WBWire IN THIS ISSUE: RLF Filling a Critical | Niche in the West Note From the Editors | Open Minds on an Open 2 Plain Partnership Hits the 2 Ground Running Grant Application Tools 3 & Tips Editors' Suggestion 4 Contact Us 4 Calendar 4 "Brownfields projects show that the right thing to do for our health and our envi- ronment is also the right thing to do for our economy." - EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson v>EPA United States Environmental Protection -Ag;ency CONNECTING WESTERN BROWNFIELDS EFFORTS AND STAKEHOLDERS U.S. EPA REGIONS 8, 9 & 10 FALL 20 10 Brownfields Revolving Loan Funds Fill a Critical Niche in the West The Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has become one of the most effective financial tools for cleaning up and returning contaminated properties to pro- ductive use. Across the west, communities large and small have responded to a strong demand for cleanup dollars by developing a RLF. In fact, some of the na- tion's most successful loan funds operate in the west, resulting in over $1.4 billion leveraged to- ward cleanup and redevelopment and 3,083 jobs created over the past decade. Collectively, RLFs across Regions 8, 9 and 10 have closed on 41 loans, resulting in 308 acres made ready for rede- velopment. A large portion of these loans have been paid back and have already "revolved" into new cleanup loans. For more information, see RLF in Numbers on page 3. EPA's RLF program has filled a critical niche in the redevelop- The cleanup of lead contaminated soils at the 178 Townsend property (above) is being facilitated by an RLF loan. On the right is an archi- tectural rendering of the proposed redevelopment, the first residential building in San Francisco to apply for LEED Gold Certification. ment process. Traditional lenders and investors can be leery about investing in projects that have an environmental component. Cleanup loans can overcome/allay such fears by offering low-interest rates and flexible repayment terms. This capital can also make the difference in a project moving WBWire: A Note from the Editors The Staff of Regions 8, 9 and 10 Horace Greeley, a 19th Century editor of the New York Tribune called it the "Great West." He urged its settlement saying, "... build up a home and fortune." Today, millions of us call the "Great West" home and for us this includes Alaska and the Pa- cific Islands. We live in cities and small towns, on its coasts, on tribal lands and in vast open spaces. We share its bounty as well as its legacy from mining, milling, and industrialization that has contaminated our land and water. At the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, we're creating a new, sustainable future in the West. We are restoring land and meeting the diverse challenges that brownfields create. We at EPA want to create a new way to inform, support and con- nect our partners and stakeholders. Western Brownfields Workshops (WBW) have brought us together in communities across the west. We have shared and learned to- gether. Beyond connecting practitioners - We recognize these are exciting times with new brownfields re- sources coming on-line rapidly (see p.2: EPA-HUD-DOT) and tech- niques and technologies evolving quickly. While the prospects for sustainable redevelopment have never been brighter, communities face ongoing challenges in the face of a slow recovery from the cur- rent global recession. For these reasons, we are exploring new ways to keep the Western Brown- from ideas and blueprints, to a reality. Feedback from various RLF projects indicate that these re- sources are indispensible for pri- vate developers and local govern- ments, especially at the early stages of a project when cash flow is low. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control recently closed on a $1.25 million low- interest loan that will fund excava- tion of lead-contaminated soil from the 178 Townsend Street property in San Francisco. The project is situated in the center of the South Beach neighborhood, close to AT&T Park, home of the San Fran- cisco Giants. _ Continued on page 3 fields community connected be- yond the annual WBW. In the coming months we will examine how best to communicate with and connect practitioners. This WBWire newsletter is a "pilot." We want it to begin and sustain a conversation. And we want to hear from you. How can we make a newsletter, our web- sites, (and other tools) useful re- sources for your work and your community? Be sure to give us your feedback through the WBW evaluation form, in the halls of the WBW, or by direct contact after- wards. Thanks for all the work you do to revitalize the communities of the "Great West". ------- P A G The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes