Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda November 2002 Recycled/Recyclable ------- Executive Summary On January 11, 2002 President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitaliza- tion Act into law (Public Law 107-118). The President and the U.S. Congress recognized in this new law the importance of federal partnerships in achieving the mutual goals of environmental protection and eco- nomic revitalization. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its partnering agencies under the Bush Administration confirm their commitment to work together by releasing the Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda. The Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda represents the focused efforts of over twenty federal agencies, making over one hundred commitments to work to- gether in a timely manner to help communities more effectively prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. The Action Agenda is a compilation of commitments that range anywhere from making funding and techni- cal assistance to brownfields communities a budget priority, to changing policies to facilitate brownfields redevelopment, to launching a concerted effort to share program information with respective stakeholders, such as linking web sites. Highlights of these commitments include: EPA's commitment to provide potentially $850 million over the next five years to states, tribes, counties, municipalities, and non-profit organizations through brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loan fund, job training, and state/tribal grants; Commitments by the U. S. Economic Development Administration, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. Department of Labor to offer funding priority to brownfields communities through their respective grant mechanisms; The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's commitment to lead an interagency "Portfields" project that will focus on the redevelopment and reuse of brownfields in and around ports, harbors, and marine transportation hubs; The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' commitment to announce eight new pilots under its "Urban Rivers Initiative" to address restoration in and around urban rivers. The Action Agenda is based on the principle that the federal government can most effectively help commu- nities assess, clean up, and redevelop brownfields by linking our diverse programs in close partnership. For more information on this Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda, please contact Tony Raia of EPA's Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment at 202-566-2758 (raia.anthony@epa.gov) ------- ------- Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. Background 3 3. Federal Partner Commitments: Appalachian Regional Commission 7 U.S. Department of Agriculture 9 U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration 10 U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 12 U.S. Department of Defense 14 U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 15 U.S. Department of Energy 16 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 18 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 20 Federal Housing Finance Board 21 U.S. General Services Administration 22 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 24 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 25 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 27 U.S. Department of the Interior 29 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management 30 U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining 31 U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey 32 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service 33 U.S. Department of Justice 35 U.S. Department of Labor 36 U.S. Small Business Administration 37 U.S. Department of Transportation 38 1 ------- 2 ------- Brownfields Federal Partnership "The Brownfields Revitalization Act is a sensible piece of legislation, one that emphasizes the need for environmental stewardship all across the country....Environmental protection and economic growth can go on together. " - President George W. Bush, remarks before signing the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, January 11, 2002 Introduction Communities today face multiple challenges, including environmental degradation, unemployment, deterio- rating infrastructure and housing, and crime. Previous centers of economic growth have been lost to urban sprawl and the lack of a skilled labor pool. At the center of these issues are brownfields, which are defined in the newly enacted Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act as "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant." The cleanup and reuse of these properties represents one of the most complex issues facing urban and rural communities today. Many brownfields properties were once thriving factories or industrial centers—sources of economic vitality, jobs, and community pride. Now however, these neighborhood properties are sources of potential health hazards and indicators of urban blight. With hundreds of thousands of brownfields in this country, nearly every community in the nation is affected. The Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda is based on the principle that we can most effec- tively help communities assess, clean up, and redevelop brownfields by linking diverse federal programs in close partnership. Continuing to link federal environmental protection, economic development, infrastruc- ture, and community revitalization programs makes sense; this is the way government should work at the federal, state, and local levels. The Brownfields Federal Partnership seeks to protect public health and the environment, strengthen the private marketplace, and support community revitalization. Background Both state and local governments have had a longstanding role in dealing with the cleanup and reuse of contaminated properties. The U.S. Conference of Mayors—an organization of mayors representing over 1,000 of our cities—identified brownfields as the number one environmental issue in the nation. Even before the term "brownfields" became widespread, a few states had developed voluntary cleanup programs to address cleanup and oversight of these properties. Now, all fifty states and several tribes have voluntary cleanup or brownfields programs. Awareness of brownfields and related issues has risen during the last decade. Public and private entities have recognized that the cleanup and sustainable reuse of brownfields can produce environmental, public health, and economic gains. Following the strong suggestions of a wide range of stakeholders, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an Interagency Working Group on brownfields in July 1996, including more than twenty federal departments and agencies. The Working Group began drafting a 3 ------- Background (Contd.) national plan that would guide future brownfields initiatives. The result of this effort was the first Brownfields Action Agenda that was announced in 1997. The original Action Agenda incorporated participant commit- ments to increase coordination among Brownfields stakeholders and to promote brownfields redevelop- ment. The Action Agenda was updated in 1999 to reflect the growing list of commitments pledged by federal partners and to highlight the successes that were achieved during the first two years of the partner- ship. In 1999, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reported that, through the Federal Partnership, more than $400 million was provided to communities to help clean up and reuse brownfields. The New Action Agenda On January 11, 2002, President Bush signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitaliza- tion Act (Public Law 107-118). This bill passed the Senate unanimously, representing broad bipartisan support. Spurred on by the Bush Administration's commitment to brownfields and the new brownfields law, EPA and its partnering agencies have renewed their commitment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. The result is the new Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda, which focuses the efforts of over twenty federal agencies in support of brownfields redevelopment in communities throughout the United States. Communities with brownfields often face economic and social concerns, such as unemployment, substan- dard housing, outdated or faulty public infrastructure, crime, and a poorly skilled local workforce. Although federal and state programs may be in place to address local issues, too often the programs operate in isolation. The collaboration of the diverse expertise and experience of each agency will help make all relevant federal programs work more productively for the people and communities effected by the presence of brownfields. This Action Agenda is a compilation of commitments, new initiatives, events, and activities that the partici- pating federal agencies will undertake in partnership to help communities deal with brownfields and associ- ated problems. Action Agenda commitments range from making funding and technical assistance to brownfields communities a budget priority, to changing policies to facilitate brownfields redevelopment, to launching a concerted effort to share program information with respective stakeholders, such as linking web sites. EPA will continue to lead this effort by tracking the fulfillment of these commitments and by highlighting the successes that are achieved. For more information on this Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda, please contact Tony Raia of EPA's Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment at 202- 566-2758 (raia.anthony@epa.gov). 