BR.OWNFIELP5
BROWNFIELDS
WHAT'S NEW
May, 2011
In This Issue
Page 1
°=> Brownfields Success - South Worcester, MA
Page 2
°=> All Things Smart Growth
•=> ATSDR Grant Opportunity
<=> EPA PREPARED Workbook
Page 3
°=> Annual Soils, Sediments, Water, and Energy
Conference 2011 - UMASS Amherst
°=> Renewable Power for Rural Communities
>=> Sustainable Remediation Conference 2011 - UMass
Amherst
>=> Brownfields Tax Incentives News
Page 4
°=> Brownfields Federal Program Guide
•=> ACRES Update Release
°=> National Park Service Assistance Program
Page 5
•=> EPA What's New Contact Info
Brownfields Success -
South Worcester
Neighborhood Improvement
Project
On May 19 EPA Project Officer Dorrie Paar, and
Tom Barrasso attended the grand opening of the
140 Grand Street redevelopment project.
(View of the building front, including Bocce Court to
the right.)
The project is a partnership between the non-profit
(SWNIC) organization and a for profit developer
(Mechanic Guild, LLC). The site contained multiple
abandoned warehouses and SWNIC, as part of its
neighborhood improvement plan for South
Worcester, saw the possibility of affordable housing
in a blighted area as key to improving quality of life
and the neighborhood. These particular properties
were chosen for affordable housing units because of
their proximity to the South Worcester Industrial Park
(SWIP). This location will help provide affordable
"work force" housing for the SWIP.
(Two-bedroom interior- Living Room)
An EPA Targeted Brownfields Assessment grant
awarded in 2009 provided SWNIC with the
resources to perform environmental assessments
that helped to characterize areas of contamination
and prepare for cleanup. The cleanup included the
removal of building debris and asbestos.
(Original site conditions)
Project Highlights
The first phase of this project created 25 affordable
rental units that feature energy saving features such
as solar hot water heating, motion-activated lighting,
exhaust air energy recovery systems and energy
star compliant appliances.
• Plantings will introduce trees especially bred for
resistance to the Asian Long Horn Beetle, an insect
responsible for prior infestations.
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• The second phase of the project will create a
condominium complex with new garden space
and/or a childcare facility.
Speaking at the event was EPA Brownfields Section
Chief Carol Tucker who said that "SWNIC had the
Vision, Persistence, and Patience to make this
happen."
(Two-bedroom interior- Kitchen)
For more information, contact Dorrie Paar:
(617)918-1432
Paar.dorrie@epa.gov
All Things Smart Growth
The Smart Growth Network is regarded as one of
the premier information sources on all things smart
growth. EPA funds their website through a
competitively awarded cooperative agreement with
the National Center for Appropriate Technology
(NCAT). For a user-friendly smart growth web
experience, please visit:
www.smartgrowth.org.
ATSDR Grant Opportunity-
Community Health Projects
Related to Contamination at Land
Reuse and Brownfield Sites
The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to
provide an opportunity for eligible applicants to
assess exposure to contaminants and to advance
public health actions to protect people at Land
Reuse/Brownfield Sites. This is an applied public
health project focused on implementing public health
actions to protect the health of vulnerable or
susceptible subpopulations which have exposure or
potentially exposure risk to environmental
contaminants associated with the Land
Reuse/Brownfield sites.
. Follow this link for more information:
http://www.qrants.qov/search/search. do:isessionid=QQ5F
Nh2FmxnxJGsrNGH8Myv6191 MZLk5wKtkCJ5qrTkDQ6h
QFFVh! 1844419985?oppld=89813&mode=VIEW
Deadline for applications is June 27, 2011
Is your municipality considering the
reuse of contaminated property?
To assist states, counties, tribes and quasi-
governmental redevelopment entities with this
process, EPA New England and its contractors for
local governments developed the
PREPARED Workbook.
PREPARED is a risk management framework for
evaluating various actions that a local government
might take to bring about a desired reuse at
contaminated properties.
These actions may include property acquisition and
non-acquisition approaches that include leasing,
transferring tax liens, collaborative partnerships with
property owners, and other incentives.
PREPARED provides worksheets to help document
and guide the evaluation process.
The PREPARED Workbook is further described and
available for free download
At: www.epa.gov/region1/brownfields/prepared.
EPA New England Contacts:
John Podgurski
Land Revitalization Coordinator
(617)918-1296
podgurski.john@epa.gov
Rona Gregory
Senior Assistant Regional Counsel
(617)918-1096
gregory.rona@epa.gov
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Annual International Conference on Soils,
„,!confc,^ Sediments, Water, and Energy
/ \ October 17-20, 2011
£ Contaminated . .
