The Alaska Brownfield Initiative John B. Carnahan Alaska DEC – Brownfield Coordinator Alaska Forum on the Environment

Community Concerns Want responsible cleanup of sites & discourage polluting Want responsible cleanup of sites & discourage polluting Stimulate redevelopment Stimulate redevelopment Create jobs and investment opportunities Create jobs and investment opportunities Investment in economically disadvantaged areas Investment in economically disadvantaged areas Avoid stigmatizing any community or neighborhood Avoid stigmatizing any community or neighborhood

Working Brownfield Definition “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”

Brownfield’s Include Residential, Commercial & Industrial Properties Residential, Commercial & Industrial Properties Petroleum (e.g., Abandoned Gas Stations) Petroleum (e.g., Abandoned Gas Stations) “Mine-scarred” Land (e.g. abandoned waste rock/spent ore piles) “Mine-scarred” Land (e.g. abandoned waste rock/spent ore piles) Controlled Substances (e.g. Illegal Drug Labs) Controlled Substances (e.g. Illegal Drug Labs) …emphasis on sustainable reuse potential

Benefits of Reusing Brownfields Benefits of redeveloping brownfields are both environmental and economic. Protects human health and the environment Protects human health and the environment Prevents spread of the contaminants Prevents spread of the contaminants Restores or replaces dilapidated buildings Restores or replaces dilapidated buildings Creates jobs Creates jobs Utilizes existing infrastructure Utilizes existing infrastructure

Brownfield Revitalization Grants Assessment Assessment Cleanup Cleanup Revolving Loan Funds Revolving Loan Funds Job Training Job Training

Assessment Grants Examples of Eligible Activities Examples of Eligible Activities –Creation of Brownfields Inventories with GIS –Outreach and Community Activities –Closed and Illegal Landfill Assessments –Assess Deteriorating Buildings for Re-Use –Planning Activities –Site Assessments and Release Investigations Request up to $200K+

Cleanup Grants Cannot be responsible for contamination Cannot be responsible for contamination Grant Recipients Must Own the Property before Award Grant Recipients Must Own the Property before Award Request up to $200k/site up to 5 sites Request up to $200k/site up to 5 sites Requires a 20% Match, Unless Hardship Waiver Granted Requires a 20% Match, Unless Hardship Waiver Granted Limitations on eligible activities Limitations on eligible activities

Revolving Loan Fund Grants Recipients Must Own the Property before Award Recipients Must Own the Property before Award Request up to $1 million per Eligible Entity Request up to $1 million per Eligible Entity Requires a 20% Match (Unless Hardship Waiver Granted) Requires a 20% Match (Unless Hardship Waiver Granted) Up to 40% of RLF Funds May Be Used for Cleanup Sub-grants Up to 40% of RLF Funds May Be Used for Cleanup Sub-grants Think about pooling resources – Form coalitions!

Who Is Eligible in Alaska? Alaska Native Village Corporations Alaska Native Village Corporations Alaska Native Regional Corporations Alaska Native Regional Corporations Metlakatla Indian Community Metlakatla Indian Community State and Local Governments State and Local Governments Nonprofit Organizations (Cleanup Only) Nonprofit Organizations (Cleanup Only) Land Clearance/Quasi-Governmental Entities Land Clearance/Quasi-Governmental Entities State Legislated Government Entities State Legislated Government Entities Regional Councils of Government Regional Councils of Government Redevelopment Agency –under Tribe/State Redevelopment Agency –under Tribe/State

Develop Partnerships! Native Regional or Village Corporations Native Regional or Village Corporations State Agencies State Agencies Local Recognized Governments Local Recognized Governments Cities Cities Non-profits Non-profits DEC can assist you in establishing a focused assessment/redevelopment initiative

Alaska Brownfield Initiative Only in second year of development Only in second year of development Focus on learning what works/is needed Focus on learning what works/is needed Disseminating information Disseminating information Listening to communities & others Listening to communities & others Make staff available – focus on planning Make staff available – focus on planning Communication with DEC is key! Intro

DEC Brownfield Goals Understand Rural and Urban Community Needs Understand Rural and Urban Community Needs –Community economic development plans Seek Rural Community Grant Opportunities Seek Rural Community Grant Opportunities –i.e., Conduct ‘Survey and Inventory’ of rural brownfield sites Evaluate Loan Fund Potential for Alaska Evaluate Loan Fund Potential for Alaska –Requires development plans/interested parties Evaluate State-Owned Brownfield Sites Evaluate State-Owned Brownfield Sites –assess and cleanup economically viable sites such as schools, airport properties, other?

New DEC Priorities Focus on Sites With: –Varying degrees of risk –Potential sustainable economic opportunity and redevelopment plans –Willing parties seeking solutions Must establish a clear picture of Alaska brownfields – both urban and rural

Alaska Brownfield Projects DEC Projects Former Mine Site Assess (Deering) – under develop. Former Mine Site Assess (Deering) – under develop. Pilot Rural Community Inventory and Survey – under develop. Pilot Rural Community Inventory and Survey – under develop. Mountain View Cultural Arts Development Assess (Anchorage) Mountain View Cultural Arts Development Assess (Anchorage) Universal Recycling Assess (Fairbanks) Universal Recycling Assess (Fairbanks) Former Service Station Assess (Moose Creek) Former Service Station Assess (Moose Creek) EPA Awards St. Paul – Assessment Grant St. Paul – Assessment Grant Selawik – Job Training Grant Selawik – Job Training Grant Fairbanks North Star Borough – Assessment Grant Fairbanks North Star Borough – Assessment Grant City of Nome – Cleanup Grant City of Nome – Cleanup Grant Ketchikan Gateway Borough – Assessment Pilot Ketchikan Gateway Borough – Assessment Pilot Metlakatla Indian Community – Showcase Community Metlakatla Indian Community – Showcase Community

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DEC Financial Assistance Opportunities Current Current –EPA funded Brownfield Assessments - limited to 3 to 5 assessments per year –Capital Improvement Projects – prioritization still on ‘high risk’ sites Possible Possible –Evaluating a state-owned site program –EPA Revolving Loan Funds? –State Revolving Loan Funds? –Other?

The Brownfield Community DEC and other State Agencies – staff assistance DEC and other State Agencies – staff assistance EPA – staffing and financial assistance EPA – staffing and financial assistance Communities, cities, villages Communities, cities, villages Native Corporations, Village Corporations Native Corporations, Village Corporations Local governments, agencies, departments Local governments, agencies, departments Non-profit organizations Non-profit organizations Developers, property owners, banks, etc. Developers, property owners, banks, etc. Concerned citizens Concerned citizens Requires cooperative working relationships

Targeted Brownfield Assessments New - Fairbanks Chena River bend Project New - Fairbanks Chena River bend Project Arctic Village Arctic Village Village of Venatie Village of Venatie Ship Creek, Anchorage Ship Creek, Anchorage Ugashik Traditional Village Ugashik Traditional Village Fort Yukon Fort Yukon