4 ------- Federal Partner Commitments 5 ------- 6 ------- Appalachian Regional Commission Background The Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) mission is to be an advocate for and to partner with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. ARC was established by Congress in 1965 to support economic and social development in the Appalachian Region. The Commission is a unique partnership composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. Grassroots participa- tion is provided through local development districts, which are multi-county organizations with boards made up of elected officials, businesspeople, and other local leaders. ARC undertakes projects that address the five goals identified by ARC in its strategic plan, which entails funding projects in education and workforce training programs, highway construction, water and sewer system construction, leadership development programs, small business start-ups and expansions, and development of health-care re- sources. Additional information can be found at http://www.arc.gov Partnership Role = A large portion of ARC's Area Development funds are used for water and sewer system extensions of service to industrial parks for the purpose of creating and retaining jobs in rural Appalachia. In the past, several of these funded projects have involved brownfields sites. ARC has partnered with the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP) for the past two years to conduct regional workshops in Appalachia that encourage brownfields redevelopment. In addition, ARC entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in FY 2000 that calls for the two agencies to coordinate their policies and activities in support of brownfields assessments, cleanup, and redevelopment. In FY 2002, ARC approved five projects for over $1,352,000 to be administered by EPA. Commitments = ARC commits to: 1) Explore potential contracts with NALGEP that would allow for: Two additional regional brownfields workshops in FY2003; Several community workshops in ARC economically distressed counties that would specifically help a community take advantage of available resources in developing existing brownfields and lead to the creation and retention of jobs; and Providing technical assistance to ARC's Local Development Districts in a variety of ways that empowers greater awareness of the potential brownfields resources available to rural areas; 2) Continue to encourage ARC's state partners to use their Area Development funds for proj ects that create and retain jobs in brownfields redevelopment areas; and 7 ------- Appalachian Regional Commission Commitments (Contd.) 3) Reaffirm EPA/ARC MOU commitments that include providing: Support, including technical assistance, information sharing, and workshops, to increase the awareness of brownfields cleanup and redevelopment programs and benefits; Financial and technical assistance for Appalachian communities, local development districts, and grassroots organizations to develop proposals for integrating brownfields assessments and cleanup with economic development planning; Coordination of joint activities between Appalachian states, local development districts, and EPA field staff in order to help implement brownfields redevelopment projects at the state level; Financial and technical assistance to Appalachian communities to help leverage funds for assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields; and Collaboration in joint projects or proposal reviews for competitions sponsored by either agency. 8 ------- U.S. Department of Agriculture Background The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was founded in 1862 as the "people's department." Today, USDA's mission is to enhance the quality of life for the American people by supporting the production of agriculture; ensuring a safe, affordable, nutritious, and accessible food supply; caring for agricultural, forest, and range lands; supporting the sound development of rural communities; providing farm and rural residents with economic opportunities; expanding global markets to include agricultural and forest products and services; and working to reduce hunger in America and throughout the world. Additional information can be found at: http://www.usda.gov Partnership Role = To promote Brownfields Pilots, some USDA field offices are working with Pilots, Empowerment Zones (EZs), and Enterprise Communities (ECs) to provide educational programs and training for brownfields landscaping projects (such as Master Gardeners, pesticide applicators, and youth development work- shops). USDA also has contacts in urban Showcase Communities to monitor the success of USDA projects. USDA provides technical support to communities that include greenways and other land conser- vation projects. Rural communities and mine-scarred lands near or adjacent to our National Forests can also take advantage of existing USDA programs. Commitments = USDA commits to: 1) Working with EPA and other federal partners to assist with the redevelopment of brownfields sites located in rural communities or near mine-scarred lands; 2) Establishing a USDA-wide Brownfields Subcommittee; 3) Developing a roadmap for EPA Brownfields Showcase Communities to be placed on USDA's website; 4) Developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with EPA to address issues of common concern; 5) Continuing support of communities that want to convert existing brownfields into natural open space parks, tree-covered linear parks, and other land conservation projects; and 6) Assisting rural and urban brownfields communities in applying for USDA grants and loans. 9 ------- U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Background While the Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121), EDA now operates pursuant to that Act, as amended by the Economic Development Administration Reform Act of 1998. This Act is also referred to as Public Law 105-393, which authorized EDA for five years. The purpose of EDA is to generate new jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress. EDA helps distressed communities address problems not only associated with long-term economic distress, but also with sudden and severe economic dislocations, including recovering from the economic impacts of natural disasters, the closure of military installations and other federal facilities, changing trade patterns, and the depletion of natural resources. Most brownfields projects fall under two of EDA's five basic program areas: The Public Works Development Facilities Program (covers water and sewer facilities primarily serving industry and commerce, access roads to industrial parks or sites, port improvements, and business incubator facilities); and The Economic Adjustment Program (covers the creation or expansion of strategically targeted business development and financing programs, including grants for revolving loan funds, infrastructure improvements, organizational development, and market or industry research and analysis). Military base closures illustrate projects that fall under the Economic Adjustment Program. Additional information can be found at: http://www.osec.doc.gov/eda/ Partnership Role = EDA's role in the Federal Partnership is to empower distressed communities with brownfields to establish and implement their own economic development and revitalization strategies. EDA will support multi- agency, sector-based brownfields redevelopment efforts that are consistent with the bureau's mission, focus, investment policy guidelines, and statutory authorities. For example, EDA is interested in supporting inter- agency efforts to revitalize brownfields that enhance regional economic competitiveness and support market-driven cluster development strategies. 