
meeting the healthcare needs of the surrounding
low-income neighborhoods. Development of this
brownfield helped preserve a neighborhood center
while providing health care opportunities for the
community.
20
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Department of Health and Human Services-
National Institute of Environmental Health
Services
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The mission of the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS) is to reduce the burden of human
illness and disability by understanding how the environ-
ment influences the development and progression of human
disease. The NIEHS contributes to scientific knowledge
of human health and the environment and to the health
and well-being of people everywhere.
The NIEHS's Worker Education and Training Program
supports the training and education of workers engaged
in activities related to hazardous materials and waste
generation, removal, containment, transportation, and
emergency response. The NIEHS Minority Worker Training
Program (MWTP) positively changes lives and communi-
ties by reaching out to recruit, train and employ disad-
vantaged minority residents in communities across the
U.S.
Brownfields Connections
' Conducts the MWTP to assist communities by ad-
dressing the need for a more comprehensive train-
ing program to foster economic and environmental
restoration of brownfields
• Conducts the MWTP to increase the recruitment
and training of under-represented minorities in the
field of hazardous waste remediation, emergency
response, construction, and green jobs. Individuals
living near hazardous waste sites or in a community
at risk of exposure to contaminated properties are
targeted, with the specific focus of training them to
be safe while working to clean up their communities
in the environmental and construction fields.
• Conducts a hazardous waste worker training program
for training and educating workers engaged in activi-
ties related to hazardous waste removal, containment,
and emergency response.
Provides grants to small business concerns under
the Advanced Training Technology (ATT) program to
develop products for the health and safety training of
hazardous materials workers, emergency responders, and
skilled support personnel. This program is also called
the SBIR/STTR E-Learning Program (Small Business
Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology
Transfer (STTR) program).
• In coordination with EPA, conducts the Superfund
Research Program-a network of university grants that
are designed to seek solutions to complex health and
environmental issues associated with the nation's
hazardous waste sites.
RESOURCES
Outreach/Technical Assistance
NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program
The NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program
(WETP) supports the training and education of workers
engaged in activities related to hazardous materials and
waste generation, removal, containment, transportation,
and emergency response. Its mission is to fund non-
profit organizations with a demonstrated track record
of providing occupational safety and health education
in developing and delivering high-quality training to
workers in handling hazardous waste or in responding to
emergency releases of hazardous materials. Among the
program areas are the Hazardous Waste Worker Training,
Minority WorkerTraining, Hazmat Disaster Prepared-
ness Training, DOE Nuclear Worker Training, and ATT
programs. News releases and fact sheets on 2010-2011
WETP funding can be found at:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/20W/safetv-
training.cfm
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/factsheet
wetp awards %202010 v2 508.pdf
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/index.cfm
Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program
Hazardous materials and waste workers include workers en-
gaged in active and inactive waste treatment, storage and
disposal, hazardous waste generation, cleanup and remedi-
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
-------
al action, emergency response, as well as workers engaged
in hazardous materials transportation, including the safe
loading, unloading, handling, and storage.
In 21 years of the WETP, the Hazardous Waste Worker
Training Program (HWWTP) supported 18 primary
awardees. They represent more than 80 different institu-
tions that trained more than 2 million workers across
the country. They presented over 99,600 classroom and
hands-on training courses, which account for more than
23 million contact hours of actual training. More infor-
mation about the awardees and descriptions of all NIEHS
WETP programs can be found at: http://www.niehs.nih.
gov/careers/hazmat/.
Eligibility Requirements: The following organizations
and institutions are eligible to apply: public/state-con-
trolled institutions of higher education; private institu-
tions of higher education; Hispanic-serving institutions;
historically black colleges and universities; tribally con-
trolled colleges and universities; Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian-serving institutions; and non-profits with 501 (c)
(3) IRS Status (other than institutions of higher educa-
tion).
Limitations: A request for applications is released every
five years for a five-year funding period. The current
grant cycle is 2010-2014. The next grant cycle will be
2015-2019.
Availability: For the period of 2010-2011, approximately
$21 million was allocated to this program.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Train and educate workers engaged in activities related
to hazardous waste removal, containment, and emer-
gency response; and
• Conduct special training for workers who may be
exposed to unique or special hazards.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/programs/
hwwt/index.cfm
Minority Worker Training Program
The Minority Worker Training Program (MWTP) was
established in 1995 to provide a series of national
pilot programs to test a range of strategies for recruit-
ing, training and employing persons wanting to work
in the environmental field. These individuals may live
near hazardous waste sites or in communities at risk of
exposure from contaminated properties. The program
focuses on delivering comprehensive training to increase
the number of disadvantaged and under-represented
minority workers in the fields of environmental restora-
tion and hazardous materials. The program represents a
broad geographic distribution and reaches several urban
populations in high-risk contaminated areas.
The MWTP promotes long-lasting, effective partner-
ships in minority communities, which helps reinforce
occupational health and worker education. The program
provides pre-employment job training, including literacy,
life skills, and environmental preparation, as well as
green jobs, construction skills training, and environmental
worker training (e.g., hazardous waste, asbestos abatement,
lead abatement, and health and safety training). Some
training also includes enrollment in apprenticeship pro-
grams for construction and environmental remediation
occupations. Focus is placed on mentoring programs.
The MWTP promotes partnerships or sub-agreements
with academic and other institutions, with a particular
focus on historically black colleges and universities, as
well as public schools and community-based organizations
located in or near the impacted area. These institutions
provide pre-math, science, and other related educational
courses to program participants prior to or concurrent
with entry into the training program. The MWTP trains
workers near brownfield sites.
Overall, MWTP programs achieve great success moving
young workers into long-term employment including, most
recently, in the area of energy retrofitting and solar panel
installation. Since 1995, these programs trained over
8,200 students and found employment for approximately
68 percent of those students in jobs directly related to
their training.
Eligibility Requirements: The following organizations
and institutions are eligible to apply: Public/state-controlled
institutions of higher education; private institutions of
higher education; Hispanic-serving institutions; historically
black colleges and universities; tribally controlled colleges
and universities; Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving
institutions; and non-profits with 501 (c)(3) IRS status
(other than institutions of higher education).
Limitations: A request for applications is released every
five years for a five-year funding period. The current
grant cycle is 2010-2014. The next grant cycle will be
2015-2019.
Availability: For the period of 2010-2011, approximately
$3.5 million was allocated to this program.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Targets recruitment of under-represented minority
residents who live in urban areas near hazardous
waste sites or in communities at risk of exposure to
contaminated properties for work in the environmental
field cleaning up their communities;
22
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• Provides pre-employment job training, including
literacy, life skills, environmental preparation, green
jobs, and other related courses for construction skills
training; and
• Provides safety and health training in areas such as
environmental worker training, including hazardous
waste, asbestos, and lead abatement training.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/programs/mwt/
index.cfm
Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Training Program
NIEHS developed a Hazmat Disaster Preparedness Train-
ing Program (HDPTP) initiative in response to the experi-
ences and lessons learned in recent national disasters,
including terrorist attacks. This program enhances the
training of current hazardous materials workers and
chemical responders, trains skilled response personnel,
creates training materials, delivers training to workers
responding to a disaster, and augments prevention pre-
paredness efforts in a wide variety of high-risk settings.
This initiative is intended to foster the development of
disaster-specific training programs as an extension to
the HWWTP for the purpose of preparing a cadre of ex-
perienced workers for prevention and response to future
terrorist incidents in a wide variety of facilities and high-
risk operations. The purpose of the HDPTP is to comple-
ment the Department of Homeland Security's prepared-
ness training programs by enhancing the safety and
health training capacity of hazmat workers and emer-
gency responders to prevent, deter, or respond to ter-
rorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction.
Since the program started in 2005, awardees responded
to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the 2007 California wild-
fires, and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Approximately
2,649 courses were offered to 39,375 workers.
Training developed under this program should reference
the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
standardized incident management processes, proto-
cols, and procedures that all federal, state, tribal, and
local responders will use to coordinate and conduct
response actions.
Eligibility Requirements: The following organizations
and institutions are eligible to apply: public/state-con-
trolled institutions of higher education; private institu-
tions of higher education; Hispanic-serving institutions;
historically black colleges and universities; tribally con-
trolled colleges and universities; Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian-serving institutions; and non-profits with 501 (c)
(3) IRS Status (other than institutions of higher educa-
tion).
Limitations: A request for applications is released every
five years for a five-year funding period. The current
grant cycle is 2010-2014. The next grant cycle will be
2015-2019.
Availability: For the period of 2010-2011, approximately
$2.3 million was allocated to this program.
Uses/Applications and Areas of Program Response
Include:
• Enhanced training for current hazardous material
workers and chemical responders who protect the
nation's infrastructure from potential terrorist attacks
on chemical-intensive operations is a continuing
high-priority national need;
• Training for skilled response personnel to ensure
appropriate response and remediation actions to
bio-terrorist attacks using weaponized microbials is a
high-priority area for training program response. The
OSHA designation of anthrax response coverage by
1910.120 regulations (http://www.osha.gov/dep/an-
thrax/hasp/index.html} identifies a clear target training
population; and
• Training initiatives support the development of a nation-
wide cadre of well-trained environmental response work-
ers and emergency responders to ensure that the nation
is prepared to respond to future disasters of national sig-
nificance. This training is patterned after the successful
Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program that provides
worker certification.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/programs/hdpt/
index.cfm
Advanced Technology Training Program
This program solicits Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns
(SBCs) that propose to further the development of ad-
vanced technology training products for the health and
safety training of hazardous-materials workers, emer-
gency responders, and skilled support personnel.These
products complement the goals and objectives of the
Worker Education and Training Program (WETP), which
is to prevent work-related harm by assisting in training
workers to protect themselves and their communities
from exposure to hazardous materials. ATTP addresses
the need to ensure that learning and training technologies
are further developed, field-tested and applied to real-
world situations. The financial support for this initiative
comes directly from NIEHS Worker Education and Train-
ing Branch SBIR funds.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide UM
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Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities are U.S. small
business concerns.
Availability: Funding is available every year. The estimated
amount of funds available for support of three to five
projects is approximately $575,000 for FY 2011. For this
funding opportunity, budgets up to $100,000 total costs
per year and time periods up to one year for Phase I may
be requested. Budgets up to $200,000 total costs per
year and up to two years may be requested for Phase II.
Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations.
Uses/Applications Include:
• SBIR grants support the development of emerg-
ing technologies to improve worker preparedness
through training and education enhancements and
methodologies, and to support e-collaboration, e-teach-
ing, and e-learning in safety and health training for
workers engaged in hazardous materials response.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/programs/att/
index.cfm
Superfund Research Program
The Superfund Research Program is a network of univer-
sity grants that are designed to seek solutions to the
complex health and environmental issues associated
with the nation's hazardous waste sites. One goal of the
program is to improve public health by supporting inte-
grated research that is multidisciplinary and is capable
of identifying, assessing, and evaluating the potential
health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.
Another goal is to develop innovative chemical, physical,
and biological technologies for reducing potential exposure
to hazardous substances. The research conducted is a
coordinated effort with the EPA and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include ac-
credited domestic institutions of higher education.
Availability: Funding is available almost every year. In
FY 2011, almost $11 million will be available for funding
three or four new or recompeting multi-project grants.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Support research to identify, assess, and evaluate the
potential health effects of exposure to hazardous sub-
stances and to develop innovative chemical, physical,
and biological technologies for reducing potential
exposure to hazardous substances;
• Develop methods and technologies to detect hazard-
ous substances in the environment;
• Develop advanced techniques for detecting, assessing,
and evaluating the effect on human health of hazardous
substances;
• Develop methods to assess the risks to human health
presented by hazardous substances; and
• Develop basic biological, chemical, and physical
methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous
substances.
http://www.niehs.nih.ciov/research/suDDorted/srD/index.cfm
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sharon D. Beard
Industrial Hygienist
Worker Education and Training Program
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH,
DHHS
P.O. Box 12233, MDK3-14
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233
919-541-1863
beard 1 &niehs.nih.gov
Joseph (Chip) Hughes, Director
Worker Education and Training Program
Division of Extramural Research and Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH,
DHHS
P.O. Box 12233, MDK3-14
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233
919-541-0217
hughes3@niehs.nih.gov
Main Sites
h ftp://www.niehs.nih.gov/
http://www.niehs.nih.ciov/careers/hazmat/index.cfm
24
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SNAPSHOT- NEW ORLEANS, LOUSIANA
In November 2005, community-based organizations,
labor unions, academia, and environmental organi-
zations collaborated to create a community cleanup
project entitled "A Safe Way Back Home."This was a
groundbreaking effort which involved Dillard Univer-
sity's Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
(DSCEJ) and the United Steelworkers. The project
assisted residents of a New Orleans East neighborhood
by partnering with a number of agencies to facilitate
cleanup and restoration of their flooded community.
The Safe Way Back Home project was a multi-
dimensional project that involved safety training,
volunteer assistance, topsoil removal, and the unity
of multiple diverse community populations. Prior
to demolishing the contaminated sites, health and
safety training, and equipment were provided to
volunteers. The training was supported by grants
from the NIEHS, DSCEJ, and United Steelworkers.
Hundreds of volunteers from churches, universities,
government programs, and non-profit organiza-
tions participated in the project. Volunteers worked
to remove several inches of grass and topsoil from
the yards on Aberdeen Road that was then disposed
of by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). The sidewalks and streets were pressure-
washed to remove all sediment, and the lots were
re-landscaped with fresh sod and graded river sand.
As a result of the great success attained by the proj-
ect, "A Safe Way Back Home" was awarded the 2008
EPA Environmental Justice Achievement Award. For
more information, visit: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
careers/hazmat/awardees/dillard.cfm.
. J
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Department of Health and Human Services-
Office of Community Services
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Office of Community Services (OCS) works in part-
nership with states, communities, and other agencies
to address the economic and social services needs of
the urban and rural poor at the local level by providing
grant monies and technical assistance to these organi-
zations. The goal of the programs administered by OCS
is to increase the capacity of individuals and families to
become self-sufficient and to revitalize communities.
Brownfields Connection
' Grants to community development corporations and
community action agencies for brownfields redevel-
opment and job creation projects.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals
Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) is
a job creation program that awards funds to non-profit
organizations that create new full-time employment
opportunities. Program funds are awarded under three
project strategies: 1) new business ventures; 2) business
expansion; and 3) self-employment/micro-enterprise
projects.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include non-
profit organizations, including community development
corporations, faith-based, charitable organizations, and
tribal organizations.
Limitations: Projects must create new permanent
full-time employment opportunities. A minimum of
20 percent of the JOLI funds must be allotted to direct
financial assistance to program participants for creating
or expanding a business.
Availability: $2.6 million was appropriated during FY
2010, and seven grants were awarded. Grant awards are
approved for up to a three-year project period. The maxi-
mum grant award is $317,857 for the full project period.
Financial assistance may be provided through the use
of a revolving loan fund or the provision of direct cash
assistance to a micro-enterprise/self-employed business
owner. There is no matching fund requirement, but OCS
requires documentation of all non-JOLI funding necessary
for the successful completion of the funded project.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Creates new employment opportunities for low-
income individuals.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/joli/index.html
Community Economic Development Program
The Community Economic Development Program provides
funds to create employment and business development
opportunities for low-income residents.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants include
private, non-profit organizations that are community
development corporations, including faith-based,
charitable, tribal, and Alaskan-native organizations.
Availability: About $32.5 million was available in FY
2010 for 46 grants.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Start-up or expansion of businesses;
• Capital expenditures, such as the purchase of equip-
ment or real property;
• Operating expenses; and
• Equity investments.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ced/index.html
Community Services Block Grant Program
The Community Services Block Grant program provides
block grants to states, territories, Indian tribes, and tribal
organizations for the amelioration of the causes and
conditions of poverty in communities. Funds support
a range of services and activities to assist low-income
individuals.
Eligibility Requirements: Grants are sub-awarded to
local community-based organizations called Community
Action Agencies.
Availability: Grants are determined by a statutory formula
based on population. Some $700 million was available in
FY2009.
26
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Uses/Applications Include:
• Employment services;
• Education and Training;
• Income management assistance;
• Emergency services;
• Housing assistance; and
• Nutrition Services
http://www.ac/ihhs.gou/programs/ocs/csbg/
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Rural Community Facilities
The Rural Community Facilities program supports low-
income rural communities by funding the development
of affordable, safe water and wastewater treatment facili-
ties.
Eligibility Requirements: Non-profit organizations includ-
ing community development corporations, faith-based,
charitable organizations, and tribal organizations are
eligible.
Availability: $10 million was available in FY2010 for
seven grants.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Provide training and technical assistance in developing
and managing water facilities in rural areas;
• Improve the coordination of federal, state, and local
agencies in water and wastewater management; and
• Assist communities in obtaining financing for their
facilities and distributing information.
http://www.acf.hhs.ciov/Drocimms/ocs/rf/index.html
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Yolanda J. Butler, Ph.D., Acting Director
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Community Services
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201
202-401-9333
volanda.butler@acf.hhs.gov
Main Site
http;//www.oc/;r)r)s.qoy/proqroms/ocs/
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Department of Housing and Urban Development
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
Mission
The overall mission of the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) is to increase homeown-
ership, support community development, and increase
access to affordable housing free from discrimination.
HUD has several brownfield-applicable programs:
• Community Development Block Grant Program
(includes the Entitlement Communities program and
several non-entitlement communities programs);
• Neighborhood Stabilization Program;
• Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program;
• Brownfields Economic Development Initiative;
• HOME Investment Partnerships Program; and
• Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program.
Brownfields Connections
' Block grants and competitive awards to state and lo-
cal governments for revitalizing communities.
• Grants to communities hardest hit by foreclosures
and delinquencies to stabilize neighborhoods.
• Federally guaranteed loans to state and local govern-
ments for large economic development and revital-
ization projects in communities.
• Block grants to state and local governments for meet-
ing safe and affordable housing needs in developed
areas.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
Community Development Block Grant Program
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program
is a flexible program that provides communities with
resources to address a wide range of unique community
development needs. The CDBG program began in 1974
and is one of the longest continuously run programs at
HUD. The CDBG program provides annual grants on a
formula basis to over 1,200 general units of local govern-
ment and to states and U.S. territories.
The CDBG Program allocates annual grants to Entitlement
Communities and states with the principal statutory
objective of developing viable communities by provid-
ing decent housing, a suitable living environment and
by expanding economic opportunities, principally for
persons with low or moderate incomes. Eligible Entitlement
Community grantees are principal cities of metropolitan
statistical areas (MSAs), other metropolitan cities with
populations of at least 50,000, and qualified urban coun-
ties with populations of at least 200,000 (excluding the
population of entitled cities). The states allocate and
administer funds for non-entitlement communities.
HUD allocates CDBG funds to the Entitlement Communities
on a statutory dual-formula basis, which uses several
objective measures of community needs, including the
extent of poverty, population, housing overcrowding,
age of housing and population-growth lag in relation-
ship to other metropolitan areas. HUD allocates CDBG
funds to the states based on a statutory formula, which
takes into account population, poverty, incidence of
overcrowded housing, and age of housing. Neither HUD
nor states distribute funds directly to citizens or private
organizations; all funds (other than administration and
the technical assistance set-aside funds) are distributed
by states to units of general local government. The state
must ensure that at least 70 percent of its CDBG grant
funds are used for activities that benefit low- and moder-
ate-income persons over a one-, two-, or three-year time
period selected by the state. This general objective is
achieved by granting "maximum feasible priority" to ac-
tivities that benefit low- and moderate-income families
or aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight.
Grantees have broad discretion in selecting activities to
pursue with CDBG funds. For example, the states of Texas,
Arizona, California and New Mexico allocate up to ten
percent of their CDBG funds to assist communities on
the U.S.-Mexican border (colonias) in maintaining sani-
tary housing, water and sewage systems. Additionally,
CDBG plays a vital role in many local brownfields reuse
strategies. Brownfields contribute to eroding economic
conditions, creation of blight, and reduction of economic
opportunities for low-to-moderate-income persons.
CDBG funds may be used in smaller neighborhood-based
projects as well as larger projects to aid in demolition
and site cleanup and remediation of environmental
issues such as lead-based paint and asbestos. Therefore,
the use of CBDG funds to revitalize brownfields often
28
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meets the program's mission to help low- and moderate-
income people by driving economic development or
eliminating blight.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible Entitlement Commu-
nities are cities with populations of at least 50,000 and
qualified urban counties with populations of at least
200,000. Funding is awarded by HUD on a formula basis.
Eligible non-entitlement communities are cities with
populations less than 50,000 and qualified urban counties
with populations less than 200,000. Funding is awarded
by the states based on state priorities and selection
criteria.
Limitations: Expenses for general government operations
or the acquisition, construction or reconstruction of
buildings for government operations are not eligible.
CDBG-funded activities must meet one of the program's
three national objectives: (1) principally benefit low-
and moderate-income persons; (2) prevent or eliminate
slums or blight; or (3) meet other urgent community
development needs. Entitlement communities must
submit to HUD a Consolidated Plan (which is a jurisdiction's
comprehensive planning document and application for
funding under the following Community Planning and
Development formula grant programs: CDBG, HOME
Investment Partnerships, Housing Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and Emergency Shelter
Grants (ESG)).