abated this former railroad station (below) and plan to reuse the structure (above) for a new veteran's center. Open Minds on an Open Plain: Capturing the Success of a Brownfields Tribal In SE Idaho, the Shoshone- Bannock Tribes have a clean wind at their backs when it comes to Brownfields reclama- tion. Historical pollution from agriculture, industry and illegal dumping, has left many sites on this 815 square mile reserva- tion with asbestos, lead and pesticide contamination. Now, with over $2.1 million in EPA Tribal Response grants re- ceived since 2005, they are finally being dealt with. Twenty one Phase I site assessments, three Phase II site assessments and three site cleanups have been conducted, while expand- ing the tribe's Environmental Waste Management Program (EWMP). After casting a wide net in assessing sites, the tribe is now demonstrating creativity in limited brownfields redevelop- ment. A former railroad sta- tion is slated to become the tribal veteran's center, and plans are underway to turn an old hospital into an environ- mental education center, in partnership with Idaho State University. Some sites have undergone ecological restora- tion, and three are being stud- ied as possible locations for a wind farm or waste-to-energy plant. Reflecting on these accom- plishments, Kelly Wright, EWMP Program Manager, says, "Working with the EPA has significantly improved the res- ervation from an environ- mental standpoint. It has helped us educate and make Response Program partnerships with other tribes." Likewise, they have made education the central part of this program within the tribe as well. Special "Brownfields' Days" were held in each district of the reserva- tion over the last year, and brownfields outreach has taken place through presentations, newsletters and brochures. While the response program has a long way to go from a redevelopment standpoint, Wright sees it as a positive step forward for the tribe. As he optimistically states, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Visit the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Brownfields Response Program website at http://sbtribes-ewmp.com/. Did you Know? HUD will award $ 100m under its new Sustainable Com- munities Regional Planning Grant Program (2010 applications were due Aug 23, 2010) with $25 million set aside for com- munities with a population less than 500.000. DOT and HUD will award up to $75 million in 2010 $35 million in TIGER II Planning Grants and $40 million in Sus- tainable Community Challenge Grants for localized planning activities that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transpor- tation, housing and economic development. $360.9m is the combined 201 I funding request for HUD. DOT & EPA sustainable communities efforts (based on the White House budget request). Finding suitable environmentally impaired lands to site renewable energy facilities is one significant way EPA and the states can help the Administration meet its goals of 25 percent renewable energy by 2025 (EPA FY20I I Budget Brief). EPA-HUD-DOT Partnership Hits the Ground Running EPA and its partner agencies are rolling-out numerous initiatives either related to or centrally fo- cused on brownfields. These ef- forts aim to improve urban wa- ters, encourage area-wide plan- ning and sustainability and to reconnect Americans to the out- doors. The EPA will use this sec- tion to highlight the implementa- tion, outcomes, lessons learned and future opportunities related to these emerging initiatives. The Sustainable Communi- ties Partnership Hits the Ground Running With a focus on improving access to affordable housing, increasing transportation op- tions and lowering transporta- tion costs, while protecting the environment, the HUD-DOT- EPA Sustainable Communities Partnership was announced June 16, 2009. While all three agencies are moving forward with funding projects and stra- tegic planning, EPA's initial ef- forts are beginning to bear fruit. Two of the Agency's five sus- tainability pilots are located in the Western United States - the La Alma/S. Lincoln Park Redevelopment (Denver) and the Westside Affordable Hous- ing Transit-Oriented Develop- ment in National City, Calif- and both have brownfields reuse as central components of their plan. EPA funded design charettes are taking place this fall for the La Alma/S Lincoln Park pilot and will focus on energy, stormwater/green infrastruc- ture, and transportation. Addi- tionally, the Denver Housing Authority received $10 million in stimulus funding from HUD for the first phase of the pro- ject, which will be senior affordable housing. The Westside Neighborhood in National City, California, a low income