10 ------- U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Commitments = EDA commits to: 1) Specifically identifying brownfields redevelopment in its annual Notice of Funding Availability; 2) Supporting community and faith-based brownfields redevelopment strategies; 3) Maintaining a National Brownfields Coordinator position in its headquarters office; 4) Continuing to support both community efforts to use eco-industrial development models to facilitate local brownfields redevelopment and multi-agency efforts to support eco-industrial development; 5) Focusing on sector-specific development as it relates to brownfields; and 6) Supporting implementation of the objectives in the newly signed MOU that links brownfields assessment and cleanup activities with economic development. 11 ------- U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Background Founded on October 3, 1970, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is tasked with describing and predicting changes in the earth's environment and with facilitating the conservation and management of the nation's coastal and marine resources. As part of this effort, NOAA participates in the Brownfields Program, focusing on the redevelopment of coastal brownfields properties and the protection and restoration of coastal resources. NOAA's brownfields efforts incorporate work carried out in several offices: the Office of Response and Restoration's Coastal Protection and Restoration Division, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), and the Office of Sustainable Development and Intergovernmental Affairs. The Office of Sustainable Development and Intergovernmental Affairs acts as the coordinating body within NOAA, and as the primary liaison with EPA. NOAA participates on both the Steering Committee and Interagency Working Group. Additional information can be found at: http://www.noaa.gov Partnership Role = NOAA plays a role in three phases of the Federal Partnership Action Agenda. NOAA assists in 1) identify- ing, evaluating, and assessing brownfields in coastal areas; 2) providing funding to coastal states for brownfields redevelopment as part of waterfront revitalization efforts; and 3) providing technical assistance to state and local governments to give coastal decisionmakers resources to facilitate the redevelopment of brownfields and the documentation of successful brownfields waterfront revitalization approaches. Commitments NOAA commits to: 1) Leading an interagency "Portfields" project that will focus on the redevelopment and reuse of idled or abandoned lands in and around ports, harbors, and marine transportation hubs; 2) Signing and implementing a new MOU with EPA that will increase coordination to assess, clean up, and redevelop brownfields in coastal and waterfront areas; 3) Providing funding to coastal states for brownfields redevelopment as part of waterfront revitalization efforts; 12 ------- U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commitments (Contd.) 4) Providing technical assistance to state and local governments to give coastal decisionmakers resources to facilitate the redevelopment of brownfields. For example, NOAA will continue to work with the Metlakatla, Alaska, community and other Federal partners to evaluate the risk of fish consumption; 5) Documenting successful brownfields waterfront revitalization approaches; and 6) Continuing to provide a Brownfields Showcase Community Coordinator to work in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to help implement their brownfields initiative. 13 ------- U.S. Department of Defense Background The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), through its work in communities adversely affected by military base realignments and closures (BRAC), is experienced in economic readjustment activities. DoD's primary tools for its economic readjustment projects are the Defense Economic Adjustment program and the BRAC program. These programs govern DoD's efforts to close surplus military facilities, return them to local communities, and assist these communities with site remediation and redevelopment. The Office of the Secretary of Defense coordinates DoD's brownfi elds efforts, operating through the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations)/Ofifice of Economic Adjustment and the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Cleanup). Additional information can be found at: http://www.dod.gov Partnership Role = DoD is included in the Brownfields Federal Partnership primarily in an advisory capacity, lending its eco- nomic readjustment experience to the development and evolution of EPA's Brownfields Economic Readjust- ment Initiative. Commitments DOD commits to: 1) Working with EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clean up and redevelop closed and realigned DoD bases and return them to productive reuse; 2) Renewing the Department's commitment to long-term stewardship and developing tools for enforcing use restrictions on brownfields; and 3) Linking pertinent DoD websites to EPA's Brownfields website. 14 ------- U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Background Founded in 1779, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE or Corps) is an Army Major Command with a headquarters and eight regional divisions that exercise direction over 37 districts located within the continental United States. The Corps provides comprehensive planning, design, construction, engineering management, and technical support to the Army and to the nation. Unlike most other agencies that comprise the federal brownfields partnership, the Corps is not a grant-making organization, as defined by The Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977. In the absence of discretionary grant authority and a specific brownfields authority, the Corps supports communities by way of specific, Congressionally autho- rized water resource-related projects or through reimbursable (Support for Others) engineering activities. The Congressionally authorized projects are related to water resources and include navigation, ecosystem restoration and protection, shore protection, water supply storage, recreation, and flood control. In addi- tion, USACE has developed a versatile brownfields team that will field engineering related brownfields questions and project inquiries from any community within the United States and its territories. Additional information can be found at: http://www.usace.army.mil or http://hq.environmental.usace.army.mil/ programs/brownfields/brownfields.html Partnership Role = At the request of brownfields communities, USACE provides planning and technical assistance. For major water resource-related endeavors, USACE will guide communities to the appropriate Congressional contacts for authorization and appropriation support. Commitments = USACE commits to: 1) Partnering with EPA to establish eight pilots under the Memorandum of Understanding addressing restoration of degraded urban rivers and fostering interagency and stakeholder partnerships that promote a shared understanding of integrated solutions to water resources management within watersheds and river basins; 2) Increasing the use of collaborative approaches to water resources problems, seeking, whenever feasible, to leverage Civil Works projects with the economic, environmental, and social goals of brownfields pilot communities; 3) Using existing authorities to promote comprehensive and integrated regional water resource plans that balance economic, environmental, and social goals for water resource solutions; and 4) Sharing analytical tools and methods that facilitate achieving sustainable development at brownfields and other sites. 15 ------- U.S. Department of Energy Background = The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), officially established in 1977, continues to be a leader in meeting this country's needs in the areas of energy, national security, science, and environmental quality. The DOE complex includes unique capabilities in science and engineering that are applied to meet the Department's goals. The Department has the lead for developing and implementing the Federal Government's national energy strategy and is charged with accelerating cleanup efforts and providing long-term stewardship at over 100 DOE sites across the country. The Department brings its strengths in energy research and application and its environmental cleanup and long-term stewardship experience to the Brownfields Federal Partner- ship. Additional information can be found at: http://www.energy.gov Partnership Role = DOE supports the Brownfields Federal Partnership by providing technical assistance in the field of energy use and environmental remediation, sharing lessons learned about cleanup and long-term stewardship efforts, and funding for relevant research and development. Commitments g DOE commits to: 1) Linking the President's Energy Policy with opportunities relative to brownfields initiatives and activities; 2) Promoting the construction of buildings that incorporate energy efficient, renewable energy and distributed energy technologies at brownfields; 3) Bringing technical assistance through the Rebuild America Program; 4) Preparing a list of brownfields successes at sites incorporating energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed energy technologies; 5) Developing regional relationships with federal and state partners to address site or brownfields issues; 6) Providing technical assistance in the field of environmental cleanup and stabilization to brownfields/ revitalization efforts; 7) Developing tools and providing lessons learned from cleanup and long-term stewardship efforts at over 100 sites across the county; 8) Funding related environmental remediation science and technology development; 9) Assessing and exploring options for improved use of DOE owned land, including industrial use, where appropriate; 16 ------- U.S. Department of Energy Commitments (Contd.)