Availability: Congress appropriated about $4.45 billion
for the CDBG program for FY 2010, including set-asides.
HUD distributes 70 percent of the CDBG formula appro-
priations to more than 1,180 entitlement communities
and the remaining 30 percent of the formula funds go to
the states for distribution to non-entitlement small cities
and counties.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Prepare plans for redevelopment or revitalization of
brownfields;
• Acquire real property;
• Conduct environmental site assessment;
• Clean up contamination;
• Clear sites and demolish and remove buildings;
• Rehabilitate public and private buildings;
• Construct public works, including street, water, and
sewer infrastructure and community buildings;
• Conduct activities relating to energy conservation
and renewable energy resources; and
• Provide assistance to profit-motivated businesses to
carry out economic development and job creation/
retention activities.
h ttp://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitvdevelopmen t/
progmms/index.cfm
Neighborhood Stabilization Program
The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) was
established by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act
(HERA) of 2008 for the purpose of stabilizing communities
that suffer from foreclosures and abandonment. Grant
funds are provided for the purchase and redevelopment of
foreclosed and abandoned homes and residential proper-
ties. NSP is designed to help communities purchase prop-
erties that may be deteriorating or contaminated, and
make the properties available for rent or sale. NSP grant-
ees develop their own programs and funding priorities.
Communities with NSP grants can convert contaminated
properties into light industrial, retail, or commercial
operations. Grantees can create "land banks"to assemble,
temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land for the
purpose of stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging
redevelopment of property. Grantees also can leverage
grant funds to mobilize non-profit organizations to help revi-
talize neighborhoods. NSP funding is being administered
through the CDBG program.
Eligibility Requirements: All states, territories, and local
governments are eligible for NSP funding. Funding is
allocated based on a formula.
Limitations: All activities must benefit low- and moderate-
income persons. Twenty-five percent of funds must
benefit very low-income persons (individuals or families
whose incomes do not exceed 50 percent of an area's
median income).
Availability: In 2010, HUD allocated $3.92 billion based
on a formula to 309 grantees, including 55 states and ter-
ritories and 254 selected local governments. Funds were
distributed according to a jurisdiction's relative level of
foreclosure activity since 2005.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Purchase and rehabilitate homes and residential prop-
erties that have been abandoned or foreclosed;
• Establish land banks for foreclosed homes;
• Demolish blighted structures; and
• Redevelop demolished or vacant properties.
h ttp://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitvdevelopmen t/
Droarams/neiahborhoodsDa/index.cfm
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide uw
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Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program
Section 108 provides communities with a source of fi-
nancing for economic development, housing rehabilitation,
public facilities, and large-scale physical development
projects. Section 108 is the loan guarantee provision of
the CDBG program. Local governments borrowing funds
guaranteed by Section 108 must pledge their current
and future CDBG allocations to cover the loan amount
as security for the loan. Section 108 allows communities
to capitalize large revitalization projects that can renew
entire neighborhoods. Such public investment often is
needed to encourage private economic investment in
distressed areas. Several cities have made the 108 program
a focal point of their local brownfields strategies.
Eligible applicants include the following public entities:
• Metropolitan cities and urban counties (i.e. CDBG
entitlement recipients);
• Non-entitlement communities that are assisted in the
submission of applications by states that administer
the CDBG program; and
• Non-entitlement communities eligible to receive
CDBG funds under the HUD-Administered Small Cities
CDBG program (Hawaii and Insular Areas). The public
entity may be the borrower or it may designate a
public agency as the borrower.
Eligibility Requirements: To determine eligible uses of
funds, CDBG rules and requirements apply. As with the
CDBG program, all projects and activities must either
principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons,
aid in the elimination or prevention of slums and blight,
or meet urgent needs of the community.
Limitations: CDBG Entitlement Community recipients
and states may borrow an amount equal to five times the
recipients'latest CDBG entitlement grant. The maximum
repayment period for a Section 108 loan is 20 years.
Availability: HUD has $155 million in carryover guarantee
authority available for FY 2011. Additional funding may
be available for FY 2011, subject to appropriation.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Economic development activities and housing rehabili-
tation eligible under CDBG;
• Acquisition of real property (including brownfields);
• Rehabilitation of publicly owned real property (includ-
ing brownfields);
• Construction, reconstruction, or installation of public
facilities (including street, sidewalk, and other site
improvements);
• Related relocation, clearance, and site improvements;
• Payment of interest on the guaranteed loan and issu-
ance costs of public offerings;
• Debt service reserves;
• Public works and site improvements in colonias; and
• Housing construction in limited circumstances.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitvdevelopment/
programs/W8/
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative
The Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI)
is a competitive grant program intended to stimulate
and promote economic and community development.
BEDI is designed to assist cities with the redevelopment
of brownfields and the increase of economic opportuni-
ties for low- and moderate-income persons, by creating
new businesses and jobs and increasing the local tax
base. Projects selected for funding emphasize near-term
results and clear economic benefits. Section 108 loan
commitments often are paired with BEDI grants, which
are used to enhance the security or improve the viability
of a project financed with new Section 108 guaranteed
loan authority.
Limitations: BEDI grants must be used in tandem with
new Section 108 loan guarantee commitments. BEDI
projects must increase economic opportunity for low-
and moderate-income persons or stimulate and retain
businesses and jobs that lead to economic revitalization.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities are CDBG
Entitlement Communities and non-entitlement commu-
nities eligible to receive loan guarantees.
Availability: HUD had $17.5 million to fund competitive
BEDI grants in FY2010.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Land writedowns;
• Site remediation costs;
• Funding reserves;
• Over-collateralizing the Section 108 loan;
• Direct enhancement of the security of the Section 108
loan; and
• Provision of financing to for-profit businesses at a
below-market interest rate.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/
Droamms/bedi/index.cfm
30
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HOME Investment Partnerships Program
HOME is the largest federal block grant program designed
exclusively to produce affordable housing for low-income
households. HUD directly distributes HOME funds to
over 600 state and local participating jurisdictions. The
program's flexibility enables communities to design and
implement affordable housing strategies tailored to
meet their needs and priorities.
Eligibility Requirements: Annual grants are awarded as
formula grants to participating jurisdictions, which include
states, qualifying counties and metropolitan areas, and
approved regional consortia consisting of counties and
metropolitan areas. Insular areas also receive a portion
of the available home funds.
Limitations: Participating jurisdictions are required to
provide a 25 percent match of HOME funding.
Availability: HUD allocated $1.825 billion in HOME funds
to over 600 participating jurisdictions in FY 2010.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Acquiring property;
• Constructing new housing for rent or ownership;
• Rehabilitating rental or owner-occupied units;
• Providing home purchase or rehabilitation financing
assistance; and
• Assisting low-income renters through tenant-based
rental assistance or payment of security deposits.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/
programs/home/
Lead-Based Paint Grant Programs
HUD's lead-based paint program was established in
1993 to reduce young children's exposure to lead paint
hazards in homes. Three grant programs provide funding
to identify and control lead-based paint hazards: Lead-
based Paint Hazard Control Program (LHC), Lead Hazard
Reduction Demonstration Program (LHRD), and the Lead
Elimination Action Program (LEAP). Two additional grant
programs provide funding for outreach and techni-
cal assistance. These grants assist states, tribes, cities,
counties/parishes, and other units of local government
in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and
control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately
owned rental or owner-occupied housing. Funds made
available under this program are awarded competitively
on an annual basis through a selection process conducted
by HUD.
Eligibility Requirements: LHRD grants must be used
to address housing privately owned and occupied by,
or rented to, low-income families. LHC grant recipients
must provide a 10 percent match.
Availability: HUD annually awards approximately $90
million for LHC, $48 million for LHRD, and $12 million for
LEAP.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Lead-based paint inspections and risk assessments;
• Community awareness or education programs on
lead hazard control and lead poisoning prevention;
• Blood testing of children prior to lead hazard control
work;
• Lead hazard control work (this includes cleaning,
interim controls, and hazard abatement);
• Temporary relocation of families during hazard control
activities;
• Training for workers and supervisors; and
• Training on lead-safe maintenance practices for resi-
dents and others working in low-income housing.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/lbp/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Stan Gimont, Director
Office of Block Grant Assistance
Office of Community Planning and Development
451 7th Street, SW, Room 7286
Washington, DC 20410
202-708-3587
stanlev.gimont@hud.gov
Steve Johnson, Director
Entitlement Communities Division
Office of Block Grant Assistance
451 7th Street SW, Room 7282
Washington, DC 20410
202-708-1577
steve.johnson&hud.gov
[Community Development Block Grant Program]
Diane Lobasso, Director
State and Small Cities Division
Office of Block Grant Assistance
451 7th Street SW, Room 7184
Washington, DC 20410
202-708-1322
diane.lobasso&hud.gov
[Neighborhood Stabilization Program]
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Paul Webster, Director
Financial Management Division
Office of Block Grant Assistance
451 7th Street SW, Room 7180
Washington, DC 20410
202-708-1871
paul.webster@hud.gov
[Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program]
David Kaminsky, Program Coordinator
Brownfields Economic Development Initiative
Office of Economic Development
451 7th Street, SW, Room 7140
Washington, DC 20410
202-708-3484
david.kaminskv@hud.gov
[Brownfields Economic Development Initiative]
CliffTaffet, Director
Office of Affordable Housing Programs
451 7th Street, SW, Room 7162
Washington, DC 20410
202-708-2684
clifford.taffet@hud.gov
[HOME Investment Partnerships Program]
HUD Brownfields Hotline
800-998-9999
Main Site
http://www.hud.gov
SNAPSHOT-DENVER, COLORADO
The La Alma/South Lincoln Redevelopment in Denver,
was selected as one of five sustainable community
pilot projects as part of a partnership between EPA,
HUD, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Funds will be used to create a sustainable community
design for the South Lincoln Park Redevelopment.
The goal is to create an energized transit community
where people choose to live to experience environ-
mental sustainability, cultural diversity, proximity to
downtown, and a spectrum of housing options. The
South Lincoln redevelopment will integrate planning,
design, and operations to promote economic, envi-
ronmental, and social vitality. HUD committed $10
million in grants to the project.
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Department of the Interior-
National Park Service
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The National Park Service (NPS)preserves natural and
cultural resources and manages the national park system
for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and
future generations. The National Park Service cooperates
with partners to extend the benefits of natural and
cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation
throughout this country and the world.
Brownfields Connections
' Assistance provided to state and local governments, as
well as community-based organizations to assist com-
munity-led natural resource conservation and outdoor
recreation initiatives, including those in urban areas.
• Assistance to states and local governments in the ac-
quisition of surplus federal lands.
• Assistance for community revitalization.
RESOURCES
Outreach Assistance
Federal Lands to Parks Program
The National Park Service's Federal Lands to Parks Program
helps communities create new parks and recreation areas
by transferring surplus federal land to state and local
governments. This program helps ensure public access
to park lands and promotes good stewardship of natural,
cultural, and recreational resources.
Eligibility Requirements: States, counties, municipalities,
and similar government entities may acquire surplus
federal land for parks and recreational areas. Private and
non-profit organizations, religious institutions, and indi-
viduals are not eligible to acquire surplus federal land for
recreation through the program. However, these entities
may act as advocates for the acquisition of federal lands
by state and local governments.
Limitations: Land or buildings obtained through this
program must be used for public parks and recreational
activities in perpetuity. The Federal Lands to Parks
Program periodically monitors property use and de-
velopment to make sure that parks obtained under the
program are managed according to the terms and condi-
tions of the deed and approved use plan.
Availability: Over 1,500 properties, representing approx-
imately 169,000 acres, have been transferred to state and
local governments for parks and recreation areas since
the program's inception in 1949. When federal land be-
comes available for reuse, the General Services Adminis-
tration (or the military agency in cases of base closures,
or at times, another federal "disposing" agency) will notify
other federal and state agencies. Federal Lands to Parks
Program staff review notices of available property for park
and recreation opportunities and notify relevant state, re-
gional, and local park agencies. Notices are often posted
on military or General Services Administration web sites.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Creating or expanding public park and recreation
areas;
• Providing or expanding park and recreational ameni-
ties to camp, hike, play sports, improve quality of life,
help revitalization efforts, and attract businesses;
• Protecting open spaces, extend hiking trails, and
open boating and fishing access;
• Preserving historical and natural resources such as
forts, lighthouses, shorelines, and wildlife habitat;
• Converting abandoned military bases into widely
used, productive recreational assets; and
• Renewing a sense of community through community
gardens, senior and cultural centers, and other gath-
ering places.
http://www.nps.gov/flp/
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
The Rivers,Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA)
program provides assistance to communities so they
can conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop
trails and greenways. RTCA staff help build partnerships
to achieve community-defined goals by assessing
resources, developing concept plans, engaging public
participation, and identifying potential sources of funding
for conservation and outdoor recreation projects. Some
of the assistance is targeted to urban areas. As such, the
program can complement brownfields redevelopment
efforts.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide WM
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There are four RTCA project areas that support conservation
efforts: urban area projects, trails and greenway projects,
rails-trails projects, and river projects. A redevelopment
project may use any or all of these project areas at the
same time. The Groundwork USA Initiative is a pilot
program of RTCA, in cooperation with EPA's Brownfields
program, through which NFS provides technical assistance
to successful pilot community applicants. EPA provides
NFS with the funds for this program under an inter-
agency agreement. NFS awards financial assistance to
successful applicants and administers the assistance
agreements. The Groundwork USA Initiative builds
the capacity of communities impacted by brownfields
and abandoned lands. The Groundwork USA Initiative
improves a community's environment for conservation,
recreation, and economic development by supporting
the establishment of locally organized and controlled
Groundwork Trusts. Each of the trusts is an independent,
not-for-profit, environmental business. The trusts part-
ner with government agencies and the private sector to
engage residents in the remediation of brownfields to
build consensus on reusing these sites for community
benefit and facilitating their transformation.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible project partners
include non-profit organizations, community groups,
tribes or tribal governments, and local, state, or federal
government agencies. Federal agencies may be the lead
partner only in collaboration with a non-federal partner.
Projects are locally requested and led and should include
significant public involvement. Projects should also
include the commitment, cooperation, and cost-sharing of
all partners.
Limitations: The RTCA involvement in these partnerships
does not exceed two years.
Availability: Assistance is provided for one year and may
be renewed for a second year, if warranted.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Assisting in the development of conservation part-
nerships;
• Providing resource assessment and identifying poten-
tial sources of funding;
• Engaging public participation;
• Helping communities achieve on-the-ground conser-
vation successes for their projects;
• Offering assistance in greenway efforts ranging from
urban promenades, to trails along abandoned railroad
rights-of-way, to wildlife corridors; and
• Promoting river conservation through downtown riv-
erfronts, regional water trails, and stream restoration.
http://www.nps.qou/ncrc/proqrams/rtca/
Groundwork USA Web Site
http://www.qroi/nc/wor/ci/sa.net/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wendy Ormont, Leader, National Park Service
Federal Lands to Parks Program
1201 Eye Street, NW Floor 9
Washington, DC 20005
202-354-6915
wendv ormont@nps.qou
Charlie Stockman, Leader, National Park Service
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program
1201 Eye Street, NW Floor 9
Washington, DC 20005
202-354-6907
charlie stockman@nps.gov
Main Site
http://www.nps.qoy
SNAPSHOT-LAWRENCE,
MASSACHUSETTS
For almost 100 years, the five-acre former Covanta
property served as a supplemental electric power
plant for the industrial mills in Lawrence. Originally
a coal-fired power plant, the property was converted
into an energy-from-waste facility until it was closed
in 1998. Covanta sold the property to the city for
one dollar with the intent of turning the property
into open space. An EPA Brownfields cleanup grant
was awarded in 2008 to clean up contaminated
soils. The city partnered with Groundwork Lawrence,
a non-profit organization, to revitalize the site. A
cooperative agreement between EPA, the National
Park Service and the city allowed for leveraging
grants and managing the site redevelopment
process. Funding and assistance came from the Com-
monwealth of Massachusetts, EPA, HUD, and NPS's
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program,
as well as from private sources. The efforts of these
partners and the participation of the community
transformed a once blighted brownfields prop-
erty into the Manchester Street Park, a community
greenspace that serves as an anchor for the 2.5-mile
Spicket River Greenway.
V J
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Department of the Interior-
Office of Surface Mining
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining
(OSM), in cooperation with states and Indian tribes, is
responsible for the protection of citizens and the envi-
ronment during coal mining and reclamation. OSM is
organized around two principal requirements: regulating
active coal mining and reclaiming mines abandoned
before 1977. Additionally, OSM operates programs to
eliminate the environmental and economic impacts of
acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines, encourage
reforestation of reclaimed mine land, develop techniques
that can ensure reclamation of prime farmland soils, and
publicly recognize outstanding reclamation.
Brownfields Connections
' Provides information on pre-regulatory mine site issues
and development opportunities to local governments,
states, tribes, quasi-public development organizations,
non-profits, and other entities eligible to apply for
EPA Brownfields assessment and cleanup grants.
• Offers grant-writing training and assistance through
its OSM/VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)
Program—targeted to watershed groups and other
entities eligible to apply for grants to support brown-
fields redevelopment.
• Supports local governments in the assessment,
reclamation, and redevelopment of abandoned mine
lands as brownfields.
RESOURCES
Financial Assistance
Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program
The Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program makes
funds available for reclamation projects to clean streams
affected by acid mine drainage.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include non-
profit organizations, especially small local watershed
organizations.
Availability: Applicants normally receive up to $100,000
for each reclamation project, primarily for project con-
struction. Watershed Cooperative Agreements have a
two-year performance period. Between 1999 and 2006
OSM awarded 161 Watershed Cooperative Agreements
and amendments to existing agreements totaling more
than $14 million.
Limitations: Matching funds are required.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Project construction; and
• Administrative costs.
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Abandoned Mine Land Program
The Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program addresses
threats to public health, safety, and general welfare
through the reclamation of environmental hazards
caused by past mining practices. In 2006, the program
was extended to 2021.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include water-
shed groups working on properties mined prior to
August 3,1977, and limited sites mined after that date.
Limitations: Each state must have an approved Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act regulatory (Title V)
program and a reclamation (Title IV) program before it is
eligible to receive reclamation grant funding. Tribes are
allowed access to AML funds derived from reclamation
fees if they have an approved reclamation program.
http://www.osmre.gov/aml/aml.shtm
OSM/VISTA Watershed Development Teams
OSM and the AmeriCorps VISTA program assists water-
shed groups in capacity-building to improve communi-
ties. The OSM/VISTA initiative can provide a watershed
group with a full-time, college graduate VISTA volunteer
to support brownfields development, implementation,
and outreach.
Eligibility Requirements: The sponsoring watershed
organization must demonstrate its capacity for effective
supervision and support of the OSM/VISTA, adherence to
the core goals for OSM/VISTAs, and community support.
Limitations: There is a small cost-share requirement for
all OSM/VISTAs.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Availability: Complete an application that documents
the poverty of the watershed, the support of local agen-
cies, and a work plan. The position is for three years.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Building capacity in watershed organizations;
• Organizing the water quality monitoring critical to
future funding;
• Reaching out to youth and adults in the community;
• Engaging in economic revitalization efforts; and
• Finding funding for the revitalization efforts.
Summer Watershed Intern Program
The Summer Watershed Intern Program provides assis-
tance to private and public not-for-profit institutions and
organizations to provide stipends for Summer Program
Members (SPMs) to work on specific watershed projects.
The Summer Programs currently consist of the join-
ing of three programs: Appalachian Coal Country Team
Summer Associates, OSM Interns, and Western Hardrock
Watershed Team Summer Associates.
Eligibility Requirements: Sponsoring watershed groups
must complete a Hosting Site Application with the Summer
Programs Coordinator. Applications may also be found at
http://www.accwt.org or http://www.hardrockteam.org. The
selected Summer Program member MUST be 18 years of
age and at least a sophomore in college. Each proposed
project must clearly enhance the sustainability of the
organization by focusing on at least one of th efive Team
Core Goals: (1) Capacity Building; (2) Community Revi-
talization/Economic Redevelopment; (3) Environmental
Monitoring; (4) Education and Outreach; and (5) Profes-
sional Development.
Cost: To host a Summer Program member there is an
administrative fee of $400 or $500.
Availability: The positions are full-time, 40 hours/week,
for eight or ten weeks during the months of May through
August. Announcements for accepting applications (for
both hosting sites and SPMs) are usually made in March
by the Summer Programs Coordinator.
For additional information please contact Erica Calderis,
the Summer Programs Coordinator at summerprograms(3>
accwt.org, or 304-252-4848, extension 1.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
T.Allan Comp, Ph.D.
