BR.OWNFIELP5
BROWNFIELDS
WHAT'S NEW
July, 2011
In This Issue
Page 1
°=> Brownfields Grant Award Highlights
•=> On-line ACRES Training Schedule
Page 2
<=> EPA Job Training Grant Awards
Page 3
>=> All Things Smartgrowth
°=> Brownfields Federal Program Guide
Page 4
°=> USDA Funding Announcement -Garden Grant
Program
>=> Brownfields Tax Incentives News
°=> Annual Soils, Sediments, Water, and Energy
Conference 2011 - UMASS Amherst
Page 5
•=> EPA What's New Contact Info
EPA Brownfields
Announcement Events-
Governor Shumlin and Curt Spalding, EPA Region 1
Administrator Present Brownfields Grants to
Vermont
July 22, 2011 -
Windham Regional Commission was awarded one
million dollars to establish its Brownfields Revolving
Loan Fund (RLF) and $400,000 to continue WRC's
Brownfields Assessment Program
The State of Vermont's Agency of Commerce &
Community Development (VT ACCD) was award
six-hundred-thousand dollars for its existing
Brownfields RLF.
(Photos: EPA R1)
Online Training Continues for
ACRES EPA Assessment, Cleanup
and Redevelopment Exchange
System
EPA offers the following two online training courses
to aid Brownfields Cooperative Agreement
Recipients in reporting their grant-funded activities
using ACRES:
Getting Started
For Assessment, RLF, Cleanup, and Section 128(a)
Recipients just starting to user ACRES, this training
will provide instruction on the process for submitting
your property data and demonstrate how to use the
tools and functions in ACRES.
Schedule (Approximately 90 minutes)
Tuesday Septembers, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
Thursday September 15, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
Tuesday October, 11, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
Wednesday December 14, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
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The Next Level
For Assessment, RLF, Cleanup, and Section 128(a)
Recipients that are familiar with using ACRES, this
training will provide instruction on how to make
ACRES work for you and your property scenarios,
and the answers to some commonly asked
questions.
Schedule Approximately 90 minutes
Wednesday August 17, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
Tuesday September 13, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
Thursday September 22, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
Tuesday November 15, 2011 2:00 pm eastern
To Join Training
There is no need to pre-register for training, however
it is recommended that you test your computer
leviTDisciariTeiJto ensure compatibility prior to the
training. On the day of training, follow the
instructions below (you will need to join BOTH a
conference call and a virtual meeting):
1. Phone: Dial 1-866-510-2201
2. Phone: Enter the conference code 973-232-
6523
3. Computer: Click the following link Join
Training lEV|TDi--:: a' iie|3
4. Computer: Enter the meeting password -
training123
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 Information Web page:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pubs/acres/index.ht
m.
EPA Job Training Grants
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced that EPA
is awarding more than $6.2 million in national
environmental workforce development and job
training grants to 21 organizations across the
country. The grants will help predominantly low-
income residents in areas impacted by solid and
hazardous waste to recruit, train, and place
unemployed, and underemployed individuals into
the environmental workforce. Region 1 received two
of those grants, the recipients are:
Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board,
Lawrence, Haverhill, and Methuen, MA - These
communities have significant environmental issues
and share the impacts to and from the Merrimack
River. Lawrence, a federally designated Renewal
Community, is burdened with a long history of
contamination from former textiles, paper, and shoe
production. Its unemployment rate is 18.5 percent.
Haverhill is a former industrial center that was once
home to saw and gristmills, tanneries, boatyards,
and shoe manufacturing plants. Methuen's Arlington
neighborhood, a target area, has an unemployment
rate of 17.9 percent. Approximately 33 percent of
residents live at or below the poverty level. Their
training program will consist of three 300-hour
training cycles. Courses will include 40-hour
HAZWOPER, underground storage tank leak
prevention awareness, solid waste management and
cleanup, innovative and alternative treatment
technologies, and groundwater, soil, and water
testing.
The Workplace, Inc., Bridgeport, CT -Bridgeport was
once a manufacturing center and produced arms
and munitions during World Wars I and II. As
demand for manufacturing declined, companies
closed and left behind empty factories and
environmental hazards. Today, the poverty rate in
the city is 21.1 percent, and the unemployment rate
is 15 percent. Approximately 70 percent of residents
are African-American or Latino. The city has more
homes in foreclosure than any other city in the state.
The training program will consist of a three-week,
126-hour core training and one of two additional
training clusters. One cluster is a 108-hour cycle of
brownfields and environmental remediation,
including lead and asbestos abatement. The second
cluster is a 96-hour cycle of solid waste
management, including deconstruction, debris
collection, recycling and leadership courses. Core
courses will include 40-hour HAZWOPER,
underground storage tank leak prevention, and
innovative and alternative treatment technologies.