- = 10) Expanding communication and educational activities to include brownfields; 11) Establishing additional pilots around the country as EPA funding permits; and 12) Linking Brownfields Pilot activities with DOE's cleanup and remediation activities to create more attractive and sustainable communities. 17 ------- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Background = The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established as an independent agency on December 2, 1970. EPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment—air, water, and land—upon which life depends. EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Additional information can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields Partnership Role = EPA is the informal leader of the Brownfields Federal Partnership. EPA is also the lead federal agency implementing the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, which authorizes significant funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loan fund, job training, and brownfields state/tribal grants. EPA's Brownfields Program is built on four pillars: 1) protecting the environment; 2) promoting partnerships; 3) strengthening the marketplace; and 4) sustaining reuse. EPA also funds research efforts and administers the 28 Brownfields Showcase Communities that are models of federal, state, and local collaboration. Commitments EPA commits to: 1) Continuing to lead the Brownfields Federal Partnership collaboration and encouraging the implementation of the Brownfields Federal Partnership Action Agenda commitments. 2) Providing as much as $850 million (projected) over the next five years to states, counties, tribes, municipalities, and non-profit organizations through brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loan fund, job training, and brownfields state/tribal grants; 3) Successfully implementing the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act with Brownfields Federal Partnership stakeholders in mind. This includes: Expanding the number and types of brownfields grants (e.g., making grants available to address petroleum contamination, mine-scarred lands, and some categories of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) sites); Making grants available specifically for brownfields cleanup; Integrating and streamlining the brownfields grants application process for the ease of all eligible applicants; Clarifying applicability of liability provisions in the new law; and 18 ------- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Commitments (Contd.)~ Developing a regulation that establishes a standard for conducting "all appropriate inquiry" under Superfund. 4) Ensuring that its brownfields redevelopment efforts remain an important component of its Environmental Justice efforts. This includes: Conducting Environmental Justice regional listening sessions focused on brownfields and revitalization of communities; Providing brownfields and community revitalization tools, resources, and information to communities and tribes facing brownfields redevelopment challenges; and Ensuring that brownfields and community revitalization become an important component of the Environmental Justice Revitalization Projects sponsored by the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (IWG). 5) Developing a technology tools resource document for brownfields properties. This document would include remediation, monitoring, and development techniques specific to brownfields-related issues; 6) Developing a guide for site specific management approaches to redevelopment. This tool will integrate business and science and serve as a decision framework for implementing and encouraging redevelopment; 7) Holding technical workshops on topics related to innovative approaches to tax and finance incentives, risk assessment\management and sustainability; 8) Continuing to support development and verification of innovative, cost-effective remediation, characterization, and monitoring tools through the SITE Program; 9) Continuing to provide a Center of Technology Support to help localities, states, and federal site managers understand the technologies available to assess and clean up their properties; 10) Updating its directory of Federal Technical Assistance on assessment and cleanup. This directory focuses specifically on those resources relevant to cleaning up properties. It will identify Federal programs available to assist communities and provide localities with detailed descriptions of the types of assistance available, who is eligible to receive this assistance, how to obtain this assistance, and contacts for additional information; and 11) Pursuing the development of a partnership between EPA Region 8, the Indian Health Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs that will explore ways to cooperatively provide assistance in the areas of assessment and remediation on brownfields properties for Region 8 Indian Tribes. 19 ------- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Background The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (FDIC) mission is to maintain the stability of and public confidence in the nation's financial system. To achieve this goal, the FDIC was created in 1933 to insure deposits and promote safe and sound banking practices. The FDIC, in conjunction with other federal and state regulatory agencies, examines financial institutions to ensure they are conducting business in compliance with consumer protection rules and in a way that minimizes risk to their customers and to the deposit insurance funds. The FDIC promotes compliance with fair lending, Community Reinvestment Act, and other consumer protection laws and regulations. It also works with lenders, organizations, and the general public to revitalize and educate communities. Additional information can be found at http://www.fdic.gov Partnership Role = FDIC encourages EPA to share its Money Smart financial education curriculum with community members impacted by the revitalization efforts at brownfields sites across the county. The Money Smart curriculum helps individuals build financial knowledge and develop financial confidence, and is therefore well-suited to the needs of many of the brownfields communities. Low and moderate income community members will be better prepared to fully participate in the job training and job creation efforts made possible by the Brownfields Initiatives. There is a natural synergy to the two programs working together to help communities and community members thrive. Commitments FDIC commits to: 1) Partnering with EPA on financial education. Specifically, FDIC will make its Money Smart curriculum widely available to community members served by the Brownfields Program. Money Smart is a training program designed to help adults outside the financial mainstream enhance their money skills and create positive banking relationships. Financial education fosters financial stability for individuals and for entire communities. The more people know about credit and banking services, the more likely they are to increase savings, buy homes, and improve their financial health and well being. 2) Sharing information about EPA programs (e.g., Brownfields, USTfields, etc.) with its state non-member financial institution population. Insured financial institutions that make loans to borrowers to finance environmental cleanups or redevelopment on properties located in low- or moderate-income communities receive positive consideration for those loans in their Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluations. 