Coordinator: OSM/VISTATeams
Office of Surface Mining
Department of the Interior - Room 121
Washington, DC 20240
202-208-2836
tcomp@osmre.qou
Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team
www.accwt.org
Western Hardrock Watershed Team
www.riarc/roc/cteom.org
Main Site
r)ttp;//www.osmre.qoy
SNAPSHOT - KINGWOOD,
WEST VIRGINIA
The Cheat River watershed is nestled in the high
mountains of eastern West Virginia in the heart of
the Appalachian coal fields. The Friends of Cheat
(FoC) formed in response to a significant acid mine
draining blowout from an underground coal mine.
With assistance from the Office of Surface Mining/
VISTA, FoC acquired a parcel of land that was once
used for coal preparation. An OSM/VISTA volunteer
assisted in writing and receiving a Brownfields FOCUS
grant from the state of West Virginia to conduct an
environmental assessment of the area. Later, the
VISTA volunteer and the Friends of Cheat collaborat-
ed on a grant to fund the second phase of the proj-
ect including solar and structural assessments and
other surveys. Friends of Cheat conducts all pre- and
post-construction water-quality monitoring on each
project as well as the streams they impact. The OSM/
VISTA is central to coordinating and conducting these
activities. The Friends of Cheat has solicited participa-
tion of local industry, state and federal agencies, aca-
demia, citizens groups, and volunteers to help clean
up and revitalize the area. Plans for the site include
building an interpretive center featuring natural and
cultural history, creating river access for kayakers, and
installing a trailhead for a future rail trail.
36
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Department of Justice—
Community Capacity Development Office
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO)
is housed within the Department of Justice's Office of
Justice Programs. CCDO's mission is to promote compre-
hensive strategies to reduce crime and revitalize com-
munities. CCDO works to achieve its mission by helping
communities help themselves, enabling them to develop
solutions to public safety problems and to strengthen
leadership to implement and sustain those solutions.
Brownfields Connection
' CCDO recognizes that working with communities can
be a productive means of building partnerships and
outreach among stakeholders both in the community
and local government to support brownfields projects.
Therefore, CCDO allows designated communities to
include brownfields projects in their annual funding
application submissions at their discretion.
RESOURCES
Financial Assistance
Limited discretionary grant resources are available annually
for communities subject to Congressional funding and
level of grantee performance.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Restoring neighborhoods, including community and
economic development activities;
• Filling in funding gaps in leveraged resources;
• Representing the interests of all federal partners in
litigation;
• Advising federal partners on legislative implementation;
• Using settlements and assets to assist with brown-
fields redevelopment;
• Using brownfield funds to clean up methamphet-
amine labs;
• Building partnerships and outreach among stake-
holders; and
• Foster local job development and training programs.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sharron Chapman
Community Capacity Development Office
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
202-305-2358
sharron.chapman@usdoj.gov
DeniseViera
Community Capacity Development Office
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
202-514-9601
denise. viera@usdoj.gov
Main Site
h ttD://www.oip. usdoi.gov/ccdo
SNAPSHOT-EAST PALO ALTOf
CALIFORNIA
The 130-acre Ravenswood Industrial Area in East
Palo Alto is located at the gateway to technology-
based Silicon Valley, making it an attractive location
for local industries. East Palo Alto is performing
environmental site assessments at potentially
contaminated properties in Ravenswood. EPA and
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment teamed up to assist the city by providing
a federal staff liaison to work on brownfields and
economic development issues, coordinate federal
and state programs to meet the needs of East Palo
Alto, and identify assistance programs for which the
city qualifies. The partnership also established the
Ravenswood Industrial Area Stakeholders Group
to determine future land uses. The Department of
Justice contributed conference travel funds to help
program administrators in East Palo Alto attend
professional development conferences.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide 9M
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Department of Labor
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) fosters, promotes,
and develops the welfare of wage earners, job seekers
and retirees of the United States; improves working condi-
tions; advances opportunities for profitable employment;
and assures work-related benefits and rights. In carrying
out this mission, DOL administers a variety of federal
labor laws including those that guarantee workers'rights
to safe and healthful working conditions, a minimum
hourly wage and overtime pay, and freedom from em-
ployment discrimination.
DOL's Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
works in partnership with states, localities, and community
organizations to assist adults and youth in transitioning
to good jobs by administering effective, value-added
programs that expand opportunities for employment,
continuous learning, business competitiveness and
community prosperity.
Brownfields Connections
' While DOL/ETA does not have a brownfields initiative,
its mission complements local redevelopment efforts,
which require workers who are trained and skilled to
handle environmental cleanup and sustainable rede-
velopment of brownfields.
RESOURCES
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Job Training
DOL/ETA administers a number of programs that provide
training and employment assistance to over 30 million adult
workers and youth each year. DOL/ETA is responsible for
administering Workforce Investment Act programs, which
operate through a nationwide network of about 3,000 One-
Stop Career Centers. One-Stop Career Centers are located
in brownfields communities and provide job seekers with
job vacancies and labor market information, job search and
placement assistance, assessment and career counseling,
and access to training. They also provide services to employ-
ers to find skilled workers. In August 2003, DOL/ETA issued
a training and employment notice to all state workforce
agencies and liaisons on potential collaboration with EPA on
brownfields economic development (http://wdr.doleta.gov/
directives/corr doc.cfm ?DOCN= 1508}.
Eligibility: Technical assistance linked to job training
and workforce development is available to communities
with brownfields. State or local governments interested
in this support should contact the DOL/ETA's relevant re-
gional office. Contact information can be found on ETA's
web site at: http://www.doleta.gov/regions/regoffices.
Availability: Each state and local workforce area has a
Workforce Investment Board that oversees the One-Stop
Career Center system in each state/local area, develops
strategic direction, and sets investment priorities. Locate
Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stop Career Centers
in your area at: http://www.servicelocator.org/.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Business Relations Group
Office of Workforce Investment
Employment and Training Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, RM N-4643
Washington, DC 20210
202-693-3949
BusinessRelations@dol.gov
Main Site
http://www.doleta.ciov
SNAPSHOT- NEW BEDFORD,
MASSACHUSETTS
The City of New Bedford has a long history of industrial
whaling, cotton textile manufacturing and fishing,
which has left little space for new industrial devel-
opment. The decline of the city's main industries
and the recent departure of several large employ-
ers created abandoned properties that are either
contaminated or thought to be contaminated. New
Bedford's efforts to assess and clean up brownfields
and reduce a high unemployment rate indicated a
need for environmental job training. A job training
program was established comprising 25 weeks of
comprehensive environmental response training,
including training in the use of innovative technolo-
gies for site assessment and cleanup activities. The
city was able to leverage $71,000 in funding from
DOL to support the job training program's staff and
office space.
V J
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Department of Transportation—
Federal Highway Administration
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) works to ensure
that America's roads and highways continue to be safe and
technologically up-to-date. It provides financial and technical
support to state, local, and tribal governments for construct-
ing, improving, and preserving America's highway system.
Its budget is primarily divided between two programs:
federal-aid funding to state and local governments, and
Federal Lands Highways funding for national parks, national
forests, Indian lands, and other land under federal stewardship.
The FHWA is committed to protecting and preserving the
environment through stewardship and timely reviews.
Brownfields Connections
' Encourages the appropriate consideration of brown-
fields in transportation planning, FHWA's NEPA (National
Environmental Policy Act) process, and state-related
project development process.
• Encourages state and local transportation agencies to
develop their improvement programs in concert with
brownfield site remediation and redevelopment efforts.
• Encourages transportation agency sponsors to consider
brownfield properties when siting projects as part of
redevelopment efforts.
• Develops working partnerships with a broad range of
environmental, state, local, and private sector part-
ners interested in supporting the redevelopment of
brownfields.
• Provides technical assistance, as needed, to communi-
ties considering brownfields redevelopment programs
on how to use federal-aid highway funds to meet
program goals.
RESOURCES
Financial Assistance
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improve-
ment Program
Through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Im-
provement Program (CMAQ), FHWA funds transportation
projects that reduce emissions in EPA's designated air
quality non-attainment and maintenance areas.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants include
state departments of transportation and local governments.
Limitations: Funds must be spent in non-attainment or
maintenance areas. Projects must reduce the pollutant
for which the area is designated as non-attainment or
maintenance.
Availability: CMAQ funds require a state or local match.
The typical split is 80 percent federal and 20 percent
state and/or local.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Supporting transit and public transportation pro-
grams specifically through service or system expansion,
provision of new transit service, and financial incen-
tives to use existing transit services;
• Traffic flow improvements;
• Travel demand management strategies;
• Pedestrian and bicycle programs;
• Alternative clean fuels; and
• Public/private partnerships.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/cmaqpgs/
Transportation, Community, and System
Preservation Pilot Program
The Transportation, Community, and System Preservation
(TCSP) Program is an initiative of research and grants to
investigate the relationships between transportation, com-
munity, and system preservation plans and practices. It
identifies private sector-based initiatives to improve these
relationships. Funding can be used to address transporta-
tion access to brownfields and effectively market the sites.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include states,
local governments, metropolitan planning organizations,
and tribal governments.
Limitations: TCSP Program grantees must meet federal-
aid requirements when implementing their grants. The
federal share is 80 percent or subject to a sliding-scale rate.
Availability: The TCSP Program was authorized by the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Authorized
funding for the program was $61.2 million in FY 2009.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Uses/Applications Include:
• Improving the efficiency of the transportation system;
• Reducing environmental impacts of transportation;
• Reducing the need for costly future public infrastruc-
ture investments;
• Ensuring efficient access to jobs, services, and centers
of trade; and
• Examining community development patterns and iden-
tify strategies to encourage private-sector develop-
ment patterns.
h ttp://www. fh wa.dot.gov/tcsp/index. h tml
Transportation Enhancement Activities
Transportation Enhancement (TE) activities offer funding
opportunities to help expand transportation choices such
as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, scenic routes, and other
investments that increase recreation opportunities.
Communities also may use transportation enhancement
funds to contribute toward the revitalization of local and
regional economies by restoring historic buildings, converting
abandoned railway corridors to trails, and acquiring historic
easements and sites. Transportation enhancement is an
example of a project that is applicabe to brownfields, even
though it is not designated as such.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles;
• Tourist and welcome centers;
• Landscaping and other scenic beautification;
• Historic preservation;
• Rehabilitation and operation of historic transporta-
tion buildings, structures, or facilities;
• Environmental mitigation of highway runoff or to
reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while main-
taining habitat connectivity; and
• Establishment of transportation museums.
Eligibility Requirements: Transportation Enhancement
funds are apportioned to the states by formula. All activities
must relate to surface transportation.
Availability: The Transportation Enhancement program
apportioned $886.3 million to the states in FY 2010.
httD://www.fhwa.dot.aov/environment/te/index.htm
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Transportation Planning
FHWA has programs related to transportation planning
for local, rural, metropolitan, state, tribal, federal, and
citizen partners. These programs may apply to brown-
fields planning and redevelopment.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Climate change and planning;
• Land use and transportation;
• Economic development;
• Public involvement;
• Smart growth and communities; and
• Tools for planning.
Eligibility Requirements: FHWA's planning programs
provide planning assistance to local, rural, metropolitan,
state, tribal, and other federal partners. Information is
available online according to issue and program. State
and metropolitan transportation planning processes
are governed by federal law and applicable state and
local laws if federal highway or transit funds are used for
transportation investment.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/index.htm
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Constance Hill Galloway, Ph. D.
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Natural and Human Environment
Sustainable Transport and Climate Change Team (HEPN-
40)
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20590
804-775-3378
connie.hill(3>.dot.gov
Main Site
h ttp://www. fh wa.dot.gov
40
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SNAPSHOT-ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
Funding from FHWA's Surface Transportation Program
was used to construct Phalen Corridor—a boulevard
for vehicular traffic that replaced a 2.5-mile rail line east
of downtown St. Paul. Construction of the boulevard
linked more than 200 acres of brownfield land together,
opening up significant new tracts of land for multimod-
al access, housing, open space, and economic develop-
ment. A bus transfer facility also was constructed. The
boulevard accommodates bicycles and connects to a
regional trail system. The FHWA funding was significant
in establishing a revitalization climate that leveraged
numerous public resources over a ten-year period,
including funds from the Department of Housing and
Urban Development for economic development, the
Economic Development Administration for infrastruc-
ture, and EPA for the site assessment and cleanup of
brownfield properties.
As a Municipal State Aid Route, Phalen Boulevard is the
longest "new" road constructed in St. Paul in more than
40 years. Since 1994, the Phalen Corridor has attracted
nearly $600 million in private investment and nearly
two dozen new businesses in high-tech manufac-
turing, commercial services, and health care. The
project received the Award of Excellence from the
Excellence in Highway Design program.
V „
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) provides stewardship of programs
that support a variety of locally planned, constructed,
and operated public transportation systems throughout
the United States, including buses, subways, light rail,
commuter rail, streetcars, monorail, passenger ferry
boats, inclined railways, and people movers. To carry out
its mission, FTA administers a variety of grant programs to
serve local communities throughout the United States.
As authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-
LU) of 2005, the FTA provides stewardship of combined
formula and discretionary programs totaling more than
$10 billion to support a variety of locally planned, con-
structed, and operated public transportation systems
throughout the United States.
Since many brownfields are located in urbanized and indus-
trial areas where transit is usually a viable transportation
option, FTA programs can play a role in local efforts to
find an economically productive use for a brownfield
site. FTA funds are specifically designated for transit
projects, but funds also may be used to assess or clean
up that part of a brownfield site that directly impacts
a transit project. FTA will share best practices and offer
technical assistance to transit agencies working with
other state and local government agencies on transit
projects involving brownfield sites.
Brownfields Connections
' Provides grants to public transit agencies in urban
and other than urban areas for transit capital, operating
projects, and transportation-related planning.
• Funds metropolitan planning organizations, through
the states, to support planning for making transporta-
tion investment decisions in metropolitan areas and
statewide.
• Assesses certain projects to determine if they promote
a more environmentally sustainable transportation
system, such as using a brownfield.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307)
The Urbanized Area Formula Program makes federal
resources available to urbanized areas with a population
of 50,000 or more. Funding is also available to governors
for transit capital and operating assistance in urbanized
areas and for transportation-related planning.
Eligibility Requirements: Funding is available to designated
recipients that must be public bodies with the legal authority
to receive and dispense federal funds. Governors, respon-
sible local officials, and publicly owned operators of
transit services must designate a recipient to apply for,
receive, and dispense funds for transportation management
areas, which are urbanized areas with a population of
200,000 or more. For urbanized areas with populations
between 50,000 and 200,000, the governor or governor's
designee is the recipient.
Limitations: In most instances, the federal share is not to
exceed 80 percent of the net project cost. However, the
federal share may be 90 percent of the cost of vehicle-
related equipment projects that are attributable to com-
pliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the
Clean Air Act. The federal share also may be 90 percent
for projects or portions of projects related to bicycles.
The federal share of operating assistance projects may
not exceed 50 percent of the net project cost.
Availability: Congress appropriated approximately $1.7
billion for these grants in FY 2010.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Planning, engineering design, and evaluation of transit
projects and other technical transportation-related
studies;
• Capital investments in bus and bus-related activities
such as replacement, overhaul, or rebuilding of buses,
crime prevention and security equipment, and construc-
tion of maintenance and passenger facilities; and
• Capital investments in new and existing fixed guideway
systems, including rolling stock, overhaul and rebuilding
of vehicles, track, signals, communications, and com-
puter hardware and software.
h ttp://www. fta. dot.gov/funding/gran ts/g rants
financing 3561.html
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Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas
(Section 5311)
Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas is a rural
program that is formula-based and provides funds to
states for the purpose of supporting public transporta-
tion in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000.
The goal of the program is to enhance the access in
non-urbanized areas to health care, shopping, education,
employment, public services, and recreation; assist in
the maintenance, development, improvement, and use
of public transportation systems in non-urbanized areas;
encourage and facilitate the most efficient use of all
transportation funds used to provide passenger transpor-
tation in non-urbanized areas through the coordination
of programs and services; assist in the development and
support of intercity bus transportation; and provide for
the participation of private transportation providers in
non-urbanized transportation.
Eligibility Requirements: Grants are awarded to states
and Indian tribes that receive a federal transit program
grant directly from the federal government. A subrecipient
of the program includes a state or local government
authority, non-profit organization, or operator of public
transportation or intercity bus service.
Limitations: The federal share may not exceed 80 percent
of the net project cost. Projects that meet the requirements
of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Clean Air Act,
or bicycle access projects may be funded at a 90 percent
federal share. The federal share of operating assistance
may not exceed 50 percent of the net project costs.
Availability: Congress appropriated approximately $191
million for this program in FY2010.
h ttp://www. fta. dot.gov/funding/gran ts/g rants
financing 3555.html
Major Capital Investments (New Starts and
Small Starts)(Section 5309)
The transit capital investment program provides capital
assistance for new and replacement buses and facilities,
modernization of existing rail systems, and new fixed
guideway systems. A fixed guideway refers to any transit
service that uses exclusive or controlled rights-of-way
or rails, entirely or in part. The term includes heavy rail,
commuter rail, light rail, trolleybus, aerial tramway, inclined
plane, cable car, automated guideway transit, ferryboats,
that portion of motor bus service operated on exclusive
or controlled rights-of-way, and high-occupancy-vehicle
(HOV) lanes. The New Starts program provides funds for
construction of new fixed guideway systems or extensions
to existing systems. The Small Starts program provides
funds to capital projects that meet the definition of a fixed
guideway for at least 50 percent of the project length in
the peak period, or are corridor-based bus projects with
10 minutes peak and 15 minutes off-peak headways or
better while operating at least 14 hours per weekday.
This program includes discretionary grants for Urban
Circulator Systems, part of the Livability Initiative, which
is a new partnership between DOT and EPA to help
American families in all communities gain better access
to affordable housing, more transportation options, and
lower transportation costs. One of the factors used to
determine if a project promotes a more environmentally
sustainable transportation system is the use of a brownfield.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants under the
New Starts program are public bodies and agencies
(transit authorities and other state and local public bodies
and agencies), including states, municipalities, other
political subdivisions of states; public agencies and
instrumentalities of one or more states; and certain public
corporations, boards, and commissions established under
state law.
Limitations: The match for New Starts funding is 80
percent federal, 20 percent local. For projects under a
Full Funding Grant Agreement, FTA continues to encourage
project sponsors to request a Federal New Starts funding
share that is as low as possible.
Availability: Congress appropriated approximately $1.9
billion for this program in FY 2010.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Light rail, rapid rail, commuter rail, monorail, automated
fixed guideway system, or busway/high occupancy
vehicle facility; and
• Major new fixed guideway projects or extension to
existing systems financed with New Starts funds.
http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants
financing 3559.html
Fixed Guideway Modernization
http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants
financing 3558.html
Bus and Bus Facilities
http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants
financing 3557.html
Metropolitan and Statewide Planning Programs
(Section 5303,5304,5305)
These programs provide funding to support cooperative,
continuous, and comprehensive planning for making
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide WM
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transportation investment decisions in metropolitan
areas and state-wide.
Eligibility Requirements: State Departments of Transpor-
tation (DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations
(MPOs) are eligible. Federal planning funds are first
apportioned to state DOTs that then allocate planning
funding to MPOs.
Limitations: The federal share is not to exceed 80 percent
of the cost of the projects funded.
Availability: Funds are apportioned to states by a formula
that includes each state's urbanized area population in
proportion to the total urbanized area population for
the nation, as well as other factors. States can receive no
less than 0.5 percent of the amount apportioned. These
funds, in turn, are sub-allocated by states to MPOs by a
formula that considers each MPO's urbanized area popu-
lation, its individual planning needs, and a minimum
distribution. Congress appropriated approximately $93.7
million for the 5303 program, and $19.6 million for the
5304 program in FY 2010. Figures are not available for
appropriations for the 5305 program.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Supporting the economic vitality of the metropolitan
area, especially by enabling global competitiveness,
productivity, and efficiency;
• Increasing the safety of the transportation system for
motorized and non-motorized users;
• Increasing the security of the transportation system
for motorized and non-motorized users;
• Increasing the accessibility and mobility of people
and freight;
• Protecting and enhancing the environment, promote
energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and
promote consistency between transportation im-
provements and state and local planned growth and
economic development patterns;
• Enhancing the integration and connectivity of the
transportation system, across and between modes,
for people and freight;
• Promoting efficient system management and opera-
tion; and
• Emphasizing the preservation of the existing transporta-
tion system.
h ttp://www. fta. dot.gov/funding/gran ts/g rants
financing 3563.html
State Planning and Research Program Grants
The State Planning and Research Program (SPRP) provides
broad discretion to the states for the funding of research,
development, and demonstration activities; metropoli-
tan planning; training activities; research and training
in urban transportation problems; and human resource
activities. The program provides for contracts, grants, and
cooperative agreements to public and private sources for
activities that include development, testing, and demon-
stration of new facilities, equipment, techniques, and
methods; studies related to management, operations,
capital requirements, and economic feasibility of transit
projects; research and investigation into the practical
problems of public transportation; national and local
programs designed to increase minority and female employ-
ment in public transportation activities; preparation of
metropolitan and state transportation plans, metropolitan
and state transportation improvement programs, and
management systems that guide the use of federal
capital assistance resources; and fellowships for persons
working in the public transportation field.