Amherst, MA
j s~**SoiLt*
I ... The Annual Conference on Soils,
\ Sediments L
w t Sediments, Water and Energy, at
the University of Massachusetts
Amherst will be held October 17 - 20, 2011. This
conference attracts 700-800 attendees annually
representing academia and a wide variety of
environmental, regulatory, and engineering
professionals.
Renewable Power Opportunities
for Rural Communities -
USDA Report
The report issued by the USDA is designed to
assist local and state government leaders, rural
farmers and business operators, rural-based
utilities and rural residents. The focus is on
rural economic development through the use of
renewable power, and how it is generated and
distributed. The report discusses a rural utility's
opportunities for investing in renewable
electricity generation capacity.
A complete copy of the report can be accessed
atwww.usda.gov/oce/reports/energy/index.htm.
Marvin Duncan, a Senior Economist in OEPNU,
is the primary USDA contact.
(202)401-0532
mduncan@oce.usda.gov.
SUSTAINABLE REMEDIATION 2O1 1
STATE OF THE PRACTICE
JUNE 1-1, 2011
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
AMHERST
GREEN CHEMISTRY- HUMAN HEALTH • ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE
Sustainable Remediation 2011 Conference
June 1-3, 2011 - I/Mass, Amherst
The Sustainable Remediation 2011: State of the
Practice international conference will address the
interrelated themes of green chemistry, human
health, and environmental response. Session
presentations by scientists, practitioners, and
regulators will feature new research, field
applications, and lessons learned. The three-day
conference will kick off with a Plenary Session with
keynote presentations from leading researchers and
regulatory experts who will provide an overview of
the sustainable remediation landscape and address
research needs, policy and regulatory challenges
moving forward. The conference will feature 24
platform sessions, poster presentations including a
student poster competition, exhibits, and ample
opportunities for networking.
• Conference Website
• Conference Program
• Exhibitor Information
• Directions & Lodging
Brownfields Tax Incentives News
In December 2010, the Brownfields Tax Incentive
was extended retroactively through December 31,
2011. In addition to updating the Brownfields Tax
Incentive fact sheet, guidelines, and FAQ
information on our website, we also recently posted
a new publication, "A Guide to Federal Tax
Incentives for Brownfields Redevelopment." The
new publication highlights the various federal tax
incentives available for Brownfields redevelopment
including the Brownfields Tax Incentive.
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/tax/index.htm
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Brownfields Federal
Program Guide
Updated 2011 Edition available via the
web:
www.epa.gov/brownfields/partners/2011 fpq.pdf
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, availability,
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.
EPA Assessment, Cleanup and
Redevelopment Exchange System
(ACRES) Update -
For all active EPA Brownfields Grantees: A new
version of ACRES (v. 4.00.042) was released
Wednesday, May 18, 2011.
Changes include:
• System wide functions
• Home page improvements
• Search function/Find Property/Cooperative
Agreement/TBA
• Data Entry for Funds Leveraged
Please contact the ACRES Help Desk at
acres help@epa.gov or at 703-284-8212 to provide
feedback. Also contact:
EPA Region 1 Frank Gardner, (617) 918-1278,
Gardner.Frank@epa.gov
ACRES Online Training is back.
The 2011 training schedule and instructions for
joining training are available from the ACRES
Information Web page at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pubs/acres/index.ht
m.
National Park Service
The Rivers, Trails, and
Conservation Assistance Program
- is the community assistance arm of the National
Park Service. RTCA supports community-led natural
resource conservation and outdoor recreation
projects.
RTCA staff provide technical assistance to
communities so they can conserve rivers, preserve
open space, and develop trails and greenways.
Who may apply:
The project applicant may be a state or local
agency, tribe, non-profit organization, or citizens'
group. RTCA does not provide financial assistance
to support project implementation.
How to Apply:
Download the 2011 application [.doc | .pdfl or read
the application guidelines f.pdfl (if you do not have
pdf writer or want to include longer text, we
recommend using the .doc version of the
application).
Applicants should discuss their project with RTCA
staff before applying for assistance. It can be helpful
to schedule an advance field visit by our staff to best
understand how RTCA can be of assistance.
Due date:
Applications are due by August 1st for assistance
beginning the following fiscal year (October 1st
through September 30th).
Please send application information and project
description to RTCA_Application@nps.gov by
August 1 or by US Mail to the appropriate Program
Manager postmarked by August 1.
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Send your Brownfields-related items for inclusion in this
newsletter to Thomas Barrasso at
barrasso.thomas@epa.gov.
Disclaimer: Some of the events, articles and websites
listed in this newsletter are non-EPA sponsored events
and websites. EPA is providing them for your information
only and is not responsible for the content of the websites
or the information distributed at a non-EPA listed event.
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