20 ------- Federal Housing Finance Board Background The Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB), an independent agency in the Executive Branch established in 1932, is responsible for regulating the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) System to ensure the safety and soundness of the 12 FHLBanks and the achievement of the FHLBanks' housing finance and community lending mission. The FHLBanks lend at competitive rates to private financial institutions, such as thrifts, commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, and non-member housing associates to support the nation's housing and community development needs. At year-end 2001, the FHLBank System had over 7,800 member institutions and more than $700 billion in assets. Each FHLBank, as required by law, annually sets aside 10 percent of net earnings for its Affordable Hous- ing Program (AHP), under which it makes grants and below-market-rate advances to support affordable housing. In 2001, the FHLBanks committed over $246 million to this program. In addition, each FHLBank makes Community Investment Cash Advances (CICA) to members, including Community Investment Program (CIP) advances at cost, to foster housing and targeted community development. Projects located in an area that involves a property eligible for a Brownfield Tax Incentive are specifically designated as being eligible for CICA financing and the FHLBanks' Standby Letters of Credit. Additional information can be found at: http://www.fhfb.gov Partnership Role = The FHFB regulates the FHLBank System. The FHLBank System represents the private-sector banking portion of the Brownfields Initiative. The FHLBanks provide financing at favorable terms to their financial institution members for use in housing and community development projects on brownfields. Also, in 1999, the FHFB granted authority to the FHLBank of Des Moines to make an equity investment of up to $2 million in the River Point West Brownfields project in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The project subse- quently earned Showcase status. Commitments = FHFB commits to: 1) Acting as a liaison between and fostering communication among EPA brownfields staff in Washington and the 12 FHLBanks. 21 ------- U.S. General Services Administration Background The General Services Administration (GSA) is one of the three central management agencies in the Federal government, along with the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget. The Agency provides managed space, supplies, services, and solutions to enable federal employees to accomplish their missions. GSA consists of three services: Information Technology (IT); Federal Supply Service (FSS); and Public Buildings Service (PBS). IT oversees telecommuting centers and federal child care centers, and FSS manages the federal motor vehicle fleet and oversees personal property issues. PBS serves as a builder, developer, lessor, and manager of federally owned and leased properties. As such, PBS provides a full range of real estate services, including real estate brokerage, property management, con- struction and repairs, security services, property disposal, and overall portfolio management. PBS also handles all of the Agency's brownfields projects. GSA maintains 31 landholding agencies, 1,800 federally owned buildings, and 4,000 federally leased buildings. As landlord and holder of real estate for the Federal government, GSA recognizes the importance of cleanup and reuse of brownfields properties as a catalyst for positive change in urban areas. Property use shapes how people live and work, and can serve to provide jobs and an income base. Be- cause federal property is woven into the fabric of the nation's centers, GSA believes that its potential should be maximized to provide the best service to the community. To do so, GSA has committed to review and identify underutilized federal properties and to return those properties to productive reuse. Additional information can be found at: http://www.gsa.gov Partnership Role = GSA reviews and identifies underused federal properties that are potentially available for brownfields redevelopment. Brownfields transactions are primarily real estate deals—GSA has the knowledge and experience to serve as the "honest broker" in these transactions, bringing the right resources and people to the table to get the deal done. Commitments = GSA commits to: 1) Developing a tool kit to help foster the partnerships necessary to successfully "seal the deal" in a brownfields transaction; 2) Facilitating a brownfields workshop for potential federal property developers to educate them on the federal real property disposal process and to assist in their efforts to reuse federal brownfields; 3) Developing a socioeconomic model to measure both the economic and social impacts of federal brownfields redevelopment, as well as the reuse of federal real property in general; 22 ------- U.S. General Services Administration Commitments (Contd.)~ 4) Signing an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding with EPA to strengthen the existing relationship by focusing on the real property aspects of brownfields redevelopment; and 5) Coordinating a campaign to educate states and communities engaged in brownfields revitalization about innovative disposal methods, such as Early Transfer Authority (ETA) and the privatization of remediation. 23 ------- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Background The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ATSDR's mission is to reduce exposure and prevent adverse human health effects and the diminished quality of life that is associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment. Some ATSDR activities include public health assessments, applied research, emergency response, and education and training. ATSDR's Brownfields work is coordinated through the Office of Regional Operations (ORO), which are co-located with EPA in the 10 regions and at EPA HQ. ORO serves as the liaison to federal, state and local agencies, and the community, on environmental health issues, including Brownfields. Additional information can be found at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov Partnership Role = ATSDR contributes research and experience in public health and environmental exposure issues to brownfields stakeholders. Commitments g ATSDR commits to: 1) Working closely with EPA to increase the capacity of local health entities that serve brownfields communities; 2) Continuing to support local health departments in Brownfields Showcase Communities; 3) Completing a lessons learned report on the first six ATSDR grants to local health departments; 4) Providing technical assistance to brownfields communities on the health monitoring provision of the new Brownfields legislation; and 5) Working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage the development of housing on brownfields sites. 24 ------- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Background = The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) was given major responsibility for initiat- ing a training grants program under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. The MEHS Worker Education and Training Program (WETP) funds non-profit organizations with a demon- strated track record of providing occupational safety and health education in developing and delivering high quality training to workers who are involved in handling hazardous waste or in responding to emergency releases of hazardous materials. The major objective of the program is to prevent work-related harm by assisting in the training of workers in how best to protect themselves and their communities from exposure to hazardous materials encountered during hazardous waste operations, hazardous materials transportation, brownfields and minority worker training workforce development, environmental restoration of nuclear weapons facilities, or chemical emergency response. Additional information can be found at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/wetp Partnership Role = MEHS contributes biomedical, public health, environmental research, and training programs for those engaged in environmental efforts such as cleanup and remediation and provides outreach and education to the public and other organizations across the country regarding these issues. Commitments NIEHS commits to: 1) Continuing to administer and fund the Brownfields Minority Worker Training (MWT) Program in collaboration with EPA's Brownfields Office to increase workforce development opportunities for residents surrounding brownfields communities; 2) Developing a lessons learned or best practices report on current NIEHS Brownfields MWT Programs; 3) Continuing to work with EPA's Brownfields Office to promote job training programs, share and exchange information, and develop other workforce development opportunities; 4) Continuing to work with the federal partners to promote brownfields redevelopment regarding job training, with a specific focus on working with EPA and the Department of Labor; 25 ------- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Commitments (Contd.)" ^ 5) Sharing the WETP Strategic Plan with other federal agencies and organizations to promote additional partnership opportunities; and 6) Linking other WETP grantees with brownfields communities to address other worker-training needs and issues. 