Eligibility Requirements: FTA apportions SPRP funds
directly to the states. Eligible subrecipients of FTA funds
through the states for metropolitan planning purposes
are Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). States,
local governmental authorities, and operators of mass
transportation systems are eligible subrecipients for
fellowships to train personnel employed in managerial,
technical, and professional positions in the mass trans-
portation field.
Availability: Congress appropriated approximately $19.9
million for these programs in FY 2010.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Studies related to management, operations, capital
requirements, innovative financing opportunities,
and security and economic feasibility of transit projects;
• Evaluation of previously funded projects;
• Similar work of activities preliminary to the construction
or improved operation of facilities and equipment,
including "livability"features such as improved pedes-
trian and bicycle access, and incorporating arts and
artistic design in stations and surrounding areas;
• Systems analysis;
• Development of 20-year transportation plans;
• Development of Statewide Transportation Improvement
Programs (STIPs);
44
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• Corridor/systems planning studies;
• Analyses of social, economic, and environmental factors
related to travel and transportation;
• Air quality planning and conformity planning;
• Public involvement in the transit/transportation planning
process;
• Multi-modal facilities planning;
• Joint development planning; and
• Computer hardware and software needed to support
planning work.
http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/drculars/leg reg 4T24.html
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Ms. Antoinette Quagliata LEED AP
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Planning and Environment
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
East Building - Room E45-339
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4265
antoinette.quagliata@dot.gov
Main Site
http://www.fta. dot.gov
SNAPSHOT- WELLSTON, MISSOURI
The City of Wellston is an aging, industrial munici-
pality that experienced tremendous decline and
disinvestment over the past few decades. As an
FTA Livable Communities Initiative demonstration
project, the city used FTA funds for a Metrolink Station
enhancement project, which led to the creation of a
center for mobility, child care and educational facilities,
a police substation, and employment opportunities.
The project is an important part of the city's overall
redevelopment effort, which includes transform-
ing brownfields into the Wellston Technology Park,
complemented by residential and commercial
development. These efforts are changing Wellston
from a depressed area with a decaying industrial
park and unemployment to an attractive and viable
community.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide WM
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Environmental Protection Agency
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
is to protect human health and the environment. EPA
actively promotes the cleanup and redevelopment of
brownfields through the Office of Brownfields and
Land Revitalization. EPA's Brownfields Program provides
funds to empower states, communities, tribes, and non-
profits to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse
brownfields properties. The EPA Brownfields Program
encourages the redevelopment of America's abandoned
and contaminated brownfields through its annual grant
program, as well as its many outreach and technical as-
sistance programs.
Brownfields Connections
' Grants to assess site contamination.
• Grants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfields.
• Capital to establish revolving loan funds (RLFs).
• Funds to develop environmental job training for resi-
dents of brownfields-impacted communities.
• Grants to conduct area-wide planning activities.
• Funding for environmental assessment activities.
• Grants to establish and enhance state and tribal response
programs.
• Grants to capitalize RLFs to correct or prevent water
quality problems.
• Outreach and technical assistance to brownfields
communities.
RESOURCES
Financial Assistance
EPA's Brownfields Program provides direct funding for
brownfields assessment, planning, cleanup, and the
capitalization of RLFs. To facilitate the leveraging of pub-
lic resources, the program collaborates with other EPA
programs, federal partners, and state agencies to identify
and make available resources that can be used for brown-
fields and community revitalization activities. EPA also
provides technical assistance to brownfields communities
and information on brownfields financing opportunities.
EPA provides funding for the following grants:
Assessment Grants
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include state
and local governments; land clearance authorities and
other quasi-governmental entities; government entities
created by state legislature; regional councils and groups
of local governments; redevelopment agencies; Indian
tribes other than in Alaska; and Alaska Native Regional
Corporations, Alaska Native Village Corporations, and the
Metlakatla Indian Community.
Availability: Applicants may request grants of up to
$200,000 for assessing sites contaminated by hazardous
substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including
hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum),
and up to $200,000 for assessing sites contaminated by
petroleum. Coalitions of three or more eligible parties
may submit one assessment grant proposal for up to $1
million under the name of a single coalition participant.
Site-specific assessment grant proposals are appropriate
when the applicant identifies a specific site and plans
to spend grant funds to address conditions only at that
one site. For a site-specific brownfields assessment grant
proposal, applicants may seek a waiver of the $200,000
limit and request up to $350,000 for a single site. Such
waivers must be based on the anticipated level of hazard-
ous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including
hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) or
petroleum at the site. The performance period is up to
three years.
An applicant may submit a community-wide assessment
grant proposal when the requested assessment grant is
not targeted to a specific site or if the applicant plans to
spend grant funds on more than one brownfield in the
community.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Inventory sites;
• Characterize and prioritize sites;
• Assess sites;
• Conduct community involvement activities related to
brownfields;
• Conduct area-wide planning for brownfields redevel-
opment;
• Conduct cleanup planning;
• Conduct redevelopment planning;
• Conduct health monitoring;
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• Monitor and enforce institutional controls;
• Develop and implement program; and
• Purchase environmental insurance.
Limitations: An applicant may apply for one community-
wide hazardous substances assessment grant and one
community-wide petroleum assessment grant, annually.
Applicants applying for community-wide assessment
grants for both hazardous substances and petroleum
may also apply for one site-specific assessment grant
each year. No single entity may apply for more than
$750,000 in assessment funding, per year. Coalitions of
three or more eligible entities may apply for a commu-
nity-wide assessment grant of up to $1 million. Coalition
members may not apply for any other assessment grants
in the same year.
Cleanup Grants
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include state
and local governments; land clearance authorities and
other quasi-governmental entities; government entities
created by state legislature; regional councils and groups
of local governments; redevelopment agencies; non-profit
organizations; Indian tribes other than in Alaska; and
Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaska Native Village
Corporations, and the Metlakatla Indian Community. An
applicant must own the site that is the subject of the
grant proposal or obtain sole ownership by a deadline
detailed in proposal guidelines.
Availability: Applicants may submit proposals for grants
of up to $200,000 to carry out cleanup activities at a
brownfields site contaminated by hazardous substances,
pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances
co-mingled with petroleum), and up to $200,000 for a
brownfields site contaminated by petroleum. The perfor-
mance period is up to three years.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Carry out cleanup activities;
• Oversee cleanup construction activities;
• Conduct environmental monitoring of cleanup work;
• Conduct health monitoring;
• Monitor and enforce institutional controls;
• Conduct program development and implementation
activities; and
• Purchase environmental insurance.
Limitations: Each year, eligible applicants may apply for
up to three site-specific cleanup grants of up to $200,000
each. 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 for eligible
and allowable costs. An applicant may request that EPA
waive the 20 percent cost-share requirement based on
hardship. Prior to submitting proposals, applicants must
complete a Phase II site assessment using the ASTM
El 903-97 standard, or equivalent assessment.
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include state
and local governments; land clearance authorities and
other quasi-governmental entities; government entities
created by state legislature; regional councils and groups
of local governments; redevelopment agencies; Indian
tribes other than in Alaska; and Alaska Native Regional
Corporations, Alaska Native Village Corporations, and the
Metlakatla Indian Community. Coalitions and single appli-
cants are eligible to submit a proposal for a RLF grant.
Availability: An applicant may request up to $1 million
to capitalize a RLF. Coalitions of eligible entities may apply
together as one applicant for up to $1 million. The per-
formance period is five years.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Capitalize a RLF and provide low-interest or no-inter-
est loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities
at brownfields;
• Award subgrants to clean up sites contaminated by
petroleum and/or hazardous substances, pollutants,
or contaminants (including hazardous substances
co-mingled with petroleum);
• Conduct programmatic management of the grant;
• Perform health monitoring activities at brownfield sites;
• Monitor and enforce institutional controls;
• Conduct program development and implementation
activities; and
• Purchase environmental insurance.
Limitations: RLF grants provide funding to capitalize an
RLF, make low-interest or no-interest loans for brownfields
cleanups, and provide subgrants to eligible entities to
carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. At least
50 percent of the awarded funds must be used to capitalize
and implement a revolving loan fund. RLF grants require
applicants to provide a 20 percent cost share, which may
be in the form of a contribution of money, labor, material,
or services, and must be for eligible and allowable costs.
Applicants may request a waiver of the 20 percent cost
share requirement based on hardship.
Note: Brownfields grant eligibility requirements are subject
to change. Please check the brownfields website for up
to date information.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide WM
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Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assess-
ment, Cleanup, and Revolving Loan Fund Grants
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Communities that have brownfields that suffer from
water quality impairment may be able to access and
use monies from the Clean Water State Revolving Funds
(CWSRFs) to correct or prevent water quality problems at
such properties. Through the CWSRF program, each state
and Puerto Rico maintains revolving loan funds to provide
independent and permanent sources of low-cost financing
for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.
Funds to establish or capitalize the CWSRF programs are
provided through federal government grants and state
matching funds (equal to 20 percent of federal govern-
ment grants). Today, all 50 states and Puerto Rico are op-
erating successful CWSRF programs. Total funds available
to the program since its inception exceed $77 billion.
CWSRF programs operate much the same as environ-
mental infrastructure banks that are capitalized with
federal and state contributions. CWSRF monies can
be loaned to communities and loan repayments are
recycled back into the program to fund additional water
quality protection projects. The revolving nature of these
programs provides for an ongoing funding source that
will last indefinitely. States can design CWSRF programs
to address their own priorities and may include a vari-
ety of assistance options, including loans, refinancing,
purchasing, or guaranteeing local debt and purchasing
bond insurance. States also can set specific loan terms,
including interest rates (from zero percent to market
rate), and repayment periods (up to 20 years). States
have the flexibility to target resources to their particular
environmental needs, including brownfields remediation,
contaminated runoff from urban and agricultural areas,
wetlands restoration, estuary management, and waste-
water treatment.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible loan recipients include
large and small communities, homeowners, and farmers.
Eligibility for funding varies by state. States also may
customize loan terms to meet the needs of small and dis-
advantaged communities. In 2009, 77 percent of all loans
(23 percent of total funding) were made to communities
with populations of less than 10,000. In addition, some
states provide specialized assistance for communities
that are disadvantaged or experiencing financial hardship.
These states might offer lower or no-interest loans to
provide greater subsidies for disadvantaged communities.
Limitations: States set CWSRF funding priorities and
project approvals.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Excavate and dispose of underground storage tanks;
• Construct wetlands as a filtering mechanism;
• Cap wells;
• Excavate, remove, and dispose of contaminated soil
or sediments;
• Demolish tunnels;
• Safely abandon wells; and
• Perform Phase I, II, and III environmental site assess-
ments.
For more information on the CWSRF program go to:
http://water.epa.gov/grants funding/cwf/cwsrf index.cfm
State and Tribal Response Programs
Section 128(a) of CERCLA authorizes EPA to distribute
non-competitive grant monies to establish and enhance
state and tribal response programs. State and tribal
response programs address and oversee the assess-
ment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields.
State and tribal response programs oversee assessment
and cleanup activities at the majority of brownfield
sites across the country. The four required elements of a
response program are: (1) timely survey and inventory
of brownfield sites on state or tribal land; (2) oversight
and enforcement authorities or other mechanisms and
resources; (3) mechanisms and resources to provide
meaningful opportunities for public participation; and
(4) mechanisms for approval of a cleanup plan and
verification and certification that cleanup is complete.
State and tribal recipients may use the funding to start
or enhance a new response program and to meet public
record requirements established in the statute. States
and tribes also may use funding to increase the number
of sites at which response actions are conducted or per-
form activities that add or improve a response program.
In addition, the funds can be used to oversee cleanups,
conduct site-specific activities, purchase environmental
insurance, or develop other insurance mechanisms to
provide financing for cleanup activities.
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for funding, a
state or tribe must: (1) demonstrate that its response
program includes, or is taking reasonable steps to in-
clude, the four elements of a response program, or be a
party to a voluntary response program memorandum of
agreement with EPA; and (2) maintain and make available
to the public a record of sites at which response actions
were completed in the previous year and are planned to
be addressed in the upcoming year.
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Limitations:
• States and tribes cannot allocate more than $200,000
per site for assessments, and no more than $200,000
per site can be used for cleanups.
• A state or tribe may not use the awarded funds to as-
sess and clean up sites that are owned or operated by
the recipient.
• Assessments and cleanups cannot be conducted at
sites where the state or tribe is a potentially respon-
sible party.
• Subgrants cannot be awarded to entities that may be
potentially responsible parties under CERCLA.
Availability: For FY 2010, EPA considered funding re-
quests of up to $1.5 million per state or tribe.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Develop legislation, regulations, procedures, guid-
ance, etc., to establish or enhance the administrative
and legal structure of a response program;
• Establish and maintain the required public record;
• Capitalize a RLF for brownfields cleanup;
• Purchase environmental insurance or develop a risk-
sharing pool, indemnity pool, or insurance mecha-
nism to provide financing for response actions under
a state or tribal response program; and
• Conduct limited site-specific activities, such as assess-
ment or cleanup, provided such activities establish
and/or enhance the response program and are tied to
the four elements.
For additional information see: http://www.epa.gov/
brownfields/state tribal/index.html
Environmental Workforce Development and Job
Training Grants Program
EPA provides funds to eligible entities to deliver envi-
ronmental workforce development and job training
programs focused on hazardous and solid waste manage-
ment, assessment, and cleanup associated employment
activities. Environmental Workforce Development and
Job Training (EWDJT) grants are provided to recruit, train,
and place residents of communities impacted by blighted
properties, contaminated sites, and waste management
facilities in environmental jobs that cleanup contractors
may otherwise fill from outside the affected community.
A critical part of EPA's Environmental Workforce Develop-
ment and Job Training grant program is to ensure that
residents living in communities historically affected by
brownfields, economic disinvestment, health dispari-
ties, and environmental contamination are provided an
opportunity to reap the benefits of jobs created during
revitalization efforts in these areas. Training programs must
target unemployed and underemployed individuals. EPA
is committed to integrating principles of environmental
justice by helping communities revitalize contaminated
properties, mitigate potential health risks, and restore
economic vitality. Through the program formerly re-
ferred to as the "Brownfields Job Training Grants Pro-
gram," EPA funded 169 job training grants totaling over
$35 million since 1998. As of April 2010, more than 5,800
people completed training and more than 3,800 ob-
tained employment in the environmental field with an
average starting hourly wage of $14.65.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include state
and local governments; land clearance authorities and
other quasi-governmental entities; government entities
created by state legislature; regional councils or groups
of local governments; redevelopment agencies; non-
profit organizations; Indian tribes other than in Alaska;
and Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaska Native
Village Corporations, and the Metlakatla Indian Commu-
nity. Workforce Investment Boards and organized labor
unions that meet the criteria may be eligible non-profit
organizations. Public and non-profit private educational
institutions are eligible to apply.
Availability: EPA expects to award about 13 environmen-
tal workforce development and job training cooperative
agreements totaling approximately $4 million through
the FY 2011 national competition for Environmental
Workforce Development and Job Training Grants. An
eligible entity may apply for up to $300,000. The perfor-
mance period is two years.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Recruit job training participants from communities
impacted by hazardous and/or solid waste facilities
and contaminated properties and conduct job devel-
opment outreach activities directed toward engaging
prospective employers to be involved in the job training
program and hire graduates;
• Train residents of impacted communities in the
handling and removal of hazardous substances and
petroleum, including health and safety certification
training, and training for jobs in environmental sam-
pling, analysis, and site remediation;
• Train participants in the inventory, assessment, and
remediation of facilities at which hazardous substances,
pollutants, contaminants or petroleum contamination
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide WM
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are located, transported or disposed; leak prevention
and the removal of underground storage tanks; the
use of techniques and methods for cleanup of hazard-
ous substances, petroleum, and pollutants; and inte-
grated solid waste management jobs;
• Train participants in the use of compost and soil
amendments, associated sampling, testing, design
considerations and management techniques to support
the assessment and cleanup of sites for urban agri-
culture and horticulture; planning and conducting of
ecological restoration of contaminated land; and the
reuse of biosolids and other industry residuals associ-
ated with remediation of contaminated lands or solid
waste facilities;
• Train participants in the requirements and conduct of
"all appropriate inquiries"and due diligence, which
can be defined as the process of evaluating a property
for the potential presence of environmental contami-
nation and assessing potential liability for any contami-
nation present at the property; and
• Provide skills in innovative technologies, green reme-
diation techniques, recycling of demolition materials,
installation of solar panels and other renewable energy
systems, preparation of sites for water or storm water
management systems, low-impact development,
and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED), and other relevant areas.
Limitations: Applicants that received a Brownfields Job
Training Grant from EPA in FY 2010 are not eligible to
apply in FY2011.
For additional information see: hftp://www.epa.gov/
brown fields/job.htm
Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program
EPA's Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) program
is designed to minimize the uncertainties of contamina-
tion often associated with brownfields. The program is
tailored to entities that do not have EPA brownfields
assessment grants. This is not a grant program. EPA does
not provide TBA funding directly to the entity requesting the
services. The TBA program provides technical services
through an EPA contractor to conduct environmental
assessment activities. TBA assistance is available through
two sources: directly from EPA through programs admin-
istered by EPA Regional Brownfields offices, and from
state or tribal voluntary response programs using funds
provided by EPA.
Eligibility Requirements: TBA funds may be used only at
properties eligible for EPA brownfields funding. Property
owners can include state, local, and tribal governments;
general purpose units of local government; land clearance
authorities and other quasi-governmental entities; regional
councils and redevelopment agencies; states; and non-
profit organizations.
Availability: The TBA selection process varies with
each EPA Region and by each state and tribal voluntary
response program. The selection process is guided by
regional and state criteria.
Uses/Applications Include:
• An "all appropriate inquiries" Phase I environmental
site assessment, including a historical investigation
and a preliminary site inspection;
• A more in-depth (Phase II) environmental site assess-
ment, including sampling activities to identify the
types and concentrations of contaminants and the
areas of contamination to be cleaned; and
• Evaluation of cleanup options and/or cost estimates
based on future uses and redevelopment plans.
Limitation: Unless there is a clear means of recouping
EPA expenditures, EPA generally will not fund TBAs at
properties where the owner is responsible for the con-
tamination. The TBA program does not provide resources
to conduct cleanup or building demolition activities.
For more information see: http://www.epa.gov/
brownfields/grant info/tba.htm
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology
Support Center
EPA created the Brownfields and Land Revitalization
Technology Support Center (BTSC) in 1998 to help
decision-makers evaluate strategies to streamline the
site investigation and cleanup process, identify and
review information about complex technology options,
evaluate contractor capabilities and recommendations,
and explain complex technologies to communities. BTSC
helps eligible parties when traditional site assessment
and cleanup approaches are too time-consuming and
expensive to support the redevelopment of brownfield
sites. Services are classified into two categories: direct
support services and information requests.
Eligibility Requirements: Direct support is available to
state and local governments, tribes, brownfields grantees,
EPA Regional Coordinators, EPA Remedial Project Managers,
EPA On-Scene Coordinators, and other EPA regional staff.
Information about site investigation and cleanup activities
is available to all brownfields stakeholders including
real estate professionals, financial institutions, and other
private redevelopment interests; engineers, consultants,
and other private remediation professionals; potentially
50
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responsible parties; affected communities; and members
of the public.
Availability: The BTSC offers two services: direct support
and response to information requests. Information about
site investigation and cleanup activities is available to all
brownfields stakeholders.
Services provided by BTSC include:
• Review and provide comments on project documents
such as requests for proposals, work plans, field sampling
plans, and quality assurance plans;
• Facilitate the consideration and use of the Triad approach;
• Provide information about field-based technologies
for site assessment and cleanup;
• Identify how dynamic work strategies and decision-
support tools can be incorporated in site assessment
activities;
• Evaluate remedial technologies and their advantages
and limitations for site-specific features and needs;
• Share technical information with non-technical audiences;
• Provide easy access to resources, tools, recent news,
and lessons learned;
• Review literature and electronic resources; and
• Provide demonstration planning support.
Limitations: Local and state government personnel, EPA
personnel, tribes, and non-profits with active EPA Brown-
fields Cleanup Grants may request site-specific support
for brownfield sites from the BTSC at no cost. Non-
government organizations may only submit information
requests.
For additional information see:
h ttp://www. brown fieldstsc. org/
Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities
Program
Under the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB)
Communities Program, EPA awards grants to organizations
that provide geographically based technical assistance
and training on brownfields issues to communities and
other stakeholders. The goal is to increase community
understanding and involvement in brownfields cleanup
and redevelopment. The TAB grantees serve as an inde-
pendent source of information assisting communities with
community involvement; better understanding of the
health impacts of brownfield sites; science and technol-
ogy relating to brownfield site assessment, cleanup, and
site preparation activities; brownfields finance questions;
and integrated approaches to brownfields cleanup and
redevelopment.
