1. The Alaska Brownfield Initiative
Thank you for being able to participate in this event. It is most beneficial to be able to speak about the potential brownfield issues, and to be able to assist communities, governments, and individuals in finding and realizing solutions to environmental problems.
Discuss why we have the individuals that we have – interest in reaching out to rural communities lead me to contact various individuals at the Tanana Chiefs Conference. Seeking assistance in reaching out.
I learned that there is a perception that Brownfields was NOT for rural sites or issues, and the majority of interest lies in economic development. This is understandable since most money is available through development grants.
I explained that brownfields resonates with economic development – planning – community concerns. Community development should be comprehensive and include an understanding of issues that could impede development – better to know up front and plan. Additionally, recognition of BF issues up front may allow for financial assistance for a contaminant issue and lead to funding that will assist the development plan.
Community planning is something that Mara is involved with and she lead to the Ruth as the contact with DCCED. Community planning and mapping are both significant objectives of Brownfields legislation and the DEC. We are currently involved with increasing our data management objectives and our ability to communicate that information internally and to the public.
Of course EPA is involved because at this point in time, most of our available funding for Alaska is based in federal programs. There are multiple federal sources of funding that are available, but we are here to focus on the two primary Brownfield funding mechanisms, and discuss plans to assess other potential efforts.
John B. Carnahan
Alaska DEC – Brownfield Coordinator
Alaska Forum on the Environment

2. Community Concerns
Want responsible cleanup of sites & discourage polluting
Stimulate redevelopment
Create jobs and investment opportunities
Investment in economically disadvantaged areas
Avoid stigmatizing any community or neighborhood
From the standpoint of the local community, brownfield-related concerns and objectives include cleaning contaminated sites, redeveloping underutilized properties, creating new jobs and tax base, discouraging pollution, avoiding “brown-lining,” and encouraging banks to invest in the local community.
It doesn’t matter if you are a big city or a small village – the people generally demand much of the same when it comes to environmental and economic issues.

3. 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”
Here’s the commonly used definition of a brownfield.  It refers to an industrial or commercial facility that is abandoned or under-used, where real or perceived contamination complicates the ability to expand or redevelop the property.  Also implicit in the term is the potential for urban revitalization.
Also can include a former tank farm, school site, abandoned building that may have asbestos or lead issue,
Not limited to any specific criteria other than the perception that there is a problem.

4. …emphasis on sustainable reuse potential
Brownfield’s Include
Residential, Commercial & Industrial Properties
Petroleum (e.g., Abandoned Gas Stations)
“Mine-scarred” Land (e.g. abandoned waste rock/spent ore piles)
Controlled Substances (e.g. Illegal Drug Labs)
Funding proposals should specifically identify properties they believe fit these situations and explain why they fall within the scope of the definition.
MINE-SCARRED LAND are lands, associated waters, and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation or processing of ores and minerals (including coal and hard rock minerals) has occurred (see funding guidelines for more examples.)
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES are defined under the Controlled Substances Act as “a drug or other substance, or immediate precursor…and does not include distilled spirits, wine, malt beverages, or tobacco...”
LOW RISK PETROLEUM PROPERTIES - those that do not fall within scope of high risk sites:
High risk” sites are those currently being cleaned up using LUST Trust Fund monies, or
Any petroleum-contaminated site that currently is subject to a response under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA).
Funding proposals should include a statement that the applicant did not cause or contribute petroleum contamination at the properties proposed for funding
…emphasis on sustainable reuse potential

5. Benefits of Reusing Brownfields
Benefits of redeveloping brownfields are both environmental and economic.
Protects human health and the environment
Prevents spread of the contaminants
Restores or replaces dilapidated buildings
Creates jobs
Utilizes existing infrastructure
As most of you probably know already the contamination residing on the types of properties we’re talking about can represent a significant threat to human health and ecosystems. Contaminants do not respect property boundaries, and you might say the same thing about the people who are affected by contaminants. By removing or treating contamination we often remove the risk that humans and/or ecosystems are affected by harmful substances via pathways such as soil ingestion, inhalation, via groundwater and surface water, etc.
But this particular program reaches beyond cleanup by targeting properties that have reuse potential, specifically reuses that restore or replace dilapidated buildings and remove blight from communities, stimulate the local economy by creating jobs, and utilize existing infrastructure.

6. Brownfield Revitalization Grants
Assessment
Cleanup
Revolving Loan Funds
Job Training
Now that we have identified the what and why, what assistance is there?
States, Tribes, Local Governments, Land Clearance Authorities, Regional Councils, Redevelopment Agencies & Other Quasi –Governmental Entities
Universities & Job-Training Organizations
-job training

7. Assessment Grants 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+
Assessment caps are per eligible entity/per year
Assessments may be conducted at private properties if access is secured.
Waiver for site specific work only
Tribes not considered individual = not prp
2year grant period
Waivers may increase the amount of the grant to $350K. Individual grants for hazardous chemicals or petroleum.