26 ------- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Background The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was created as a Cabinet-level agency by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965. HUD's mission is to provide a decent, safe, and sanitary home and suitable living environment for every American by fighting for fair housing, increasing affordable housing and home ownership, reducing homelessness, promoting jobs and economic opportunity, empowering people and communities, and restoring public trust. HUD provides grant funds and economic development loan guarantees to help communities clean up and redevelop brownfields. HUD has three principal economic programs that communities can use to clean up and revitalize contaminated sites: annual formula grants allocated to states and entitlement communities through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG); low interest economic development loan guaran- tees available through the Section 108 Loan Guarantee program; and competitive grants through the Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI). Additionally, there are other economic development, housing, and technical assistance programs available to assist communities with brownfields revitalization, including the Renewal Community/Empowerment Zone/ Enterprise Community Initiative (RC/EZ/EC), the Rural Housing and Economic Development program (RHED), the Home Investment Partnership program (HOME), the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, and HUD's University and College programs. Additional information can be found at: http://www.hud.gov Partnership Role = As the nation's housing and community development agency, HUD supports brownfields development and neighborhood revitalization through a multitude of programs, such as CDBG, Section 108 loan guarantees, BEDI grants, RHED, and the RC/EZ/EC Initiative. Commitments HUD commits to: 1) Emphasizing brownfields redevelopment activities through the utilization of tax incentives within Renewal Communities, Urban Empowerment Zones, and Enterprise Communities, and through funding provided to Brownfields Economic Development Initiative and Rural Housing and Economic Development grantees. This effort includes enhancing the participation of HUD field staff in the development and implementation of brownfields redevelopment projects and identifying available sources of funds that can be used for brownfields activities; 2) Enhancing access by smaller communities to brownfields redevelopment funds by working to secure legislation that will allow for the award of Brownfields Economic Development Initiative funds as direct grants, with no requirement for the concurrent use of Section 108 loan guarantees and no required pledge of a community's CDBG funds to ensure repayment of the guaranteed loans; and 27 ------- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Commitments (Contd.) = 3) Providing timely and useful information about successful brownfields redevelopment efforts through the development of new data and information systems to gather and disseminate information on brownfields project outcomes, and through the inclusion of brownfields redevelopment information in communication and educational materials and activities. 28 ------- U.S. Department of the Interior Background The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) protects, manages and provides access to our nation's natural and cultural heritage on over 507 million acres of lands, or about one-sixth of the land in the U.S., and about 2 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf. Composed of multiple bureaus and offices, DOI manages natural resources for a healthy environment and a strong economy, supports science for a changing world, and provides recreation for America. In addition, DOI honors the U.S. trust responsibilities to federally recognized Indian Tribes and our commitments to U.S. territories and freely associated states. Additional information can be found at: http://www.doi.gov Partnership Role = The Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance (OEPC) within the Office of the Secretary provides for a coordinated and unified approach and response to environmental issues that affect multiple bureaus. The OEPC also acts as an advocate, both inside and outside of DOI, for programs that enable bureaus to accomplish their missions in an efficient and effective manner. The OEPC is currently coordinating with the National Park Service and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement on their respective ongoing brownfields activities; and is supporting the establishment of brownfields partnerships by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and other bureaus. Commitments DOI commits to: 1) Establishing a Brownfields Redevelopment Working Group among DOI bureaus and offices to improve internal Departmental coordination and to enhance the DOI's capacity to partner with EPA's Brownfields Program. The OEPC expects to develop a coordination process, identify and develop ways to address policy issues, assist in specific cases on request, and facilitate direct communication between EPA and DOI. The Brownfields Redevelopment Working Group may also assist EPA in making eligible entities aware of other federal funding resources within DOI; and 2) Exploring the possibility of assisting EPA with inventorying, characterizing, assessing, and planning related to brownfield sites; facilitating DOI participation in performing targeted site assessments; and establishing a DOI brownfields web site. 29 ------- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Background = The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a complex and far-reaching mission in the Department of the Interior (DOI). The vast acreage and myriad natural and cultural resources that the BLM manages as the Federal Government's largest landowner, combined with the complexities of its multiple-use mission, present unique challenges and opportunities. The BLM administers approximately 260 million acres for recreation, commercial activities, cultural resources, biological habitat, and wilderness. Additional information can be found at: http://www.blm.gov/nhp Partnership Role = Because of past commercial activities such as mining and landfills, BLM has many contaminated sites. With the rapid population growth of many western states, some of these sites are now located within or on the edge of towns and cities. These contaminated sites often are the only undeveloped land in the surrounding area and are attractive as greenspace or for recreational purposes. Most of these sites pose little risk to human health and the environment and therefore are not a priority for BLM's cleanup program; however, local communities and municipalities have expressed interest in acquiring these lands for redevelopment and recreational purposes. Commitments BLM commits to: 1) Examining ways to overcome the barriers posed by Section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), which requires federal agencies to clean up all land prior to transfer of the property, and the new Brownfields law prohibiting brownfields grants from being used on Federal property in order to help facilitate the reuse of brownfields; and 2) Working closely with DOI to examine strategies that would allow BLM to participate more fully in the Brownfields Program. 30 ------- U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Background = Protecting the environment during coal mining and making sure the land is reclaimed afterward have been national requirements since 1977, when America's Surface Mining Reclamation Law was signed by Presi- dent Carter. Making sure that those requirements are met is the responsibility of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement (OSM). The OSM is a small bureau with responsibility, in cooperation with the states and Indian Tribes, to protect citizens and the environment during coal mining and reclamation, and to reclaim mines abandoned before 1977. The OSM is organized around two principal requirements: regulating active coal mining and reclaim- ing abandoned mines. In addition, OSM operates programs to eliminate environmental and economic impacts of acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines, encourage reforestation of reclaimed mined land, develop techniques that can ensure reclamation of prime farmland soils, and publicly recognize outstanding reclamation by communicating the experience to others. Additional information can be found at: http://www.osmre.gov Partnership Role = OSM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER). OSM has participated in the Brownfields Program by providing training and support to OSM/ VISTA volunteers and assisting with grant applications for brownfields pilots in coal-impacted watersheds. The new Brownfields law recognizes mine-scarred lands as brownfields, further linking and strengthening the environmental management activities and goals of OSM, EPA, and the other federal partners. Commitments OSM commits to: 1) Working with EPA and other federal partners to address acid mine drainage (AMD) environmental concerns at mining sites, coalfields, and within contaminated watersheds; 2) Continuing to provide technical support to the new brownfields initiatives in Coal Creek, TN, and Kelley's Creek, WV; 3) Continuing to work with OSM/VISTA Watershed Development Coordinators to provide direct training on brownfields in coalfields grant writing and project development; 4) Continuing to provide administrative support through cooperative agreements to first-year OSM/ VISTA positions. OSM and VISTA are committed to expansion of the OSM/VISTA Watershed Development Coordinator positions to new states in 2003; and 5) Participating in regional training with the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP) and other agencies in coal country, and bringing interested watershed VISTA coordinators and other staff to the conferences, whenever feasible. 