In FY 2009, EPA awarded TAB grants to four organiza-
tions to offer these services directly to communities in
their respective geographic regions. TAB grantees are:
the New Jersey Institute of Technology (EPA Regions 1,
2, and 3); Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, Inc. (EPA
Regions 4 and 6); Kansas State University (EPA Regions 5
and 7); and the Center for Creative Land Recycling (EPA
Regions 8, 9, and 10).
Eligibility Requirements: Entities facing brownfields
challenges can determine whether they can get technical
assistance by contacting the TAB grantee that supports
their geographic area. Eligible entities include: state and
local governments; land clearance authorities and other
quasi-governmental entities; government entities cre-
ated by state legislature; regional councils and groups of
local governments; redevelopment agencies; non-profit
organizations; Indian tribes other than in Alaska; and
Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Alaska Native Village
Corporations, and the Metlakatla Indian Community.
Availability: Most TAB services are provided free of
charge, but applicants should check with their specific
TAB providers.
TAB grantees can assist brownfields communites in the
following areas:
• Reviewing and explaining brownfields-related techni-
cal reports;
• Providing information about basic science, environ-
mental policy, and other technical matters related to
brownfields sites;
• Helping understand health risks associated with a
brownfields property;
• Helping with identifying financing options for brown-
fields projects;
• Helping with understanding or interpreting scientific
information or environmental policy;
• Providing information to assist with understanding
environmental issues and how they affect brownfields
cleanup and redevelopment;
• Facilitating brownfields redevelopment efforts by sup-
porting community and other stakeholder involvement
activities;
• Sponsoring a workshop;
• Holding a webinar or provide other web-based tools;
and
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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• Answering questions posted on a web site, providing
information through a newsletter, resource center,
and case studies.
For additional information on the Brownfield TAB Grants:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/tools/tab bifold.pdf
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Patricia Overmeyer
U.S. EPA, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
Mail Code 5105 T
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
202-566-2774
overmever.patricia@epa.gov
Main EPA Web Site
http://www.epa.gov/
Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
httD://www.eDa.aov/brownfields/
SNAPSHOT- INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
The Smart Growth Redevelopment District (SGRD)
in Indianapolis was selected as one of five Sustain-
able Communities Partnership Brownfields Pilots.
Through the pilots initiative, EPA, HUD, and DOT are
working together to ensure that federal investments,
policies and actions support development that is
more efficient and sustainable. The pilot focuses
the resources of EPA, HUD, and DOT on a portion of
the city's northeast side, which faces widespread
abandonment, environmental contamination, poor
transit accessibility, and housing needs. The project
builds on a previous effort undertaken in 2006,
when Indianapolis used an EPA Brownfields grant
to assess a blighted area that impacted commercial,
industrial and residential decisions within the city.
Based on the resulting brownfield survey, more than
75 parcels were studied and full Phase I environ-
mental site assessments were completed on about
20 sites. The survey area included the Monon Trail
Greenway, a former rail line that attracted industrial
development in the 1800s and early 1900s. Today,
the Monon Trail Greenway is at the center of the
SGRD. HUD, DOT, and EPA are working with the state
of Indiana, the city government, local non-profits,
and community groups to coordinate federal invest-
ments in and near the SGRD. The federal partners
will assist the community with developing a land
reuse plan to support urban agriculture at the for-
mer railyard that will include environmental design
components, neighborhood strategies and local
policies necessary to make reuse successful, and an
implementation plan.
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Federal Housing Finance Agency
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) mission is
to promote a stable and liquid mortgage market, affordable
housing, and community investment through oversight
of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the nation's Federal
Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks).
FHFA was formed in 2008 by a legislative merger of the
Federal Housing Finance Board (former regulator of the
FHLBanks), Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight,
and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment's government-sponsored enterprise mission team.
The FHFA now regulates the FHLBanks, which are govern-
ment-chartered, member-owned corporations. There are
about 8,100 FHLBank members, including commercial
banks, thrifts, credit unions, and insurance companies.
Each member is a shareholder in one of the FHLBanks.
The FHLBanks provide long-term loans (called "advanc-
es") to their members who use the proceeds to make
loans to individuals or entities in the community for
residential mortgages and community economic devel-
opment activities, including brownfields redevelopment
projects. Only members of FHLBanks receive advances
from their respective FHLBank.
The key lending programs are the Affordable Housing
Program (AHP); the Community Investment Program
(CIP), which has housing and community development
components; and the Community Investment Cash
Advances (CICA) program for community development.
All the FHLBanks offer an AHP and CIP, and most offer
one or more types of CICA programs. The CICA program
provides financing for targeted economic development
projects, including brownfields.
Brownfields Connections
' FHLBanks finance their member institutions to provide
a wide range of affordable housing projects, rental
and owner-occupied, as well as single-family and
multi-family units.
• FHLBanks encourage member institutions to engage
in lending to meet community development needs,
such as housing and economic development, which
can take place on brownfield sites.
• FHL Banks use a variety of financing tools for redevel-
opment such as the purchase of taxable and tax-ex-
empt bonds and issuance of letters of credit backing
such bonds.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
Community Investment Program
Each FHLBank operates a CIP that offers below-market-rate
loans to its member institutions for long-term financing
of housing or for community economic development
that benefits low- and moderate-income families and
neighborhoods. CIP is an "advance" or loan that a member
financial institution borrows from its FHLBank to loan
to a project. CIP loans support projects that create and
preserve jobs and help build infrastructure to catalyze
community growth. CIP loans may be combined with
other housing or community development funds.
Eligibility Requirements: Projects funded by the member
institutions of an FHLBank must meet several requirements
depending on the type of project. Projects may involve
owner-occupied and rental housing; construction of, for
instance, roads, bridges, retail stores, or sewage treatment
plants; and small business loans to create or retain jobs.
Limitations: Advances are made only on a secured basis
with collateral requirements consistent with those on all
FHLBank credit programs. Advances to refinance debt
are generally not allowed under the CIP.
Availability: Advances are available in various maturities
including long-term maturities, such as 20 years, on a
continuous basis through FHLB member institutions.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Home purchases by families with incomes at or below
115 percent of the area median;
• Purchase or rehabilitation of rental housing for fami-
lies with incomes at or below 115 percent of the area
median;
• Commercial and economic development activities,
including brownfields, that benefit low- and moderate-
income families (those at or below 80 percent of
median income) or activities that are located in low-
and moderate-income neighborhoods; and
• Projects that include a combination of these activities.
Community Investment Cash Advances Programs
The CICA programs offer funding, often at below-market
interest rates, for members to use to finance economic
development projects in low-to-moderate-income
neighborhoods. As with the CIP, many of these advances
are for long terms. Example projects include brownfields
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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redevelopment; commercial, industrial, manufacturing, and
social services projects; infrastructure; and public facilities
and services. CICA includes several different types of activi-
ties, most notably the Rural Development Advance Program,
Urban Development Advance Program, and CIR
Eligibility Requirements: Only FHLBank members may
borrow CICA funds. Eligibility requirements for project
funding vary among FHLBanks.
Limitations: Before applying, each FHLBank must have
a Community Lending Plan that describes its program
objectives and funding availability.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Assistance to Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment
projects in areas eligible for a federal brownfields tax credit;
• Assistance to champion Communities, Empowerment
Zones, or Enterprise Communities;
• Assistance to housing, commercial, industrial, and
other economic development activities;
• Assistance to areas affected by federal military base
closings;
• Assistance to small businesses as defined by the Small
Business Administration; and
• Assistance to tribal homelands.
Affordable Housing Program
The AHP subsidizes the cost of owner-occupied housing for
individuals and families with incomes at or below 80 percent
of the area median income, and rental housing in which at
least 20 percent of the units are reserved for households with
incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income
with affordable rents. The subsidy may be in the form of a
grant or a below-cost subsidized interest rate on an advance.
FHLBanks contribute 10 percent of their net income
to affordable housing through the AHP. AHP funds are
primarily available through a competitive application
program at each of the FHLBanks. This competitive grant
program is the largest source of private-sector grants for
housing and community development in the country.
In addition to the funds awarded in the competitive program,
AHP funds are awarded through the homeownership set-
aside program. An FHLBank may set aside an amount up to
the greater of $3 million or 25 percent of its AHP funds each
year to assist low- and moderate-income households
in purchasing homes. In the set-aside program, members
provide grants directly to households for down payment
and closing costs, and in some cases, counseling and reha-
bilitation costs. Each member sets its own maximum grant
amount, which may not exceed $15,000 per household.
Eligibility Requirements: Only member financial institutions
of an FHLBank can apply for AHP funds. To be considered
eligible for AHP funding, housing projects must meet eight
requirements, including those related to occupancy, feasi-
bility, need, timing, retention of owner-occupied or rental
units, and project sponsor qualifications.
Limitations: Projects using AHP funds are subject to reten-
tion requirements. The retention period is five years for
home ownership projects. Rental projects must maintain
household income and rental payment restrictions during a
15-year retention period.
Availability: Each FHLBank has one or more AHP fund-
ing rounds each year in which members submit applica-
tions on behalf of sponsors and developers of affordable
housing projects.
Uses/Applications Include: Over the years the AHP has
provided assistance to:
• Low- and moderate-income homeowners and first-
time homebuyers;
• Very-low-income residents of rental housing;
• Special-needs households, including the elderly, dis-
abled, homeless, or victims of domestic violence who
need supportive services;
• Residents in rural communities; and
• Residents in urban areas.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Charles McLean, Housing and Community Investment,
Federal Home Loan Banks
Office of Housing Mission and Goals
Federal Housing Finance Agency
1625 Eye Street, NW 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20006-4001
202-408-2537
Charles.Mclean@fhfa.gov
Main Site
h ttp://www. fhfa.gov
SNAPSHOT-DESMOIINES, IOWA
A $2 million financing arrangement with the Federal
Home Loan Bank was a critical element that enabled
redevelopment of a 125-acre site in downtown Des
Moines that once included a steel foundry, a chemical
manufacturing facility and rail yards. Today, Riverpoint
West includes 750 housing units and 450,000 square
feet of commercial and retail space. The project began
with an EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant that Des
Moines used to assess more than 100 properties
throughout the city with the objective of cleaning
up blighted industrial sites and leveraging funding to
complete redevelopment on targeted properties.
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General Services Administration
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The General Services Administration (GSA) leverages
the buying power of the federal government to acquire
best value for taxpayers and its federal customers. With
thousands of federal properties throughout the country,
GSA partners with other federal agencies, state regulatory
agencies, and local communities to recycle underutilized
federal properties. GSA expedites the cleanup and reuse
of federal real estate by leveraging its real estate expertise,
meaningful stakeholder input, and all available real
property and environmental authorities.
Brownfields Connections
GSA reviews and identifies surplus federally owned brown-
fields that are available for redevelopment, and seeks to rede-
ploy these brownfields in close coordination with local com-
munity planning objectives. In the case of federally owned
brownfields, GSA works with local communities to determine
how these federal properties can support local revitalization
goals. GSA serves as the "honest broker" in returning these
properties to productive use. To carry out this role, GSA:
• Coordinates with state and federal representatives to
ensure that the identification of underutilized federal
properties incorporates the latest state and federal
revitalization initiatives;
• Executes a process that brings stakeholders together
on issues related to contaminated properties;
• Provides local communities and potential federal
property developers with information on the federal
real property disposal process; and
• Educates states and communities engaged in brownfields
revitalization about innovative disposal methods and
options for remediation privatization.
RESOURCES
Technical Assistance
Brownfields Redevelopment Initiative
GSA works with other federal agencies to identify and
redeploy underutilized federal properties. Within each
brownfields project location, GSA works with state and
local planners, economic development officials, and
community groups to effectively match GSA's real property
authorities and local revitalization objectives. Guided by
local objectives, GSA focuses and prioritizes the disposal
of underutilized real property.
Eligibility Requirements: GSA works with local officials,
community stakeholders, and state and federal agencies
in communities with surplus federal real property.
Availability: GSA works with all federal landholding
agencies to develop real estate strategies that identify
options for the better managment of underutilized as-
sets. This includes identifying potential federal brownfields
through GSA's utilization studies, providing recommenda-
tions to federal landholding agencies for environmental
characterization and additional due diligence, and develop-
ing real property strategies that expedite environmental
regulatory closure.
Uses/Applications Include: GSA identifies federal
brownfields, incorporates meaningful stakeholder input
in matching available real property authorities with local
revitalization objectives, and develops environmental and
real property strategies for successful return to produc-
tive reuse.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Lee Anne Galanes
General Services Administration
Office of Real Property Asset Management
Property Disposal Division (PVB)
1800 F Street NW, Room 4233
Washington, DC 20405
202-501-2287
leeanne.galanes@gsa.gov
Main Site
http://www.gsa.gov
Office of Real Property Utilization and Disposal
httDs://DroDertvdisDosal.asa.aov
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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SNAPSHOT-DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
Through the Brownfields Redevelopment Initiative,
GSA transferred parcels of the former National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Downey
industrial plant to the City of Downey for the develop-
ment of Downey Landing, a $300 million state-of-the-art
medical facility complex, movie studio, retail center,
public park, and outer space learning center. The site
previously operated for 70 years as a rocket and missile
research and manufacturing facility, and was home to
the Apollo program. Working with NASA and the Cali-
fornia Regional Water Quality Control Board, GSA facili-
tated a privatized final cleanup that allowed remediation
and redevelopment to occur concurrently, which saved
money. This was done pursuant to a transfer agree-
ment between the GSA and the City of Downey, greatly
expediting the reuse process and allowing development
to proceed more rapidly.
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Small Business Administration
DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
Mission
The Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in
1953 as an independent agency of the federal govern-
ment to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of
small business concerns, to preserve free competitive
enterprise, and to maintain and strengthen the overall
economy of the nation. SBA recognizes that small busi-
ness is critical to our nation's economic recovery and
strength, to building America's future, and to helping
the United States compete in today's global market-
place. Although SBA has evolved in the years since it
was established, its bottom-line mission remains the
same: The SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow busi-
nesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and
partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA
delivers its services to people throughout the United
States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
The SBA's guiding principles are:
• Inspiring creativity in the American economy by devel-
oping and supporting entrepreneurs through a vast
network of resource partners.
• Advocating for all small businesses by taking leadership
in building a productive partnership between the
American people and their government.
• Delivering results for small business, and being account-
able, accessible, and responsive.
• Empowering the spirit of entrepreneurship within every
community to promote and realize the American
dream.
• Facilitating the environment necessary for America's
small businesses to succeed, measuring our performance
by small business success.
Brownfields Connections
The SBA encourages the redevelopment of brownfields.
SBA loan guarantees are available to small businesses
interested in locating on revitalized brownfields.Typi-
cally, this occurs through utilization of one or more of
the following factors: (1) Indemnification; (2) Completed
remediation; (3) "No Further Action" letter obtained; (4)
"Minimal contamination"achieved; (5) Cleanup funds
approved; (6) Escrow account available; (7) Groundwater
contamination originating from another site; (8) Additional
or substitute collateral is pledged; or (9) Other factors
such as the existence of adequate environmental insurance.
RESOURCES
Finan da I Assist an ce
The SBA provides a number of financial assistance
programs for small businesses, including the Certified
Development Company/504 (CDC/504) Program and
7(a) loans.
Certified Development Company (CDQ/504
Program
The CDC/504 loan program is a long-term financing tool
for economic development within a community. The
504 Program provides growing businesses requiring
"brick and mortar"financing with long-term, fixed-rate
financing to acquire major fixed assets for expansion or
modernization. A Certified Development Company is a
private, non-profit corporation set up to contribute to
the economic development of its community. CDCs work
with SBA and private-sector lenders to provide financing
to small businesses.
Typically, a 504 project includes a loan secured from a
private-sector lender with a senior lien covering up to 50
percent of the project cost; a loan secured from a CDC
(backed by a 100 percent SBA-guaranteed debenture) with
a junior lien covering up to 40 percent of the costs; and a
contribution from the borrower of at least 10 percent equity.
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include busi-
nesses that are operated for profit and fall within the size
standards set by the SBA. Under the 504 Program, the
business qualifies as small if it has a tangible net worth
of $7.5 million or less and an average net income of $2.5
million or less after taxes for the preceding two years.
Limitations: The 504 Program cannot be used for work-
ing capital or inventory, consolidating or repaying debt,
or refinancing.
Availability: The maximum SBA debenture is $1.5 million
when meeting the job creation criteria or a community
development goal. The maximum SBA debenture is $2
million when meeting a public policy goal. The maxi-
mum debenture for small manufacturers is $4 million.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Uses/Applications Include:
• Purchasing land and make improvements, including
existing buildings, grading, street improvements,
utilities, parking lots, and landscaping;
• Constructing new facilities, or modernize, renovate,
or convert existing facilities; and
• Purchasing long-term machinery and equipment.
http://www.sba.gov/financialassistance/borrowers/
qua ran teed/CDC504lp/index.html
Basic 7(a) Loan Program
The 7(a) loan program is SBA's primary program to help
start-up and existing small businesses obtain financ-
ing when they might not be eligible for business loans
through normal lending channels. It is also the SBA's
most flexible business loan program, since financing can
be guaranteed for a variety of general business pur-
poses. The 7(a) name comes from section 7(a) of the Small
Business Act. 7(a) loans are the most basic and most used
types of SBA loans.
Eligibility Requirements: To be considered for a 7(a)
loan, applicants must meet certain eligibility require-
ments. These requirements are designed to be as broad
as possible so the program can accommodate the most
diverse variety of small business financing needs.
Limitations: SBA does not fully guarantee 7(a) loans. The
lender and SBA share the risk that a borrower will not be
able to repay the loan in full.
Uses/Applications Include:
• Working capital;
• Purchase, renovation, and new construction of land
or buildings;
• Acquisition of equipment, machinery, furniture, and
fixtures;
• Leasehold improvements; and
• Debt refinancing (under special conditions).
http://www.sba.gov/financialassistance/borrowers/
guaran teed/7alp/index. h tml
Outreach/Technical Assistance
Office of Small Business Development Centers
The Office of Small Business Development Centers
(SBDC) provides management assistance to current and
prospective small business owners. SBDCs offer one-stop
assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing
a wide variety of information and guidance to central
and easily accessible branch locations. The program is a
cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational
community, and federal, state, and local governments
and is an integral component of Entrepreneurial Devel-
opment's network of training and counseling services.
Eligibility Requirements: Individuals and small business
owners can receive assistance at local SBDC branches,
which are listed online.
www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/index.html
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
SCORE is a non-profit association dedicated to educating
entrepreneurs and helping small business start, grow,
and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner
with the SBA. It has 364 chapters throughout the United
States and its territories, with 13,000 volunteers nation-
wide. Both working and retired executives and business
owners donate time and expertise as business counselors.
Eligibility Requirements: Small business owners and
entrepreneurs can receive assistance online or at local
SCORE branches, which are listed online.
http://www.score.0rg//nc/ex.htm/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Rachel Newman Karton
Small Business Administration
Office of Small Business Development Centers
409 3rd Street, NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20416
202-619-1816
rachel.newman-karton@sba.gov
Main Site
www.sba.qou
SNAPSHOT - MALDEN, MEDFORD, AND
EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS
The cities of Maiden, Medford and Everett are
known for the manufacturing and industrial activi-
ties centered around the Maiden River and abutting
railroads. The three cities joined together on a proj-
ect to construct a state-of-the-art telecommunica-
tions research and development park, called Tele-
Com City. In 2001, SBA executed the release of a lien
on a property to be donated to the Mystic Valley De-
velopment Commission for the Commercial Street/
Corporation Way reconstruction. The design plan
called for an initial phase of 331,200 square feet of
office and research and development space and 200
units of housing on a 30-acre site in Medford.
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Federal Tax Incentives and Credits
Often, the success of a brownfields redevelopment proj-
ect depends in large part on crafting a financing pack-
age that takes advantage of federal programs that offer
tax incentives or credits for various components of the
project. Since the Brownfields Law was enacted in 2002,
there has been increasing emphasis on building partner-
ships among federal agencies that offer targeted resources
that can be used to support brownfields projects.
Creatively crafted and carefully targeted incentives and
credits can help advance cleanup activities and prepare
properties for reuse. This section provides an overview of
federal tax incentives and credits that can be leveraged
for brownfields cleanup, redevelopment, and reuse. The
following topics are outlined:
Brownfields Expensing Tax Incentive
New Markets Tax Credits
Low Income Housing Tax Credits
Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
State Finance Support
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Brownfields Expensing Tax Incentive
Designed to spur investment in blighted properties
and assist in revitalizing communities, the federal
brownfields tax incentive is a critical tool in brownfields
cleanup and redevelopment efforts. The tax incentive
encourages cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields
by allowing taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by
the cost of eligible cleanup expenses in the year they
are incurred. Cleanup costs at eligible properties are
fully deductible in the year they are incurred, rather than
capitalized and spread over a period of years. Through
such favorable tax treatment of cleanup costs, the incen-
tive program aims to level the economic playing field
between greenfield and brownfield development.