8. Cleanup Grants Cannot be responsible for contamination
Grant Recipients Must Own the Property before Award
Request up to $200k/site up to 5 sites
Requires a 20% Match, Unless Hardship Waiver Granted
Limitations on eligible activities
Only eligible activities may serve as the match, therefore administrative costs may not be applied. Other “eligible” in-kind services, materials and labor may be used. Eligible activities include cleanup, community outreach, purchase of environmental insurance, completion of state-required submittals, sampling and analysis if it is part of the cleanup, review of loan applications and oversight of cleanups conducted under loans or subgrants.
Remember, in addition to administrative costs, assessment, demolition, and construction/development activities are not allowable costs.
Applicants may request a hardship waiver for the match requirements
Direct Cleanups -An eligible entity may apply for funding for cleanup of up to 5 properties per year.
Cleanup grant recipients must demonstrate ownership of the property prior to grant award.
Monitoring Institutional & Engineering Controls/ Environmental Insurance
Previously, cleanups conducted with brownfields funding had to comply with the Superfund (CERCLA and the NCP). The new law allows us to decide which sections of the NCP are relevant and appropriate to future brownfields cleanups.
EPA has conducted an analysis of the NCP to determine what provisions are relevant and appropriate to brownfields cleanups. The goal has been to maintain sufficient flexibility but assure that our basic mission (protection of human health and the environment) is not compromised. In addition, we have worked with the office responsible for administering the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) to insure that a brownfields cleanup does not require a analysis such as an environmental impact statement that is required for activities conducted with federal funds. Brownfields activities in the past have been in full compliance with the NCP, which was determined to have a process at least equivalent to the NEPA requirements.
In addition to setting cleanup levels that protect human health & the environment, protectiveness includes ensuring that if a cleanup is not completed, the grant recipient must secure the site and notify EPA and the State year grant period

9. Revolving Loan Fund Grants
Recipients Must Own the Property before Award
Request up to $1 million per Eligible Entity
Requires a 20% Match (Unless Hardship Waiver Granted)
Up to 40% of RLF Funds May Be Used for Cleanup Sub-grants
Think about pooling resources – Form coalitions!
Only eligible activities may serve as the match, therefore administrative costs may not be applied. Other “eligible” in-kind services, materials and labor may be used. Eligible activities include cleanup, community outreach, purchase of environmental insurance, completion of state-required submittals, sampling and analysis if it is part of the cleanup, review of loan applications and oversight of cleanups conducted under loans or subgrants.
Remember, in addition to administrative costs, assessment, demolition, and construction/development activities are not allowable costs.
Applicants may request a hardship waiver for the match requirements – keep in mind this truly needs to be hardship and we should discuss this prior to submittal of your proposal
RLF recipients establish the repayment terms for loans; subgrants do not have to be repaid.
RLF loans may be made “to self”, however, RLF subgrants for cleanup may not
RLF’s may provide loans to both public and private entities. These are often low- or no-interest loans for brownfields cleanups.
RLF proposals may be submitted by coalitions to pool their capitalization funds – a coalition is eligible for up to $1 million per eligible entity. Letters of agreement must be provided by all coalition members.
Monitoring Institutional & Engineering Controls
Environmental Insurance
Previously, cleanups conducted with brownfields funding had to comply with the Superfund (CERCLA and the NCP). The new law allows us to decide which sections of the NCP are relevant and appropriate to future brownfields cleanups.
EPA has conducted an analysis of the NCP to determine what provisions are relevant and appropriate to brownfields cleanups. The goal has been to maintain sufficient flexibility but assure that our basic mission (protection of human health and the environment) is not compromised. In addition, we have worked with the office responsible for administering the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) to insure that a brownfields cleanup does not require a analysis such as an environmental impact statement that is required for activities conducted with federal funds. Brownfields activities in the past have been in full compliance with the NCP, which was determined to have a process at least equivalent to the NEPA requirements.
In addition to setting cleanup levels that protect human health & the environment, protectiveness includes ensuring that if a cleanup is not completed, the grant recipient must secure the site and notify EPA and the State.

10. Who Is Eligible in Alaska?
Alaska Native Village Corporations
Alaska Native Regional Corporations
Metlakatla Indian Community
State and Local Governments
Nonprofit Organizations (Cleanup Only)
Land Clearance/Quasi-Governmental Entities
State Legislated Government Entities
Regional Councils of Government
Redevelopment Agency –under Tribe/State
States, Tribes, Local Governments, Land Clearance Authorities, Regional Councils, Redevelopment Agencies & Other Quasi –Governmental Entities
Universities & Job-Training Organizations
-job training

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

12. Alaska Brownfield Initiative
Only in second year of development
Focus on learning what works/is needed
Disseminating information
Listening to communities & others
Make staff available – focus on planning
Communication with DEC is key!
Only a handful of sites in Alaska
Conducted two BF assessments with Grant funding
Additional sites awarded this year
Communication with the DEC is key to working on any project.
Intro

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

14. 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
The DEC is currently understanding the need to prioritize workload beyond the focus on those that are only of high perceived risk of exposure. While those sites are critical, it is critical to communities that economic considerations associated with abandoned properties be dealt with in a reasonable manner.
The DEC understands that
It is important to seek complete development planning since the end-use of a property is important in determining the cleanup goals and objectives.
The intent of this initiative is to make parties more willing to work through the environmental issues, whereby the DEC is a partner rather than an obstacle to assessment and development.

15. Alaska Brownfield Projects
DEC Projects
Former Mine Site Assess (Deering) – under develop.
Pilot Rural Community Inventory and Survey – under develop.
Mountain View Cultural Arts Development Assess (Anchorage)
Universal Recycling Assess (Fairbanks)
Former Service Station Assess (Moose Creek)
EPA Awards
St. Paul – Assessment Grant
Selawik – Job Training Grant
Fairbanks North Star Borough – Assessment Grant
City of Nome – Cleanup Grant
Ketchikan Gateway Borough – Assessment Pilot
Metlakatla Indian Community – Showcase Community
Just to bring it home, EPA has awarded brownfields assessment grants to 25 different recipients throughout Washington.
You see among these recipients are all levels of local government, including development agencies, and also tribes.
The 2004 Awards you see there represent the recipients who applied this time last year. Currently we’re taking applications for FY2005 awards, which are scheduled to be announced in Spring and awarded in Summer of 2005.

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