For more information on the Job Training Program in
Region 1 contact:
Kathleen Castagna, Project Officer
EPA New England Brownfields Program
Phone:617-918-1429
Castagna.Kathleen@epa.gov
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All Things Smart Growth
Smart Growth Network - is 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.
Partnership for Sustainable
Communities: HUD, DOT, & EPA-
On June 16, 2009, the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, U.S. Department of
Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency joined together to help
communities nationwide improve access to
affordable housing, increase transportation options,
and lower transportation costs while protecting the
environment. Working to coordinate federal
housing, transportation, water, and other
infrastructure investments to make neighborhoods
more prosperous, allow people to live closer to jobs,
save households time and money, and reduce
pollution. For information on grant opportunities, and
resources visit the partnership website at:
www.sustainablecommunities.gov
11th Annual New Partners for
Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy
and Livable Communities
February 2-4, 2012
Sheraton San Diego, California
The program will kick off on Thursday morning and
continue through Saturday afternoon. It includes a
dynamic mix of plenaries, breakouts, implementation
workshops, trainings, networking activities, and
exciting tours of local model projects. There is
something for everybody, from veteran experts to
smart-growth novices, with over 100sessions and
workshops. Learn from hundreds of speakers who
cross disciplines to share insights, and valuable
tools and strategies for making smart growth a
success in your community. The program will be
infused with sessions and case studies focusing on
equity and environmental justice issues.
Breaking New Ground:
Promoting
Environmental and
Energy Programs in
Local Government
This report presents findings from an International
City/County Management Association (ICMA) survey
that was sent to over 8,000 local governments
across the nation. The five major findings are:
1 There is considerable variation in the extent to
which sustainability actions have been implemented
by local governments.
2.Sustainability initiatives should be targeted to
community needs.
3.Goal setting and progress measurement are
important for all communities
4.A few local governments are leading sustainability
initiatives.
5.Policy priorities matter to sustainability initiatives.
To read the report visit the following website:
www.businessofgovernment.org/report/breaking-
new-ground-promoting-environmental-and-energy-
prog rams-local-government
Brownfields Federal
Program Guide
Updated 2011 Edition available via the
web:
www.epa.gov/brownfields/partners/2011 fpg.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.
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USDA and NIFA
People's Garden Grant Program
Request for Applications
This program is a joint initiative supported by
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Nutrition
Service, Forest Service, and Natural Resources
Conservation Service, and is being administered by
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Funds from the People's Garden Grant Program can
be used to facilitate the creation of produce,
recreation, and/or wildlife gardens in urban and rural
areas, which will provide opportunities for science-
based informal education.
The total amount available in fiscal year 2011 for
support of this program is $725,000. The maximum
award to a single applicant will be $150,000. All
applications are due Aug. 26, 2011 and funds will be
awarded before Sept. 30, 2011. Successful
applicants will establish a micro-subgrant program
that will provide funding of $1,000 to $5,000 to
support smaller local projects.
NIFA Funding Opportunity Page:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/peoplesgardengrantprog
ram.cfm. This page includes links to the request for
applications (RFA), the NIFA Grants.gov Application
Guide, the application package, and abstracts of
funded projects.
Grants.gov Synopsis Page:
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do:isessionid=
KzYXTv7Q09w7VLvlxsh43vTsqnhLDwp10CGNxXsT
Q1 PGVLxSF4RX!751481409?oppld=108453&mode
=VIEW. This page includes a synopsis of the
funding opportunity, a link to the full announcement
(RFA) and the application package.
Grants.gov Application Package:
http://applv07.grants.gov/apply/GetGrantFromFedgr
ants:isessionid=tQ4bTv7Tiw2LQp8J2TwDlvwV98z2
McbzpGVmvF11 K2xNr2pLxb2T!751481409?opportu
nitv=USDA-NIFA-OP-003503&agencvcode=USDA-
NIFA. This page links to the application instructions
and the application package.
If you have questions regarding the RFA, please
contact: Dr. Tom Bewick, tbewick@nifa.usda.gov or
(202)401-3356.
If you have any questions related to Grants.gov
content, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center:
Email: support@grants.gov, Phone: Toll Free: 1-
800-518-4726, 24 hour support, excluding Federal
holidays.
Useful Links:
NIFA Grant Application Information:
www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/application info.html:
Grants.gov Help: www.grants.gov/help/help.jsp.
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
Annual International Conference on Soils,
^vcon^ Sediments, Water, and Energy
October 17 - 20, 2011
Amherst, MA
The Annual Conference on Soils,
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.
Contaminated
Sediments
and Water
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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.
Unj&uilrm.'li'.il.
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Halibut State Park Rockport, MA- T.Barrasso
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