Both large- and small-scale cleanup and redevelopment
activities can benefit from the use of the brownfields
expensing tax incentive. From large office buildings to
small commercial strips, projects of varying sizes have
successfully integrated the tax incentive as a key part
of their financing packages. To create consistency in tax
and accounting procedures throughout the life of the
project, the tax incentive is most beneficial to property
owners when considered in the early stages of planning
the cleanup and redevelopment process.
How the Program Works: By using the federal brown-
fields tax incentive, environmental cleanup costs are
fully deductible in the year that they are incurred, rather
than capitalized over time (up to 30 years in some cases).
There are three requirements to qualify:
• The property must be owned by the taxpayer incur-
ring the eligible cleanup expenses, and be used in a
trade or business or for the production of income.
• Hazardous substances or petroleum contamination
must be present or potentially present on the property.
• Taxpayers must obtain a statement from a designated
state agency (typically, the state's environmental
agency overseeing the state's voluntary cleanup pro-
gram (VCP) that confirms the site is a brownfield and
therefore eligible for the tax incentive. Participation
in a state VCP satisfies this requirement.
In December 2006, Congress broadened the definition
of hazardous substances to include petroleum products
for purposes of the tax incentive. This change qualified
previously ineligible sites for the tax incentive program,
including thousands of former gas stations and under-
ground storage tanks (UST). Properties listed or proposed
for listing on EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) continue
to be ineligible for the brownfields expensing tax incen-
tive.
To be eligible for the brownfields expensing tax incen-
tive, costs of environmental cleanup must be associated
with activities that control the release or disposal of a
hazardous substance or petroleum contamination, or
activities that abate the threat of a release or disposal
of a hazardous substance or petroleum contamination.
Costs for activities, such as implementation and monitor-
ing of institutional controls (for example, construction of
access roads that serve as caps for contaminated soils),
demolition and removal of contaminated materials,
and state VCP oversight fees also are all eligible expen-
ditures. Expenses associated with site assessment and
investigation activities at a qualified contaminated site
also are eligible for the incentive program, if conducted
in connection with the abatement or control of hazard-
ous substances or petroleum contamination.
The steps to qualify for and claim the tax incentive are
simple and straightforward:
• The site owner determines that a hazardous sub-
stance or petroleum contamination is present or po-
tentially present on the property and begins planning
for a cleanup and redevelopment project.
• The site owner contacts the designated state agency
to inquire about procedures for obtaining a state-
ment that confirms the property is a brownfield site.
The owner then provides the agency with documen-
tation that shows whether hazardous substances
or petroleum contamination are present or may be
potentially present on the property.
• The designated state agency verifies submitted in-
formation and provides the site owner with a state-
ment of eligibility for the tax incentive. In most cases,
the review process is very quick. (The Congressional
Research Service found that virtually every state was
able make a determination in less than a month, and
three states, New Jersey, Texas, and Wisconsin, turned
around requests in three days or less.) Once state con-
firmation is issued, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
considers it valid for the life of the tax incentive.
• To claim the deduction, small business taxpayers
write "Section 198 Election" on their income tax re-
turn next to the line where the deduction is claimed.
Companies or partnerships with more than $10 mil-
lion in assets fill out Schedule M-3.
Advantages for Brownfields Site Redevelopers: Inte-
grating the tax incentive into a project's financing strat-
egy can enhance project cash flow by offsetting cleanup
costs. Prior to the availability of a tax incentive, buyers
60
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purchased a contaminated property at its impaired value
and then capitalized any cleanup costs over a period of
many years. Using the tax incentive, on the other hand,
provides brownfields developers an added income boost
during the year they invest in cleanup. Small businesses
in the environmental cleanup and consulting sector have
successfully completed brownfields cleanup and rede-
velopment projects with the help of the tax incentive
and, as a consequence, have encouraged other busi-
nesses to seek out brownfields sites for redevelopment.
The tax expensing incentive also can be used to leverage
money targeted for construction. For example, in a situ-
ation where contaminated soil is capped with a parking
lot, the costs related to the soil remediation and cap con-
struction are expensible as cleanup costs.
Limitations: The Brownfields Tax Incentive is not fre-
quently used, despite its great potential to support prop-
erty cleanup and reuse. A key reason for the limited use
of the incentive may be uncertainty over its availability
over an extended period of time. The tax provision has
never had long-term authorization and Congress allowed
the provision to lapse five times since it was first intro-
duced in 1997. However, retroactive reauthorizations
allowed coverage to be available throughout the entire
time period from the incentive's introduction in 1997 until
today. In December 2010, the incentive was reauthorized
for two years and is retroactive to January 1, 2010. The
incentive will remain in effect through December 31,
2011.
Site owners may want to consult their state program or a
tax attorney to determine activities that may be con-
sidered qualified expenditures. If a taxpayer decides to
claim the incentive in future years because cleanup was
completed during one of the periods in which the incen-
tive's authority lapsed, an amended tax return can be
filed up to three years after the original return was filed.
An amended tax return must be filed within two years if
a refund is sought.
In addition, the incentive is subject to "recapture," mean-
ing that the gain realized from expensing is taxed as
ordinary income rather than at lower capital gains rates
when the property is later sold. This aspect of the tax
incentive may discourage its use for projects where the
developer is not the end-user. Details regarding how
long a property must be held before the "recapture" pro-
vision is no longer applicable are not defined in statute
orTreasury rulings.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The U.S. EPA Brownfields Tax Incentive web site con-
tains background information, program descriptions,
frequently asked questions, case studies, and histori-
cal information. It is available at: http://www.epa.gov/
s werosps/b f/tax/in dex. h tm.
Designated state agency contacts are available at: http
www.eDa.gov/swerosDS/bf/stxcntct.htm.
SNAPSHOT-BOSTON,
MASSACHUSETTS
A Dorchester neighborhood that at one time included
23 abandoned or demolished buildings now is a
new intergenerational neighborhood called Boston's
Hope, which is home to young children, their new
foster families, and their new"grandparents."The
$31 million transformation was made possible in
part by a U.S. EPA Targeted Brownfields Assessment
(TBA) grant, the federal Brownfields Expensing Tax
Incentive, and a partnership between a local social
service agency for families and children, and the
Boston Aging Concerns Young and Old United, Inc.
(BAC-YOU), an organization that finds housing for
homeless seniors. Site assessment was made possible
due to the EPA TBA. After the site was assessed, the
city and BAC-YOU were able to begin cleanup of the
site. Final cleanup costs for the new Boston's Hope
project were over $290,000. Through the federal
Brownfields Tax Incentive Program, BAC-YOU, the de-
veloper for the project, was able to deduct expenses
incurred during the cleanup from its income taxes.
The program helped the organization reach the Mas-
sachusetts cleanup standards required to prepare
the once-contaminated properties for residential
redevelopment. The Boston's Hope project includes
41 new and affordable apartments for 30 seniors, ten
families and their foster children.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
-------
Wew Markets Tax Credits
The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program is designed
to stimulate the economies of distressed urban and rural
communities and create jobs in low-income communi-
ties by expanding the availability of credit, investment
capital, and financial services. The NMTC program was
created through the Community Renewal Act of 2000.
The program is administered by the Community Devel-
opment Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund within the
U.S. Department of the Treasury. Each year, tax credits
are allocated through the CDFI Fund and distributed to
qualified Community Development Entities (CDEs). CDEs
include a range of for-profit and non-profit organiza-
tions, such as community development corporations,
CDFIs, organizations that administer community devel-
opment venture capital funds or community loan funds,
small business development corporations, specialized
small business investment companies, and others. Ap-
proximately 4,000 organizations are certified as CDEs.
Brownfields developers can approach existing CDEs to
help fund their projects or may, in certain circumstances,
consider applying for CDE certification themselves.
Given their focus on distressed areas, many of which are
characterized by blighted and abandoned buildings,
NMTCs have significant potential to support brownfields
projects. Through October 2009, the CDFI Fund made
495 awards totaling $26 billion in allocation authority.
This amount includes $5 billion in new allocations an-
nounced in October 2009 in addition to the $3 billion
of Recovery Act-authorized allocations ($1.5 billion
through the 2008 NMTC allocation round and $1.5 billion
through the 2009 NMTC allocation round). As of Septem-
ber 30, 2009, allocation recipients reported raising quali-
fied investments that add up to over $14.3 billion. All
99 of the 2009 recipients indicated that they will invest
more than the minimally required 85 percent of qualified
investment dollars into low-income communities. Spe-
cifically, CDEs securing 2009 allocations anticipate that
41 percent of their NMTC investments ($2.07 billion) will
support business activity in low-income communities,
and 57 percent (approximately $2.85 billion) will finance
real estate projects, commercial endeavors such as retail
and industrial projects, as well as community facilities
such as health-care centers.
Demand for the tax credits remains high since the pro-
gram's inception. About 250 applications requesting an
aggregate $23.5 billion in authority were submitted for
the 2010 round of the NMTC Program, in which $5 billion
in new allocation authority is authorized. This unique
funding mechanism is a viable option for many brown-
fields redevelopers, given the target investments that
entities that receive allocations typically identify. CDFI
anticipates announcing new allocations in early 2011.
How the Program Works: The NMTC program allows cer-
tified CDEs to competitively apply for an allocation from
the CFDI Fund tax credit pool. Once a CDE receives an
allocation of tax credits, the CDE can offer the tax credits
to private-sector investors, including banks, insurance
companies, corporations, and individuals. Investors
acquire (using cash only) stock or a capital interest in the
CDE. The investor can gain a potential return for a "quali-
fied equity investment" in the CDE. The investor also
receives a 39 percent tax credit on the amount of the
investment (total purchase price of the stock or capital
interest). The credit is claimed over a seven-year period.
A five percent credit is received annually during the
first three years after purchase and a six percent credit
is received during the final four years. Thus, for each
hypothetical $100,000 investment, an investor would
realize $39,000 in tax credits. Investors may not redeem
their investments in CDEs prior to the conclusion of the
seven-year period.
In short, the CDE secures investors through the sale of
stock or issuance of an equity interest in exchange for
tax credits, and then uses the resulting investor equity to
make investments in low-income communities.
In return for providing the tax credit to the investor, the
CDE receives cash. The CDE must invest "substantially
all" of the cash proceeds into qualified low-income
community investments (QLICIs). Over half of all CDE
investments are investments in real estate or businesses.
Eligible QLICIs include, but are not limited to, loans to
or investments in businesses to be used for developing
residential, commercial, industrial, and retail real estate
projects. Examples of QLICIs include:
• Direct investments in qualified low-income, commu-
nity-based businesses;
• Purchases of loans made by a CDE to qualified low-
income businesses that allow a return via a secondary
market-type approach;
• Purchases of financial counseling and other technical
services to qualified active low-income community
businesses; and
• Loans or investments in real estate projects that can
include brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.
62
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A CDE must be certified to be eligible to receive NMTCs.
The Department of the Treasury's CDFI Fund evaluates
applications for CDE certification in four areas: business
strategy, capitalization strategy, management capac-
ity, and community impact. In addition, the CDE must
demonstrate how it will maintain accountability to
residents of low-income communities, which is typically
done through representation on a governing or advi-
sory board. Community entities applying to become a
CDE may submit CDE certification applications at any
time of year to the CDFI Fund. Completing an applica-
tion for CDE certification can be lengthy, but the process
is straightforward and decisions by the CDFI Fund are
made relatively quickly. Once an organization is certified,
the designation lasts for the life of the organization. Both
non-profit and for-profit groups may apply to be certi-
fied by the CDFI Fund.
While the CDE certification and the Department of Trea-
sury allocation processes are complex, the actual opera-
tion of the NMTC program is relatively simple:
• An investor (taxpayer) decides to seek NMTCs.
• The investor identifies a CDE that received a NMTC
allocation (listed on the Department of Treasury's
web site) and is in the process of completing a mixed-
use redevelopment project, which could be on a
brownfields property.
• In exchange for the cash investment in the CDE's
project, the investor receives 39 percent of the invest-
ment value in tax credits (in other words, $39,000 in
credits for each hypothetical $100,000 investment),
over the seven-year schedule noted above).
• The investor also receives stock or an equity interest
in the CDE's redevelopment project.
Advantages for Brownfields Site Redevelopers: The
NMTC program offers several advantages to develop-
ers seeking financing to clean up and reuse brownfields
properties.
• CDEs may be willing to structure a more favorable
deal than traditional lending institutions for brown-
fields projects, which can be a key consideration
when lending is tight.
• CDEs can offer funding for a full range of redevelop-
ment activities, including land acquisition, environmen-
tal remediation, demolition, site preparation, construc-
tion, renovation, and infrastructure improvements,
making them a true "one-stop"financing source.
• CDEs involved in brownfields cleanup and redevelop-
ment projects, especially non-profit entities, can facili-
tate packaging of different public financing sources
for one project. Financing sources can include state
and local programs and credits, initiatives such as tax
increment financing, and federal programs such as
the Department of Housing and Urban Development's
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and
EPA's Brownfields Grants.
• Tax credits available to investors through CDEs can
encourage investors to commit additional funds for
qualifying projects or attract new investors that may
not have ordinarily considered investing in brown-
fields projects located in low-income communities.
Brownfields stakeholders interested in making the NMTC
program part of their brownfields project financing strat-
egies generally follow one of three approaches:
• Contact existing CDEs for funding. Several of the
recipients of tax credit allocations between 2007 and
2009 identified brownfields redevelopment as one of
CDFI Fund
Tax credits to
Investors
Cash
Tax credits to
(against Federal
Income tax)
Community Development Entity (CDE)
J
Purchases Loans from CDEs
Provides Financial
Counseling and Related
Services
Invests in or Lends to CDEs
Which may Include Community
Development Loans for
Brownfields Redevelopment
Projects
Which may include Financing
Brownfields Redevelopment
Projects
Invests in or Lends to
Qualified Active Lower
Income Community
Businesses (QALICBs)
Which may Include Brownfields
Redevelopment Projects
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
-------
the goals for their economic development efforts, but
any CDE can potentially invest in a brownfield proj-
ect. This is the easiest and most common approach.
Brownfields developers should consult the CDFI/Trea-
sury web site to identify CDEs operating in their state.
• Apply for and receive CDE certification.
• Apply for an allocation of tax credits to offer to poten-
tial investors. Although this process is more com-
plex, it is viable for stakeholders with sufficient staff,
technical capacity and commitment for large-scale or
long-term brownfields efforts.
• Apply for and achieve CDE certification, then apply to
other CDEs that have their own tax credit allocations
for equity financing. CDEs can invest in the projects
of other CDEs, including brownfields projects, as long
as these investments are made in low-income areas.
However, little funding was made available through
this channel in recent years. Only 1.6 percent (about
$79 million) of the 2009 allocations are expected to
be used this way.
Through the first seven rounds of the NMTC Program,
the CDFI Fund made 495 awards totaling $26 billion in
tax credit allocation authority. The seventh round of al-
locations was announced in October 2009. The $5 billion
in credits allocated in 2009 went to 99 private and non-
profit CDEs in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico; entities receiving NMTC allocations antici-
pate making investments in 49 states. At the aggregate
state level, total allocations range from $1.77 billion to
33 CDEs serving California, to $10 million to a CDE serv-
ing Hawaii. Total allocations to CDEs in 15 states—New
York, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Illinois, Loui-
siana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, Maryland,
North Carolina, Florida, New Jersey, plus California—ex-
ceed $500 million.
Limitations: CDEs can be a vital source of capital for
brownfields revitalization. Because of the underwriting
effort involved, the NMTC program tends to work best
for mid-sized and larger projects. While there is no hard
and fast rule, most NMTC projects are at least $1 million
in size. Although NMTCs have been used as part of the
financing for numerous brownfields projects, many CDEs
are unaware of the brownfields redevelopment process
and potential leveraging advantages. Consequently, the
first task facing local officials and community leaders
may be to educate CDEs about the brownfields process
and the role that state voluntary cleanup programs can
play in bringing certainty and closure to environmental
concerns at these properties.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
601 13th Street, NW, Suite 200 South
Washington, DC 20005
NMTC Support Line: 202-622-6355
h ftp://www.cd fifund.gov
The CDFI Fund web site provides access to CDE appli-
cation materials and workshops, legal review services
for NMTC-related documents, and a map of qualified
census tracts and counties under the NMTC program. It
also contains lists of certified CDEs; recent NMTC recipi-
ents, and their target states for investing; and profiles
of CDE-supported community revitalization projects. In
addition, the web site also includes the NMTC Qualified
Equity Investment (QEI) Issuance Report, which identi-
fies, among other things, the amount of credits each CDE
can allocate, how much credit authority they committed,
and the amount remaining to be issued to investors. The
most recent QEI was posted in December, 2010.
SNAPSHOT-CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
The Bethel Center in Chicago, IL, is an award-
winning, transit-oriented facility developed on a
brownfield in Chicago's West Garfield Park area by
Bethel New Life (BNL), a faith-based community
development corporation. This LEED-certified
multi-use facility brings a new commercial anchor to
a dilapidated corner. The new facility consists of six
storefronts, BNL's program offices, and service-ori-
ented offices that include an employment center, a
technology center, and a daycare facility. The Bethel
Center was partially funded by a $4 million New
Markets Tax Credit allocation that Bethel New Life
received in 2003. The NMTC enabled Bethel New Life
to receive construction funding, which provided the
structure for a more flexible loan package. Prior to
receipt of NMTC funds, BNL was denied financing for
the project by several financial institutions that were
uncertain about annual funding for employment and
daycare programs that occupy about 65 percent of
the building's space.
64
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Low Income Housing Tax Credits
Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) were created
under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to provide incen-
tives for the use of private equity in the development
of affordable housing for low-income Americans. The
program is administered at the state level. Each state
receives an allocation of federal tax credits determined
by formula, based on its population: $1.85 per capita,
with a minimum allocation of $2,125,000 per state. These
credits are intended to ensure an attractive minimum
rate of return on investments in low-income housing.
Each state can issue LIHTC tax-exempt bonds up to the
federally allocated amount to attract investment capital
for the development of low-income housing. LIHTCs may
be used as part of a brownfields financing package if
affordable rental housing is part of a project. The credits
have been successfully used in many states as part of
mixed-income housing developments and as infill proj-
ects on brownfields sites.
LIHTCs are more attractive than tax deductions because
tax credits provide investors of affordable housing devel-
opments a dollar-for-dollar reduction in their federal
taxes while a tax deduction only reduces taxable income
and therefore provides a lesser tax benefit. Development
capital is raised by "syndicating" the credit to an investor
or a group of investors. As these credits are syndicated,
developers obtain the equity capital necessary to build
or rehabilitate structures for low-income housing. The
tax credit is paid to investors annually over a 10-year
period. The funds generated through syndication vary
from market to market and from year to year. A few
years ago, LIHTCs generated about 85 to 95 cents per
tax-credit dollar. Recent turmoil in the financial market
reduced demand for tax breaks. LIHTCs now bring only
about 65 to 75 cents per tax credit-dollar. However, at
the end of 2010 the market was showing signs of start-
ing to bounce back.
State housing agencies administer the LIHTC program by
reviewing tax credit applications submitted by develop-
ers and then allocating the credits. This allows each state
to set its own priorities and address its specific housing
goals. Some states consider infill, vacant property rec-
lamation, and mixed use in their allocation plans, all of
which are priorities that can make brownfield sites more
attractive to housing developers as they compete for
LIHTC allocations. As an IRS requirement, projects that
serve the lowest-income tenants and guarantee low-
rent affordability for the longest time period are given
priority. Owners must keep the rental units available to
low-income tenants for at least 30 years after completion
of the project.
Both for-profit and non-profit brownfields develop-
ers can use LIHTCs to help finance low-income hous-
ing projects. The tax credit program can be used either
to construct new buildings or to rehabilitate existing
buildings. All activities associated with the development
of housing, including cleanup and demolition, can be
claimed as expenses associated with the development of
low-income housing for the purposes of claiming the tax
credit.
As part of their credit allocation plans, some states
promote projects located in specific geographic areas or
distressed rural or urban areas. To the extent that these
policies dovetail with local brownfields priorities, they
may encourage investment in brownfields revitalization.
In addition, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of
2008 (HERA) required states to include energy-efficient
construction as an allocation priority. To the extent that
brownfields housing projects include "green" technolo-
gies and sustainable development provisions, they may
become more attractive to developers seeking LIHTCs.
Over the past 20 years, states received significant levels
of LIHTC allocations that supported the development of
many housing units. Since beginning operation, the LIHTC
program allocated $7.5 billion in federal tax credits to
support 1,761,245 low-income housing units. Almost
all new affordable multifamily construction undertaken
since 2000 received a subsidy under this program. While
some of the projects were conducted on brownfield
sites, there actually is much more potential for the devel-
opment of low-income housing on brownfield sites.