neighborhood with 389 polluters per square mile, has been designated as an envi- ronmental justice community. The City will receive assistance to create and implement a sus- tainability plan and financial strat- egy for a 14-acre brownfield it sees as the catalyst site for broader neighborhood change. Existing industrial uses on the site are adjacent to an elemen- tary school, homes and a de- graded tidal creek. £2%. The Sustainability Plan will assist the City in leveraging resources to clean up the site, form a link to an adjacent light rail station, create open space, improve the tidal creek, and create a 201-unit infill afford- able housing project. Overall, this partnership will shape the policies and funding mechanisms of the three federal agencies well into the future, which will benefit brownfields and community revitalization efforts for years to come. For more information visit http:// www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/ W B W I R E ------- CONNECTING WESTERN BROWNFIELDS EFFORTS AND STAKEHOLDERS PAGE 3 RLFs and subgrants continue to support brownfields cleanup despite economic downturn Continued From Page I This project will expand affordable housing, and create an estimated 100 construction and 60 perma- nent jobs in the process. Beyond low-interest loans, RLFs in the west also provide grant funds to public and non-profit organizations to address contami- nation and return properties to productive use. Subgrants can be a critical piece of a project's overall financial puzzle, especially at prop- erties that are otherwise financially upside down. Nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, San Juan County (pop. 558) recently completed the cleanup of a prop- erty that will soon house the Anvil Mountain Neighborhood. Redevel- opment of the 13-acre former smelter site will provide much needed affordable, and energy efficient, housing for the Town of Silverton, located at 9,308 feet. A $200,000 subgrant, issued by the CO Coalition, provided the funds to complete the cleanup in 2010 after costs exceeded the initial project budget. While western communities have generated numerous RLF suc- cesses, there have also been signifi- cant challenges. Even with cleanup funds available, developers often have trouble securing financing for vertical construction. This has limited the market for new redevelopment efforts and led to significant delays for some exist- ing projects, especially during the recent economic downturn. In response, RLF administrators have Cleanup of the former Martha Rose Walsh Smelter is making way for the Anvil Mountain Community. A sub- grant from the State of Colorado's RLF was critical in finishing the cleanup of the former smelter. A typical home designed to maintain the historical character of Silverton, Colorado. Anvil Mountain Neighbor- hood home construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2010. done an exceptional job marketing RLF products and fostering relation- ships with potential borrowers and subgrantees. Loans and subgrants have continued, and as the economy rebounds, properties that have been restored during these lean years will be well-positioned for redevelop- ment. In recent years, EPA has signifi- cantly increased the level of supple- mental funds made available to existing RLF grant recipients. This annual infusion has been critical in replenishing loan funds and ensuring liquidity. These resources have substantially increased the overall amount of funds available, and are allowing RLF administrators to move forward with more and larger loans and subgrants without fear of fund depletion and program stagna- tion. EPA has also made changes to several RLF requirements, including rules associated with grant close- out, as well as allowing for greater flexibility in subgranting. EPA will continue to evaluate opportunities to improve and in- crease the flexibility of the RLF program to meet the needs of our communities. As population growth continues to pressure land develop- ment in the west, the RLF will re- main an indispensible funding tool for cleanup and redevelopment projects. For more information on existing RLFs or to learn about developing an RLF in your commu- nity visit http://www.epa.gov/ brownfields/rlflst.htm. To read more about the projects highlighted in this story go to: http://www.epa.gov/region8/ land_waste/bfhome/ SanJuanBrownfieldsSuccess StoryApr2Q I O.pdf http://www.sanjuandevelopment.org/ housing.htm http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/ Brownfields/Loans Grants.cfm If fIt»t I III Martha Rose Walsh Smelter (circa 1890s) Photo Courtesy of the San Juan Historical Society RLF in Numbers; Program Results for Regions 8, 9 and 10 • 24 