31 ------- U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Background The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves the nation as an independent fact-finding agency that collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. The value of the USGS to the nation rests on its ability to carry out studies on a national scale and to sustain long-term monitoring and assessment of natural resources. Because it has no regulatory or management mandate, the USGS provides impartial science that serves the needs of our changing world. The diversity of scientific expertise enables the USGS to carry out large-scale, multi-disciplinary investiga- tions that build the base of knowledge about the earth. In turn, decisionmakers at all levels of government- and citizens in all walks of life-have the information tools they need to address pressing societal issues. Additional information can be found at: http://www.usgs.gov Partnership Role = Geographic technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and other technologies that USGS has expertise in, have the potential to play a significant role in the overall brownfields redevelopment process. Commitments USGS commits to: 1) Continuing to work with EPA and DOI's Office of Surface Mining (OSM) to: Determine the role that geographic technologies, such as GIS and remote sensing, can play in the overall brownfields redevelopment process and to demonstrate how these technologies can assist local stakeholders to effectively manage and make decisions based on effective information management; Determine whether spatial data management is a possible tool for use in the overall brownfields process. This has included data development, imagery analysis and on-the-job and formal GIS training; and Conduct outreach and training activities in Appalachia with two new brownfields watersheds, the North Fork of the Blackwater River, West Virginia, and Coal Creek, Tennessee. Research activities will include the analysis of Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) hyper spectral imagery recently collected by NASA over four Appalachian watersheds. 32 ------- U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Background = The National Park Service (NPS) regulates, promotes, and conserves America's national parks in such a manner as to "leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Since NPS's inception in 1916, the United States has changed dramatically and the NPS has expanded its mission to support state and local conservation and recreation efforts in partnership with communities across the country. NPS supports these initiatives through a range of recognition programs, technical assistance, and grant-making programs geared to communities that seek its help. Among these programs is the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA, or Rivers & Trails). RTCA helps local and state agencies and community organizations in their conservation efforts by providing river, trail, and greenway planning, regional assessment, and conservation workshops and consul- tations. A significant amount of RTCA's assistance is targeted to urban areas for projects that include or affect underutilized contaminated properties. Another program through which NPS helps support state and local initiatives is the Federal Lands to Parks program (FLP). Through FLP, NPS helps state and local governments acquire, at no cost, surplus federal lands (such as lands and facilities from decommissioned military bases, former federal buildings, or Army Reserve sites) for public parks and recreation areas. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State Grant Program provides matching assistance to states and, through states, to local units of government for the acquisition and development of public out- door recreation areas and facilities. Program objectives include stimulating states and local jurisdictions to meet new demands for outdoor recreation and to build a permanent legacy in both urban and rural environ- ments. The Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR) program provides grants to economically distressed local governments for the rehabilitation of existing recreation facilities in urban areas, and for innovative recreation programs and services. This program targets underserved populations, such as minority, low-income, at-risk youth, elderly, and disabled person, that have limited opportunities to obtain quality recreation programs and services in their neighborhoods. Additional information can be found at: http://www.ncrc.nps.gov Partnership Role = In July 1996, NPS, through its RTCA program, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA to work cooperatively on initiatives promoting sustainable community-based conservation and brownfields redevel- opment. As a result of the agreement, NPS and EPA launched the Groundwork USA Initiative, a network of locally controlled community corporations working to increase the capacity of communities to improve long-term support for abandoned inner-city industrial sites and other derelict lands. 33 ------- U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Commitments = NPS commits to: 1) Continuing to support the Groundwork USA network, including assisting each of the existing pilots as well as the Groundwork USA national office; 2) Establishing additional pilots around the country as EPA funding permits; and 3) Linking brownfields pilot activities with NPS activities (assistance through RTCA and FLP) to create more attractive and sustainable communities. 34 ------- U.S. Department of Justice Background The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was established in 1870. Today, its diverse responsibilities include a focus on legal issues, drug enforcement, prison operations, and justice programs. DOJ's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) assists state and local governments with law enforcement and community policing. Within OJP, the Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) oversees the DOJ Weed and Seed program. Operation Weed and Seed is a strategy that "weeds out" violent crime, gang activity, drug use, and drug trafficking in targeted neighborhoods and then "seeds" the target area by restoring these neighborhoods through social and economic revitalization. The Weed and Seed strategy recognizes the importance of linking federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts with social services, the private sector, and commu- nity efforts to maximize the impact of existing programs and resources. The Weed and Seed program has four elements: law enforcement; community policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and neighbor- hood restoration. Law enforcement activities constitute the "weed" portion of the program. Revitalization, which includes prevention, intervention, and treatment services and neighborhood restoration, constitutes the "seed" element. Community policing is the bridge that links the Weed and Seed elements. Additional information can be found at: http://www.usdoj.gov, or at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows Partnership Role = DOJ incorporates its Weed and Seed program into Brownfields Pilots by offering up to $50,000 in flexible funding for use in brownfields activities at the discretion of sites. This funding falls within the normal site funding amount described above. Commitments DOJ commits to: 1) Continuing to represent the interests of all federal partners in litigation; 2) Advising federal partners on legislative implementation; 3) Considering revision of the Executive Office for Weed & Seed's Official Recognition and/or grant applications to more strongly encourage brownfields redevelopment; 4) Using settlements and assets to assist with brownfields redevelopment; 5) Continuing to work with the federal partners on the Weed & Seed program and assisting with the use of brownfields funds to clean up methamphetamine labs; and 6) Distributing information and providing guidance to U.S. Attorney's offices and to other partners on the EPA's Brownfields Program through website linkages, a Federal Resource Guide, and other appropriate venues. 