How the Program Works: The LIHTC program enables
funding for the development of affordable housing by
allowing a taxpayer to claim federal tax credits for the
costs incurred during development of affordable units
in a rental housing project. The program authorizes
state housing credit agencies to award nine-percent
tax credits for projects receiving no other federal sub-
sidy, and four-percent credits for projects financed with
tax-exempt bonds. Tax credits are available only to help
cover the cost of units within qualified projects reserved
for rental to low-income households. The tax credits are
used by developers to raise equity capital from investors
through syndication for their projects. The equity capi-
tal generated from the tax credits prior to the start of a
project lowers the debt burden on LIHTC projects, making
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
-------
it easier for owners to offer lower, more affordable rents.
Investors, such as banks, obtain a dollar-for-dollar reduc-
tion in their federal tax liability. The nine-percent and four-
percent tax credits are paid annually over a 10-year period.
To qualify, a project must have at least 20 percent of
its units rented to households whose incomes are at
or below 50 percent of the area median income, or at
least 40 percent of its units rented to households whose
incomes are at or below 60 percent of the area median
income. Although the developer may claim the tax credit
directly, investors generally receive the credits through
syndication. A syndicator acts as a broker between the
developer and investors in the project. Syndicators may
pool several projects'tax credits into one LIHTC equity
fund and offer the credits to investors who buy a piece
of the equity fund. This process spreads the risk to inves-
tors across various projects. In addition, the investors
typically become limited partners in the housing project
and have an ownership interest. The developer typically
receives a development and property management fee
plus a share in any cash flows and any gain or profits
when the property is sold. By using the investor's equity,
the developer is able to complete the project with less
debt-service financing. Thus, the rents for the building
can be reduced and serve lower-income individuals.
Advantages for Brownfields Site Redevelopers: The
LIHTC program offers several advantages to developers
Lender
considering affordable housing projects on brownfields
sites. These range from cost savings to opportunities for
leveraging funding from other programs.
• LIHTCs offer an opportunity to restore buildings that
may have historical significance to provide afford-
able housing. These properties may be located in
distressed neighborhoods that will benefit from low-
income housing options. In other cases, the proper-
ties may be in emerging neighborhoods and can lead
to affordable housing for lower-wage workers that is
located closer to their place of employment.
• LIHTCs can be combined with federal historic pres-
ervation tax credits to create a powerful investment
incentive. If the brownfield is a historical structure, it
can be a relatively easy fit with low-income housing
development.
• LIHTCs can attract new investors in redevelopment
projects. LIHTCs offer a strong incentive for investors
to consider financing a low-income housing project
on a brownfields property in instances where they
otherwise may not consider including low-income
housing in the project. This is especially true if a syn-
dicator is able to pool tax credits from several proj-
ects and create a LIHTC equity fund, which can reduce
the liability risk for individual investors.
Loan for
housing
project
reduced
Money
Syndicator
1 i
i,
! (equiiyj |
*--
Tax credits
Investors
(Corporations or
individuals)
Loan payment
reduced
Tax credits
Housing project
application
Tax credits
State Housing
Agency
Developer
(general partner of project)
Tax credits
Money (equity)
Housing project application - - - >•
Tax benefits (tax credits/deductions) •
Internal Revenue
Service
66
-------
Non-profit housing developers such as community de-
velopment corporations often find the program espe-
cially ad-vantageous because each state must set aside
at least 10 percent of its credit allocation for projects
developed by non-profits. The guaranteed return stem-
ming from the tax credit can attract private banks not
normally interested in housing or brownfields projects. A
non-profit can sell the tax credits to investors or syndica-
tors and become the principal partner in the project. The
tax-related value of these credits is of little use to non-
profits since they already are exempt from paying taxes.
Limitations: Brownfields housing projects may be
hindered by the same forces affecting the banking and
housing industries in the economic downturn. Reduced
credit, tighter bank underwriting, a reduced demand for
housing, and tighter due diligence standards all make
housing development more challenging. As indicated
above, the lower syndication value of LIHTCs (currently
well below the 2007 high of 95 cents to the dollar) limits
the viability of many potential projects.
In addition, state LIHTC allocation plans may vary in
their treatment of projects sponsored by local housing
authorities. Some states may award bonus points to such
projects. Others states may require local housing author-
ities to work with non-profit organizations to be eligible
to apply for tax credits. Stakeholders interested in infor-
mation about specific state policies should contact their
state housing authorities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
HDD's Office of Policy Development and Research main-
tains the HUD USER web site, which contains an exten-
sive database of information on projects that have used
the LIHTC.
HUD User
PO Box 23268
Washington, DC 20026-3268
Toll Free: 1-800-245-2691
h ttp://www. hud user, org/da tasets/lih tc.html
In addition, several housing non-profit and advocacy
groups track LIHTC trends and activities, including:
National Low Income Housing Coalition. Among other
useful information, their website includes a state re-
sources menu that provides information about individu-
al state programs and contacts.
National Low Income Housing Coalition
727 15th Street NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202-662-1530
h ftp://www.nl ihc. org
National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies.
This is a non-profit national association of professionals
working to finance affordable housing. Members include
city and county agencies, non-profits, and for-profit firms.
National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies
2025 M. Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
202-367-1197
http://www.na I hfa.org
SNAPSHOT-PORTLAND, OREGON
LIHTCs were among the 14 public and private funding
sources that financed the $4.4 million Abina Corner
mixed-use development in Portland that includes 48
units of affordable housing built over 12,000 square
feet of commercial space. The project, which was built
on a brownfield site, includes a child care center and
a second-floor courtyard and play lot. Albina Corner is
adjacent to bus lines and near a major light rail station.
The area also is a gateway to several inner-city neigh-
borhoods impacted by brownfields.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
Historic rehabilitation tax credits were adopted by Con-
gress to discourage unnecessary demolition of sound
older buildings and to slow the loss of businesses from
older urban areas. The tax credits encourage private
investment in the cleanup and rehabilitation of historical
properties. The National Park Service (NFS) administers
the program in partnership with the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) and State Historic Preservation Offices
(SHPOs). The historic rehabilitation tax credit is well-
suited for packaging with other economic development
grant and loan programs. In FY 2009, 91 percent of the
projects that used the historic rehabilitation tax credit
also took advantage of at least one additional incentive
or form of publicly supported financing.
Since historic rehabilitation tax credits focus on older
buildings, they are an ideal brownfields financing tool.
Their use at brownfields properties is rapidly acceler-
ating across the country. The tax credits help attract
redevelopment capital to many projects in blighted and
ignored areas not ordinarily considered for investment.
These projects encompass a wide range of properties
and project types, including offices, hotels, retail stores,
warehouses, factories, and rental housing.
How the Program Works: This incentive offers private
investors a tax credit that can be claimed for the year in
which the renovated building is put into service. There
are two separate tax credits: one for the restoration of
certified historic properties and one for the rehabilita-
tion of older but non-certified properties.
A certified historic structure is defined as a building that
is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, either
individually, as a contributing building in a National Reg-
ister historic district, or as a contributing building within
a local historic district that is certified by the U.S. Depart-
ment of the Interior. Rehabilitation of income-producing,
certified historic structures qualifies for a credit equal to
20 percent of the cost of the work. Rehabilitation work
on older, non-certified structures built before 1936 quali-
fies for a credit equal to 10 percent of the cost of the
work. Most reconstruction work is eligible for the credit.
All restored buildings and properties must be income-
producing and rehabilitated according to standards set
by the Department of the Interior and enforced by the
SHPOs.
The 20 percent tax credit is available for historic proper-
ties rehabilitated for commercial, industrial, agricultural,
or rental residential purposes, but not for properties
used exclusively as an owner's private residence. Work-
ing in conjunction with state historic preservation agen-
cies, the NPS must approve all rehabilitation projects
seeking to use the 20 percent tax credit. The rehabilita-
tion must be consistent with the historic character of
the property. Owners seeking to claim the 20 percent
tax credit must complete a detailed application process
and maintain certification throughout the rehabilitation
work. Generally, the tax credit is claimed in the year in
which the rehabilitated building is placed back into ser-
vice. The owner of the building must maintain ownership
of the building for five years after completing rehabilita-
tion or be subject to a staggered recapture of the tax
credit.
In addition, a rehabilitation project must meet several
IRS criteria to qualify for the tax credit:
• The structure must be depreciable.
• The rehabilitation must be "substantial," defined as
expenditures greater than $5,000.
• The property must be returned to an income-produc-
ing use.
• The building must be maintained as a certified his-
toric structure when returned to service.
The 10 percent tax credit is available for the rehabilita-
tion of non-certified, non-residential buildings built
before 1936. Former manufacturing facilities, office
buildings, and hotels located on a brownfield site easily
qualify for this tax credit. Projects that plan to claim the
10 percent rehabilitation tax credit must meet several
physical structure tests:
• At least 50 percent of the building's external walls
existing at the time that rehabilitation begins must
remain in place as external walls upon completion.
• At least 75 percent of the building's existing external
walls must remain in place as either external or inter-
nal walls.
• At least 75 percent of the buildings internal structural
framework must remain in place at the time the build-
ing is returned to service.
Rehabilitation tax credits can be especially attractive for
cleanup and restoration of certified historic or pre-1936
properties. An increasing number of states are adopting
their own rehabilitation tax incentive programs and are
encouraging developers to participate in both the state
and the federal program to maximize benefits.
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Project Owner (Taxpayer)
I
Supporting Roles for Utilizing the Tax Credits
State Historic Preservation
Officer (SHPO)
• Serves as point of contact for
property owners
• Provides applications, forms,
and other program information
' Provides technical assistance
• Makes certification
recommendations to NFS
National Park Service (NPS)
• Reviews all applications for
conformance
• Issues all certification decisions
• Submits copies of decisions
to IRS
• Develops and publishes
program regulations
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Publishes regulations about
which rehabilitation expenses
qualify
• Answers public inquiries
concerning legal and financial
aspects of the program
• Ensures that only parties eligible
for the tax credits utilize them
This creates a powerful incentive and provides develop-
ers with increased cash flow that can make brownfields
redevelopment projects financially viable. State pro-
grams often offer tax credits that range between 10 and
30 percent.
According to the NFS, an estimated $4.7 billion in struc-
tural rehabilitation work was carried out in 2009 at 1,044
project sites. This represents a significant amount of
activity during a tight real estate development market.
Many of these properties, including old mills, vacant
industrial buildings, and abandoned production facili-
ties, meet the criteria to be classified as brownfields. This
investment in rehabilitation led to the creation of nearly
71,000 jobs and the development of more than 13,700
housing units in 2009. Over 6,700 of the housing units
were for low- and moderate-income individuals, which
created a link between low-income housing tax credits
and rehabilitation tax credits.
Advantages for Brownfields Site Redevelopers: Brown-
fields redevelopers can choose to sell or syndicate
rehabilitation tax credits in exchange for an upfront cash
investment in the project. This can translate into more
upfront project funding if a developer prefers having a
larger cash flow infusion before cleanup and redevelop-
ment work is carried out rather than a tax credit at the
end of the project or tax year.
In addition, rehabilitation tax credits offer significant
leveraging possibilities with:
• Low-income housing tax credits;
• Industrial development bonds;
• A variety of federal development programs described
earlier in this guide, including SBA, HUD/CDBG, and
USDA rural development; and
• Numerous state and local financing, tax incentive,
and bond programs.
Limitations: While historic rehabilitation tax credits can
be beneficial and flexible sources of funding, taking
advantage of these credits can sometimes be difficult.
Brownfields developers contemplating old or historic
sites for new uses need to consider the following:
• Once a building is placed into service, tax credits are
not officially awarded until the project is reviewed
and approved by the SHPO. This can take time and
affect project cash flow.
• Complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act,
pursuing LEED certification, installing energy efficient
windows, and addressing environmental consider-
ations such as lead paint and asbestos may impact
a building's historic nature and complicate project
certification. Fortunately, more SHPOs are gaining an
understanding of the brownfields process and what
needs to be done to achieve appropriate cleanups.
In addition, some of the new remediation and recon-
struction techniques are proving to be less disruptive
to a structure's historic integrity.
• Nonrefundable credits, such as the rehabilitation
tax credit, may not be used to reduce the alternative
minimum tax. If a taxpayer is not eligible for the reha-
bilitation tax credit because of the alternative mini-
mum tax, the credit can be carried back or forward.
• To claim any credit, the investment must exceed the
greater of $5,000 or the adjusted basis of the build-
ing and its structural components. This can require a
large rehabilitation expenditure for a big project.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide MM
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In addition, tax credit recapture scenarios need to be
avoided if the full value of the credit is to be realized.
The tax credits can be subject to recapture (at 20 per-
cent per year) if the property is disposed of before five
years have passed since the credit was granted or if
the building is converted to tax-exempt use within five
years of being put back into service.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
National Park Service
Heritage Preservation Services
1201 Eye St., NW (2255)
Washington, DC 20005
202-513-7270
http://www.cr.nps.qou/hps/tps/tax
The National Park Service's Web site provides access to
detailed tax incentive information, regulations, applica-
tions, and rehabilitation standards. A general overview
of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives can be
found at http://www.nps.gov/historv/hps/tps/tax/down-
load/HPTI brochure.pdf.
SNAPSHOT-BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Federal and state historic tax credits were important
incentives that allowed developers of the HF MillerTin
Can and Box Company site in Baltimore to transform
a decaying 80,000 square foot manufacturing facil-
ity next to a disadvantaged neighborhood into Miller
Court, a structure that now supports non-profits and
provides affordable housing for Baltimore teachers.
The property's designation as a historic site allowed the
developers to obtain $5.5 million in federal and state
historic preservation tax benefits and a $6 million New
Market Tax Credit, all of which helped make the $20
million project possible.
70
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Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
As communities become more concerned about the
economic and environmental impacts of the use of fossil
fuels, renewable energy technologies are expected to
play a greater role in meeting future electricity demand.
Americans used renewable energy sources, including
water (hydroelectric), wood, biofuels, wind, organic
waste, geothermal, and solar, to meet about eight per-
cent of total energy needs and 10 percent of electricity
generation needs in 2009. The U.S. Energy Information
Administration projects that renewable-generated elec-
tricity will account for 17 percent of total U.S. electricity
generation in 2035. This growth will be driven mainly by
the extension of federal tax credits, new loan and grant
programs, and state requirements.
Identifying and using land located in areas that are
amenable to high-quality renewable energy alterna-
tives will be an essential component to developing new
renewable energy sources. EPA estimates that there are
approximately 490,000 sites and almost 15 million acres
of potentially contaminated properties across the United
States that are tracked by EPA. This estimate includes Su-
perfund sites, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) sites, abandoned mine lands, and some brown-
fields. Cleanup goals are achieved and controls put in
place to ensure long-term protection for more than
917,000 acres of formerly contaminated lands. Through
coordination and partnerships among federal, state,
tribal and other government agencies, utilities, com-
munities, and the private sector, many new renewable
energy facilities may be developed on many remaining
potentially contaminated properties.
Combining energy incentives with contaminated land
cleanup incentives can allow investors and commu-
nities to create economically viable, non-polluting,
renewable-energy redevelopment projects on brown-
fields, particularly sites where local economic conditions
prohibit traditional reuse of the site. Recently enacted
statutes, including the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the
Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 (EIEA),
and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA), created, expanded, or extended incentive
programs such as tax incentives, loans, grants, and loan
guarantees to encourage renewable energy generation
and energy efficiency projects. This section contains
information about the federal tax incentives that are
available to potential developers considering the siting
of renewable energy generation and energy efficiency
projects on brownfields.
HOW THE PROGRAMS WORK:
Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax
Deduction
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established a tax deduc-
tion for energy-efficient commercial buildings placed
in service through the end of 2007. This deduction was
subsequently extended through 2008, and then again
through 2013. A tax deduction of $1.80 per square foot
is available to owners of new or existing buildings who
install lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, or other sys-
tems that reduce the building's total energy and power
cost by 50 percent or more in comparison to a building
meeting certain minimum requirements. Deductions of
$0.60 per square foot are available to owners of build-
ings for which energy-efficiency measures are installed
but total energy and power cost savings from these
improvements do not meet the 50 percent threshold.
The deductions are available primarily to building own-
ers. Deductions are taken in the year when construction
is completed. Energy savings must be calculated using
qualified computer software approved by the IRS. The
IRS released interim guidance in June 2006 to enable
taxpayers to obtain a certification that a property satis-
fies the energy efficiency requirements contained in the
statute. IRS Notice 2008-14 (http://www.irs.gov/irb/2008-
14 IRB/arl'2.html] was issued in March of 2008 to fur-
ther clarify the rules. DOE's National Renewable Energy
Laboratory published a report (http://www.nrel.gov/docs/
fv07osti/40467.pdf) that provides guidelines for the mod-
eling and inspection of energy savings required by the
statute. DOE also compiled a list of qualified computer
software for calculating commercial building energy and
power cost savings (http://www 1.eere.energv.gov/build-
ings/gualified software.html}.
Business Energy Investment Tax Credit
The business energy federal investment tax credit
provides incentives for the development and deploy-
ment of renewable energy technologies. Prior to 2005,
a 10 percent federal investment tax credit was available
to businesses to offset capital expenditures for solar or
geothermal energy property. The federal Energy Policy
Act of 2005 expanded the tax credit to include fuel cells,
microturbines, and hybrid solar lighting systems and
raised the tax credit for solar to 30 percent. The tax cred-
its were expanded significantly by EIEA and ARRA. Cur-
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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rent tax credits are briefly summarized below for eligible
technologies placed in service before the end of 2016.
• Solar. In general, the tax credit is equal to 30 percent
of expenditures, with no maximum credit, for eli-
gible systems. Eligible solar energy property includes
equipment that uses solar energy to generate elec-
tricity, heat or cool a structure, heat water for use in a
structure, provide solar process heat, and illuminate
the inside of a structure using fiber-optic distributed
sunlight. Passive solar systems and solar pool-heating
systems are not eligible.
• Fuel Cells. The tax credit is equal to 30 percent of
expenditures, with no maximum credit. However, the
credit for fuel cells is capped at $1,500 per 0.5 kilo-
watt of capacity. Eligible property includes fuel cells
with a minimum capacity of 0.5 kilowatts that have
an electricity-only generation efficiency of 30 percent
or higher.
• Small Wind Turbines. The tax credit is equal to 30
percent of expenditures, with no maximum credit.
Eligible small wind property includes wind turbines
up to 100 kilowatts in capacity.
• Geothermal Systems. The tax credit is equal to 10
percent of expenditures, with no maximum credit
limit stated. Eligible geothermal energy property
includes geothermal heat pumps and equipment
used to produce power from a geothermal deposit.
The credit for geothermal energy property, exclud-
ing geothermal heat pumps, has no stated expiration
date.
• Microturbines. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent
of expenditures, with no maximum credit limit stated.
The credit for microturbines is capped at $200 per
kilowatt of capacity. Eligible property includes micro-
turbines up to two megawatts in capacity that have
an electricity-only generation efficiency of 26 percent
or higher.
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP). CHP systems, also
known as cogeneration, recover heat from waste
to generate electrical and/or mechanical power for
heating, cooling, dehumidification, and other uses.
The credit is equal to 10 percent of expenditures,
with no maximum limit stated. Eligible CHP property
generally includes systems up to 50 megawatts in
capacity that exceed 60 percent energy efficiency.
The efficiency requirement does not apply to CHP
systems that use biomass for at least 90 percent of
the system's energy source.
In general, the taxpayer receiving the tax credit must
be the original user or constructor of the building. The
energy property must be operational in the year in which
the credit is first taken. EIEA allows utilities to use the
credits and allows taxpayers to take the credit against
the alternative minimum tax (AMT), subject to certain
limitations. ARRA repealed a previous restriction on the
use of the credit for eligible projects also supported by
"subsidized energy financing."
ARRA allows taxpayers eligible for the business energy
investment tax credit to apply for and receive a non-
competitive grant from the U.S. Treasury Department
in lieu of taking the tax credit for new installations. The
maximum amount of the grant is limited to 30 percent
or 10 percent of the eligible costs, depending on the
type of project. The grant is only available to systems
where construction begins prior to the end of 2011. Ap-
plications for the grant are available on the U.S. Depart-
ment of Treasury's website (h ttp://www. treas.gov/recov-
erv/1603.shtml}.
Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit
The renewable electricity production tax credit reduces
the federal income taxes of qualified tax-paying owners
of renewable energy projects based on the electrical out-
put, measured in kilowatt-hours, of grid-connected re-
newable energy facilities. This type of credit differs from
an investment tax credit, which reduces federal income
taxes based on capital investment in renewable energy
projects. Originally enacted in 1992, the production tax
credit was renewed and expanded numerous times, most
recently in October 2008 and in February 2009.
The tax credit amount is 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in
1993 dollars (now equal to 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour
indexed for inflation) for some technologies, and half of
that amount for others. The rules governing the pro-
duction tax credit vary by resource and facility type.
Renewable technologies that qualify for the production
tax credit include wind energy, closed-loop biomass,
open-loop biomass, geothermal energy, landfill gas
production, municipal solid waste combustion, quali-
fied hydroelectric energy, and marine and hydrokinetic
(150 kilowatt or larger) energy. The deadline for placing
systems in service and qualifying for the tax credit is the
end of 2013, except for wind projects, which must be
placed in service by at the end of 2012. The duration of
the credit is generally 10 years after the date the facil-
ity is placed in service, with some exceptions. The tax
credit is reduced for projects that receive other federal
tax credits, grants, tax-exempt financing, or subsidized
energy financing.