active loan funds • 41 loans issued • 22 subgrants issued • 36 cleanups completed • $1.4 billion leveraged • 3,083 jobs leveraged EPA Brownfields Grant Application Tools & Tips This year's grant guidelines have largely remained the same for EPA's brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup grants. How- ever, this year brings substantial changes for those applying for a job training grant. To find out more go to http://epa.gov/brownfieilds/ job.htm. The following six tips are applica- ble to applicants for any of EPA's competitive brownfields grants. • Be thorough. Read the guide- lines carefully and address all re- quired criteria and sub-criteria in the listed order. This makes it easier for reviewers to find information and assign points. • Assume that your reviewer knows nothing about your commu- nity, its social and economic history, or its present state. • Clearly cite the sources of all information and data. • Use active, not passive, lan- guage throughout (e.g. "we are working on..." and "we will com- mit"). • Provide examples of past achievements to demonstrate a real commitment behind stated goals. • Contact partners and the state early to get commitments, letters of support and input. For additional assistance in writ- ing a successful brownfields grant Continued on page 4 Two Easy Grant Tips 1. Follow all page limits 2. Follow the format guidelines of I-inch margins, 12-point font, no binders, no color, no pictures and no maps. See additional suggestions on page 4 ------- EPA Brownfields Grant Application Tools & Tips Continued From Page 3 application, we recommend the following tools: • The TABEZ tool was created to provide technical assistance spe- cifically for EPA's brownfields grant applicants. Access this tool online at http://www.tabez.org. • For a sustainable management approach and revitalization tool, go to SmartE at http:// www.smarte.org • Visit the Region 10 website (see map below) to view a tool that will be coming out alongside the revised fiscal year 201 I grant guidelines. This tool will guide you through the ranking criteria, provide tips from reviewers as well as provide examples of successful applications. This article is a snapshot of one com- ponent of this tool. Editors' Suggestion Continuing Conversations: The State of Brownfields in the West EPA Region 10 supported an online newsletter that was managed by the Oregon Department of Environ- mental Quality. In the final issue of Brownfields Update for the Pacific Northwest, three directors of state brown- fields programs weighed in with observations and sug- gestions about the future of brownfields. We encour- age our readers to consider those comments, and to continue the conversation with us in Missoula at the Western Brownfields Workshop. Available online at http://www.nwbrownfields-update.com/20 I 0/07/ commentators-consider-the-futu re-of-brownfields/ ¦ Q \ For More Information, Visit Yonr Region's Brownfields Website "( PRO^ Region 8 http://www.epa.gov/region8/brownfields 800-227-8917 Region 9 http://www.epa.gov/region9/brownfields 866-378-9378 Region 10 http://y0semite.epa.g0v/R I O/CLEANUP.NSF/sites/BF 800-424-4372 Q IL IN KS MO c iArr'\{y MS AL 0 - Fall-Winter 2010 Calendar September 14-16 - Western Brownfields Workshop in Missoula, MT—http://www.epa.gov/region8/land_waste/bfhome/wbw.html September - EPA announcement of 2010 Area-Wide Planning Pilot Communities http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/areawide_grants.htm October 6-7—Washington Brownfields Conference in Tacoma, WA—http://www.nebc.org/Events.aspx October 13 - EPA Region 8 Job Training webinar for potential applicants http://www.epa.gov/region8/land_waste/bfhome/bfhome.html October - Request for Proposals issued for FY I I EPA Job Training Program—http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/job.htm October 15 - EPA submission deadline for FY I I Assessment, RLF & Cleanup grant proposals http://epa.gov/brownfields/grant_info/index.htm October 20—Center for Creative Land Recycling Workshop in Los Angeles, CA—http://www.cclr.org/news November 15-16 - Colorado Brownfields Conference in Golden, CO—http://www.coloradobrownfieldsfoundation.org/ November 17—National Brownfields Association Strategic Redevelopment of Urban Centers Forum in San Diego, CA http://www.brownfieldassociation.org/EducationT raining/Default.aspx December—National EPA Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Conference in San Diego, CA Looking ahead... February 3-5 - New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Charlotte, NC—http://www.newpartners.org/ April 3-5 - 201 I - National Brownfields Conference in Philadelphia, PA—http://www.brownfields201 I .org/en/home ------- |