35 ------- U.S. Department of Labor Background = The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) was created by Congress in 1913 to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of working people; to improve their working conditions; and to enhance their opportunities for profitable employment. Initially, DOL consisted of four bureaus transferred from the old Department of Commerce and Labor: the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Naturalization, and Children's Bureau. A conciliation service was added to mediate labor disputes. Over time, DOL's role and size changed according to the needs of workers in the ever changing economy. DOL is actively promoting the Brownfields Program through its employment programs. As a part of this effort, DOL is working through stakeholders of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The Workforce Investment Act created a national network of One-Stop Career Centers that offer a host of federally funded employment and training services. There are over 1,800 access points nationwide where individuals and businesses can access services. At One-Stop Career Centers, individuals can access high-quality local information on available jobs, skill requirements, and training provider performance. The WIA provides for a continuum of three levels of services that individuals may progress through: core services, intensive services, and training, with the more extensive levels of services being provided only after an individual is unable to obtain employment with basic services. Additional information can be found at: http://www.doleta.gov Partnership Role = DOL's role in the Brownfields Federal Partnership falls within the Department's existing mission to provide job training and permanent job placement. DOL's basic job and life skills training serves as a necessary complement to other, more environmentally focused training programs designed to help assess and cleanup brownfields. Together, these programs ensure that community residents most impacted by brownfields will directly benefit from their redevelopment. Services at the national, state, and local level all cooperate to promote the complementary missions of DOL and EPA. Commitments DOL commits to: 1) Encouraging state and local Workforce Investment Boards to consider using WIA training funds for local brownfields projects (awarding $11 billion in grants to be used for workforce development); 2) Establishing links to EPA Brownfields websites on DOL websites; 3) Leveraging funds for training grants that may be used in brownfields communities; 4) Distributing training guidance to Workforce Investment Boards; 5) Signing a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA to continue and foster interagency cooperation; and 6) Working with the Office of Apprenticeship to develop competency standards and skill set credential certifications that will ensure training that is institutionalized to meet industry specifications. 36 ------- U.S. Small Business Administration Background — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent federal agency, created by Congress in 1953 to assist, counsel and champion the efforts of America's small businesses. SBA's mission is to provide prospective, new, or established persons in the small business community with financial, procurement, management, and technical assistance. In addition, special emphasis is made to assist women, minorities, the handicapped, and veterans get into and stay in business. SBA's programs are available to any business that meets SBA size standards; is a for-profit organization; and is located in the United States or makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy. Partnership Role = SBA programs are available and relevant to small businesses in brownfields communities. Making SBA's District Offices and other resource partners aware of this brownfields partnership is an important SBA role. Commitments SBA commits to: 1) Disseminating brownfields related information to SBA's District Offices and to all SBA technical assistance providers, such as the Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, and SCORE. This will include information on: SBA Loan Policy: In December 1997, SBA revised its SOP to give district offices greater latitude in evaluating the risk to collateral property from environmental contamination. This revision provided guidance for field offices to determine whether the risk was manageable so that financial assistance could be provided. Previous SBA policy was more restrictive and precluded most financial assistance if there was contamination at a collateral site; Tax Incentives: Under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, certain environmental clean-up costs at targeted brownfields sites may be fully deducted by the current owners of the property in the year in which they are incurred. This is not a tax credit, but it indirectly reduces the tax burden by lowering taxable income; New Superfund liability exemptions, based on the new Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (PL 107-118); and The benefits of brownfields reuse and EPA Brownfields Program grant availability. A recent study by George Washington University shows that encouraging brownfields cleanup and redevelopment removes pressures to develop greenspace. Every acre of brownfields that is redeveloped saves 4.5 acres of greenfields. This is because greenfield land use requirements include land-consuming provisions such as setback requirements, parking requirements, lot coverage or density limitations, and minimum lot size. 37 ------- U.S. Department of Transportation Background The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), created in 1967, has a multifaceted mission. The Depart- ment provides policy leadership and financial assistance to improve transportation and foster economic growth while ensuring safety and security and protecting the environment. Virtually all DOT funds for highways and most transit funds are distributed on a formula basis to state and local transportation agencies. State and regional planning processes set the priorities for highway and transit projects. Several DOT Administrations facilitate the Department's Brownfields Agenda. The Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) Policy Office leads DOT's intermodal brownfields working group. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) administers the Federal-Aid Highway Program, through which authorized funds are available to states for eligible transportation projects. States are responsible for the planning, programming, and selection of projects that receive federal funds. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides financial assistance to local and state government entities for the improvement of public transit systems. FTA funds are allocated by statutory formulas to the public agencies responsible for running transit buses and urban rail systems. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is a safety regulatory agency within DOT that oversees the nation's freight and passenger railroads (motive power, track, signals, equipment and operating practices). The Maritime Administration (MARAD) promotes the development and maintenance of an adequate and well-balanced United States marine transportation system. Neither FRA nor MARAD provide funding. Additional information can be found at: http://www.dot.gov Partnership Role DOT has actively participated in the interagency effort to promote the Brownfields Program, and is explor- ing ways to address brownfields within the context of its transportation mission. Commitments DOT commits to: 1) Encouraging communication and partnership links among transportation agencies, environmental, state, local, and private sector partners involved in brownfields redevelopment; 2) Working with the federal partners to foster communication on a regional level among field staff; 3) Sharing best practices and offering technical assistance and training to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), states, and local governments; 4) Expanding existing guidance on state and local transportation agency and MPO consideration of community brownfields redevelopment in transportation planning; 5) Conducting research on relationships between brownfields and transportation; and 6) Identifying brownfields opportunities in and around ports, as well as opportunities to incorporate intermodal transportation projects, such as ferry terminals and inland facilities. 38 ------- |