ARRA allows taxpayers eligible for the production tax
credit the alternatives of taking the business energy
investment tax credit (described above) or receiving a
-------
grant from the U.S. Treasury Department for new instal-
lations. The grant is only available to systems where con-
struction begins prior to the end of 2011. Applications
for the grant are available on the U.S. Department of
Treasury's website (http://www.treas.gov/recoverv/1603.
shtml}.
Renewable Energy Bonus Depreciation
Deduction
Businesses typically are allowed to deduct the costs
of capital expenditures over time according to various
depreciation schedules. Under the IRS's modified accel-
erated cost recovery system (MACRS), certain renewable
energy technologies are classified as five-year property,
which means that the cost of the equipment can be de-
preciated for federal income tax purposes over a period
of five years, as determined by the IRS's depreciation
schedule. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of
2008 included a 50 percent "bonus" depreciation provi-
sion for eligible renewable energy systems that allows
taxpayers to deduct 50 percent of the cost of the proper-
ty in the year in which it was placed in service, with the
remaining 50 percent depreciated over the remaining
MACRS depreciation schedule.
Various statutes enacted over the past few years amended
the bonus depreciation. Eligible property currently
includes a variety of solar-electric and solar-thermal
technologies, fuel cells and microturbines, geothermal
electric, direct-use geothermal and geothermal heat
pumps, wind energy, and CHP. The first-year 50 percent
deduction is extended through 2012. A first-year 100
percent deduction may be taken for certain property
placed in service after September 8, 2010, and before
January 1,2012.
The bonus depreciation rules do not override the de-
preciation limit applicable to projects qualifying for the
business energy investment tax credit. If a taxpayer takes
advantage of the business energy investment tax credit,
the amount of the bonus depreciation will be reduced.
For more information on the federal MACRS, see IRS
Publication 946 (http://www.irs.gov/publications/p946/
index.html}.
Renewable Energy Production Incentive
Established by the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992, the
federal Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI)
provides incentive payments for electricity generated
and sold by new qualifying renewable energy facilities
owned and operated by government and non-profit en-
tities. Qualifying systems are eligible for annual incentive
payments of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in 1993 dollars
(now 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour indexed for inflation)
for the first 10-year period of their operation, subject to
the availability of annual appropriations in each federal
fiscal year of operation. REPI is designed to complement
the federal renewable electricity production tax credit,
which is available only to businesses that pay federal
corporate taxes.
Qualifying systems must generate electricity using solar,
wind, certain geothermal, certain biomass, landfill gas,
livestock methane, or ocean resources (including tidal,
wave, current, and thermal). An eligible facility must
be operational before October 1, 2016. The production
payment applies only to the electricity sold to another
entity. Eligible electric production facilities include not-
for-profit electrical cooperatives, public utilities, state
governments and their political subdivisions, U.S. terri-
tories, the District of Columbia, and Indian tribal govern-
ments. Appropriations are authorized through fiscal year
2026. Program funding is determined each year as part
of DOE's budget process, therefore, the full amount of
incentive payments may not be available. Funds will be
awarded on a pro rata basis, if necessary. More informa-
tion, and details about the application procedures, are
provided on DOE's REPI website (http://appsl.eere.enemv.
gov/repi/).
Residential Energy Conservation Subsidy
Exclusion
Public utilities may offer energy conservation subsidies
to corporations and homeowners to encourage instal-
lation of "energy conservation measures" that reduce
consumption of electricity or natural gas or improve the
management of energy demand. The subsidies may be
a direct payment of cash or an indirect payment in the
form of credits or reduced rates. According to Section
136 of the U.S. Code, energy conservation subsidies
provided to customers by public utilities, either directly
or indirectly, are non-taxable. Eligible dwelling units
include houses, apartments, condominiums, mobile
homes, and similar properties. This exclusion may not
apply to electricity-generating systems if a taxpayer
claims federal tax credits or deductions for the energy
conservation property (a taxpayer may not claim a tax
credit for an expense that the taxpayer ultimately did
not pay). The exclusion also may not apply for residential
solar-thermal projects and solar-electric systems. Tax-
payers considering using this provision for a renewable
energy system should discuss the details of the project
with a tax professional.
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Energy-Efficient New Homes Tax Credit for
Home Builders
The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 established tax
credits of up to $2,000 for builders of all new energy-
efficient homes, including manufactured homes. Initially
scheduled to expire at the end of 2007, the tax credit
was extended several times and is now effective through
the end of 2011. Site-built homes qualify for a $2,000
credit if they are certified to reduce heating and cool-
ing energy consumption by 50 percent relative to the
International Energy Conservation Code standard, meet
minimum efficiency standards established by DOE, and
building envelope improvements account for at least
one-fifth of the reduction in energy consumption. IRS No-
tice 2006-27 (http://www.irs.gov/irb/2006-11 IRB/arl2.html]
provides guidance for this credit. Manufactured homes
must also conform to Federal Manufactured Home
Construction and Safety Standards to qualify for a $2,000
credit. Manufactured homes qualify for a $1,000 credit
if they reduce energy consumption by 30 percent and
building envelope component improvements account
for at least one-third of the reduction in energy con-
sumption. Alternatively, manufactured homes qualify if
they meet Energy Star Labeled Homes requirements. IRS
Notice 2006-28 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-06-28.
pdf) provides guidance for the credit for building ener-
gy-efficient manufactured homes.
Advantages for Brownfields Site Redevelopers:
As with the tax credits described in earlier sections,
integrating energy tax incentives into a project's financ-
ing strategy can enhance project cash flow by offsetting
cleanup and construction costs. Using the tax incentives
can provide brownfields developers an added income
boost. Energy projects can be ideal at brownfields for
which there is insufficient market interest to support
more traditional economic redevelopment projects.
These properties may have been idle for years and can
be purchased relatively inexpensively.
Limitations:
The descriptions of these incentives are simplified ver-
sions of those contained in the tax code, which often
contains additional caveats, restrictions, and modifica-
tions. Those interested in these incentives should re-
view the relevant sections of the tax code in detail and
consult with a tax professional prior to making business
decisions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
There are many sources of additional information on re-
newable energy and energy efficiency. Some of the more
comprehensive sources include:
• EPA's website on RE-Powering America's Land, http://
www.epa.gov/oswercpa/, which includes maps of the
renewable energy potential of current and formerly
contaminated land and mine sites and fact sheets de-
scribing state incentives for renewable energy devel-
opment.
• DOE's DSIRE website, http://www.dsireusa.org/, is a
comprehensive source of information on state, local,
utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable
energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and
funded by DOE, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the
N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy
Council and is updated frequently.
• EPA established the Combined Heat and Power
Partnership in 2001 to encourage cost-effective CHP
projects by fostering cooperative relationships with
the CHP industry, state and local governments, and
other stakeholders. The CHP Partnership website is at
http://www.eDa. aov/chp/.
SNAPSHOT-EUGENE, OREGON
SeQuential Biofuels is the first all-biofuels filling
station in Oregon. The station and adjacent natural
foods convenience store were built on a 0.7-acre
petroleum brownfield in Eugene. The design for
the service station and retail center incorporated
many sustainable development elements, such as
solar power, passive solar heating, bioswales, and
a green roof. The project team assembled a cre-
ative financing package that included $250,000 in
business energy tax credits that helped make the
energy efficiency and alternative fuel components
of the project possible. The project was recognized
for energy innovation with a special Phoenix Award
in 2007.
74
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State Finance Support
Many states adopted their own financing programs and
approaches to enable integration of traditional state
development programs into the brownfields financing
mix. Such programs include tax incentives and credits,
targeted financial assistance, as well as direct brown-
fields financing.
Although many states are facing difficult budget choices
that may reduce funding or suspend some programs due
to the recent economic downturn, all states have ongo-
ing economic development, environmental, transporta-
tion, infrastructure, and other programs and incentives
that can contribute to brownfields revitalization. States
can help communities channel resources and incentives
toward community development, job creation, and simi-
lar activities to address brownfields cleanup and redevel-
opment. Increasingly, effective approaches involve link-
ing federal and state development programs to provide
the continuum of financing needed to address brown-
fields challenges, from assessment and cleanup to rede-
velopment and reuse. (For more information on financ-
ing brownfields redevelopment projects, see Financing
Brownfields: State Program Highlights, at http://epa.gov/
brownfields/partners/finan brownfields epa print.pdf).
Key types of state programs are described below.
State Tax Credits, Abatements, and Other
Incentives
Tax-based programs help a brownfield project's cash
flow by allowing resources normally spent to pay taxes
to be used for site assessment or cleanup. This can help
site redevelopers find financing to address contaminated
properties. The extra cash flow resulting from a tax break
also can improve a project's appeal to lenders. State and
federal tax incentives historically are used to channel
investment capital into economic development of dis-
tressed areas, such as "enterprise zones," and to promote
job creation, housing development, or other desired
community and social outcomes. Targeting brownfields
is a natural extension of this economic incentive. Most
brownfield-related tax incentives aim to offset cleanup
costs or provide a buffer against increases in property
values that would raise tax assessments before the site
preparation costs are paid off. About half of the states
offer some type of tax incentive, including:
• Deferral of increased property taxes (North Carolina,
Texas, and Connecticut);
• Remediation tax credits (Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin);
• Property tax abatements for prospective purchasers
taking sites through a state voluntary cleanup pro-
gram (Kentucky);
• Cancellation of back taxes (Wisconsin);
• Rebates of sales taxes to offset cleanup costs (New
Jersey);
• Tax incentive "menu" to enhance reuser financial flex-
ibility (Missouri);
• Job creation and affordable housing tax incentive
"bonuses" (Florida); and
• Business tax offset (Michigan).
Targeted Financial Assistance Programs
Gaps in the availability of capital, especially for financ-
ing site cleanup and preparation, remain the biggest
barrier to brownfields reuse. Many states address this
by establishing financing incentives—either through
direct financing tools, such as loans or grants, or indirect
financing assistance, such as project subsidies. These
programs are intended to meet one of several objec-
tives. They can be targeted to help finance specific parts
of the project, such as site preparation; to increase the
lender's comfort by offering guarantees to limit the risk
of potential losses; or to ease the borrower's cash flow
by filling certain capital needs or offsetting the upfront
costs of site cleanup. Twenty-three states offer some sort
of targeted brownfields financial assistance, including:
• Tax increment financing (TIF) guarantee program,
which brings additional comfort to TIF-backed efforts
at brownfield sites (Pennsylvania);
• Forgivable remediation loans, recently expanded to
petroleum sites (Indiana);
• Low-interest loans and loan guarantees for a range of
site activities including contractor/tax lien purchases
(Florida);
• Insurance subsidies (Massachusetts and Wisconsin);
• Brownfield redevelopment authorities (Michigan);
• Focus on agricultural-related contaminants (Kansas);
and
• Brownfield redevelopment loan program (Illinois).
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
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Direct Brown fields Financing
About 15 states have programs to provide direct brown-
fields financing, usually in locations or situations where
the private sector may be reluctant to provide funds.
Although several of these programs have been signifi-
cantly cut or placed on hold as states grapple with bud-
get shortfalls, they are illustrative of the types of support
that states deem vital to trigger brownfield revitalization:
• Rural loan fund for small cities backed by Community
Development Block Grants (Washington);
• Targeted bond issue proceeds (Ohio, through the
Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund);
• Low-interest cleanup loans (Delaware, Indiana, and
Wisconsin);
• Remediation grant funds (New Jersey and Minnesota);
• State revolving loan or redevelopment funds (Indiana,
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts);
• Capital grants for "green" components of redevelop-
ment projects (Pennsylvania); and
• Matching grants to leverage federal programs with
matching requirements (Indiana).
Facilitating Brownfield Financing
As revenues decline, more states explore initiatives that
expedite the financing process, attract other program
resources, and save money in the long run. At least a
dozen states have some type of "low-cost/no-cost" initia-
tive in place to facilitate financing with minimal cash
outlays, using tools such as cancellation of delinquent
taxes for new purchasers as part of an agreement to
clean up contaminated property. State budget crises
have increased the focus on these approaches:
• Linking site owners to state voluntary cleanup pro-
grams (VCPs) and brownfields programs that can
clarify or provide relief from liability and facilitate the
use of environmental insurance.
• Educating site owners about ways in which state
VCPs and brownfields programs can facilitate access
to other financing tools, such as use of the federal
brownfields tax expensing incentive.
• Helping site owners implement institutional controls,
engineering controls, or innovative technologies in
ways that allow cleanup and redevelopment to take
place concurrently rather than sequentially, saving
time and money.
Adapting Traditional Development Pro-
grams to Meet Needs of Brownfield Rede-
velopment
As with federal programs, many state programs were
designed, and their rules defined, long before brown-
fields concerns surfaced. Many states are exploring ways
to adapt traditional community and economic devel-
opment financing programs to meet brownfield reuse
needs by expanding eligibility criteria and program
goals to include environmental assessment, cleanup, and
site preparation. In many states, these involve a com-
bination of incentives that may include loan programs;
loan guarantees; tax credits, abatements, and other in-
centives; state enterprise zones; state clean water revolv-
ing loan funds; state transportation funding allocations;
and financing enhancements linked to state VCPs.
Loan Programs: Nearly every state offers economic
development loans that can provide excellent leverage
if properly coordinated with, and targeted to, the special
financing needs of brownfields. Loans are made directly
to or through development agencies, authorities, or
corporations. These programs are capitalized from a
variety of sources, including general appropriations, fee
collections, or repayments from previous federal or state
project loans.
Illinois offers a Brownfield Redevelopment Loan Program
that provides low-interest loans to local governments
and private parties for site assessment, remediation, and
demolition costs. This is intended to complement the
state's existing grant program, which gives cities fixed-
rate loans to pay for site assessments and the prepara-
tion of cleanup plans. The Mississippi River town of Rock
Island used these programs, in conjunction with federal
transportation funds, to transform a derelict riverfront
manufacturing site into a new mixed-use commercial
and residential development. The state programs helped
with site preparation and construction of the infrastruc-
ture needed to serve the new uses. Kansas City tapped
into Missouri state business development programs to
clean up and transform the former Kansas City Terminal
Railway yard into unique office space, creating 600 new
jobs.
Loan Guarantees: Many states offer loan guarantees to
minimize the risks that make financial institutions hesi-
tant to lend to projects on brownfield properties. Small
businesses, start-ups, and new technology ventures typi-
cally are viewed by traditional lenders as especially risky
and often are provided for in state loan guarantee pro-
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grams. While relatively few loan guarantees are provided
specifically to address environmental risks, loan guaran-
tees for this purpose fall within the scope of many states'
existing programs. In particular, loan guarantees can help
attract private investments at sites where federal infra-
structure or site improvement programs are involved. To
this end, Florida has added a loan guarantee program to
its brownfields toolbox. Florida's program provides five
years of guarantees or loan-loss reserves for primary-
lender loans made to redevelopment projects in defined
brownfields areas.
Tax Credits, Abatements, and Other Incentives: State
incentives can help a project's cash flow, and many
states link their incentives programs to federal program
incentives. The incentives can attract investment capital
and promote economic development in economically
distressed areas, including those with brownfields.
Some states, such as Wisconsin, successfully linked state
tax incentives (such as forgiveness of back taxes) with
federal tax credits. At the Sherman Park project in Mil-
waukee, forgiveness of nine years of back taxes attracted
a small community developer to an abandoned but his-
torically significant gas station dating back to the 1930s.
The developer also used federal historic rehabilitation
tax credits and city business development loan funds to
redevelop the site.
In Rhode Island, state historic preservation tax credits
are linked with federal incentives to create a powerful
inducement to renovate historic, and often abandoned,
brownfield sites. A considerable number of residential
rental units were developed using this combined incen-
tive package, which can recover as much as 40 percent
of renovation costs.
In Colorado, tax credits were established to encourage
smaller site cleanups. The state program provides a 50
percent tax credit against the first $100,000 of cleanup
costs, 30 percent of the second $100,000, and 20 percent
of the next $100,000.
State Enterprise Zones: More than 30 states currently
administer their own enterprise zone programs that
offer tax, training, and other development incentives to
encourage investment and job creation in economically
distressed areas. Nationwide, states have designated
more than 1,400 areas as enterprise zones. Most state
enterprise zone programs provide some blend of fiscal
incentives, such as tax credits, tax abatements, and access
to low-cost development capital, and these could be
targeted to brownfield projects. A brownfields developer
working to create a shopping complex in Elizabeth,
New Jersey, for example, was able to market a former
dump site because of the reduced sales tax incentive
(only three percent) available to commercial operations
located within the state-designated enterprise zone.
State Clean Water Revolving Loan Funds: The U.S. EPA
provides annual funding to each state to capitalize its
Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds (CWSRLFs). This
funding has considerable potential at brownfields where
water quality is an issue. In particular, a brownfield
cleanup to correct or prevent water quality problems
can be considered eligible for CWSRIF funds if it focuses
on abatement of polluted runoff, control of storm water
runoff, correction of groundwater contamination, or
remediation of petroleum contamination. States can use
their CWSRLFs to make low-interest or no-interest loans
for up to 20 years to cover the costs of brownfields-
related activities such as excavation and disposal of
underground storage tanks; capping of wells; excavation,
removal, and disposal of contaminated soil or sediment;
or environmental site assessments.
EPA allows communities, municipalities, individuals, citizen
groups, and nonprofit organizations to apply for loans
from the CWSRIFs. Each state determines which entities
may use its revolving loan fund resources. Usually, loans
are repaid through developer fees; recreational fees;
dedicated portions of state, county, or local government
taxes; storm water management fees; or wastewater user
charges. Only a few states, notably New York, New Mexico,
and Ohio, encourage the use of these resources for brown-
fields-related projects. Ohio is recognized as the national
leader in this regard. In Cleveland, the Grant Realty Com-
pany used a clean water revolving loan from Cuyahoga
County to clean contaminated groundwater and soil at a
20-acre industrial site and prepare the site for commercial
use. Repayment is coming from the income stream of a
tank-cleaning operation located on the site, with a person-
al loan guarantee and second mortgage as collateral.
State Transportation Funding Allocations: Many states
are encouraging communities to use transportation funds
for brownfields. As a growing list of examples shows, rede-
velopment projects often can be conducted in conjunction
with transportation-related projects. Some brownfields
are old transportation facilities in need of upgrading. The
City of Portland, Oregon, reused brownfields as part of its
Macadam District and Union Station area neighborhood
redevelopments. In some cases, brownfields redevelop-
ment projects may need transportation infrastructure
improvements to make the project more marketable,
typically by expanding access for vehicles, freight, or
passengers. Buffalo, New York, did this with its William
Gaiter Parkway project, as has Old Town, Maine, with its
waterfront redevelopment initiative. Brownfield cleanups
Brownfields Federal Programs Guide WM
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increasingly are incorporating transportation projects as
part of the site cleanup by using roads, parking lots, and
other transportation structures as caps to limit exposures
to subsurface contamination. Towns from Emeryville,
California, to Bridgeport, Connecticut, used transportation
funding for these purposes.
Financing Enhancements Linked to State VCPs: Every
state now has a voluntary cleanup program (VCP). Some
VCPs significantly expanded and improved since passage of
the Brownfields Law, which provided funding for states
to develop and enhance such programs. State VCPs make
the cleanup process more predictable and bring more
certainty to brownfields reuse by offering some liability
relief. This increased level of certainty in brownfields
transactions is recognized in the private financing and
real estate markets. State VCPs are continuing to evolve
and are expediting the financing process by attracting
seed resources or offering incentives to leverage private
investment in brownfields projects. Milwaukee, Cincin-
nati, and other cities link local incentives to redevelop-
ment at sites that complete the state VCP process. In
addition, the federal brownfield tax expensing incentive
is available only to site owners whose properties are
certified as a brownfield by a state VCP or designated
state agency.
State Incentives for Renewable Energy Development:
EPA encourages renewable energy development on cur-
rent and formerly contaminated land and mine sites. In
addition to federal tax incentives for energy efficiency
and renewable energy development (which are de-
scribed in the previous section), individual states offer
a variety of incentives for renewable energy generation
and contaminated land redevelopment.
EPA's website on RE-Powering America's Land, http://
www.epa.gov/oswercpa/ includes maps of the renewable
energy potential of current and formerly contaminated
land and mine sites and fact sheets that provide infor-
mation for each state on available funding (grants, loans,
bonds, etc.), tax incentives (abatements, deductions,
credits, etc.), technical assistance, and other incentives
offered at the state level. There also is information on
renewable portfolio standards, net metering, public
benefits funds, electricity generation by energy source,
limitations on liability, estimated number of contaminat-
ed properties, and points of contact for each state.
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Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of and
Emergency Response
(5 TOST)
EPA56Q-K-11-002
April 2011
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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