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FY 2018 EPA Brownfields Grant Application Guidelines Released

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The FY 2018 application guidelines for EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grants have been released by the Office of Land and Emergency Management. Proposals are due to EPA by November 16, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.

These federal grants are available for the assessment and cleanup of brownfield properties.

For assistance with applying for a FY 2018 Brownfields Grant, contact your regional EPA representative or the Region 5 Technical Assistance to Brownfield (TAB) provider, KSU. TAB can provide free review of your draft EPA Assessment and Cleanup proposals. Please give TAB a one-week heads-up that you will be sending a draft to review. It generally takes TAB a few days to get the proposals back to you. Please contact Blase Leven (785-532-0780) to reserve your spot.

To find out how to get a DNR letter of support and other useful information, visit the DNR Federal brownfield grants web page.

Pittsville, Edgerton receive DNR brownfield awards

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MADISON – Two Wisconsin communities stand to benefit from Department of Natural Resources brownfields awards to assist with the investigation of historic contamination.

Pittsville and Edgerton received Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) from the DNR for contractor services worth a combined $45,000. Administered by the DNR Remediation and Redevelopment Program, WAM awards provide communities with professional environmental site assessments of contaminated properties.

“The work will help the communities better understand the contaminated areas in question, leading to potential job growth, retention and economic development,” said Christine Haag, DNR brownfields section chief.

Continue reading “Pittsville, Edgerton receive DNR brownfield awards” →

Innovative Brownfield Redevelopments Sought for Phoenix Award at National Brownfields Conference

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The application process for the Phoenix Awards during the 2017 National Brownfields Conference is now open. The award highlights outstanding brownfield redevelopment and revitalization, with top projects offering a fresh take on cleanups, innovation, and community impact.

The deadline to submit an application for this year’s Phoenix Awards is October 4, 2017. Awards will be presented during this year’s National Brownfields Conference, held Dec. 5-7 in Pittsburgh, PA.

PECFA Claim Information Now Available at BOTW

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A password-protected website that was meant to be the new home for PECFA claim information after the discontinuation of Tracker on the Web (TOTW), has itself been discontinued.

Earlier this month, the Remediation and Redevelopment Program pulled the plug on “Tracker” because the aging technology that supported TOTW was no longer maintained by the State. The Program planned to provide the same information on a password-protected website.

However, after experiencing difficulties with this website and with formatting the information to be accessible, the RR Program is taking a new approach using the familiar database, BRRTS on the Web (BOTW).

Continue reading “PECFA Claim Information Now Available at BOTW” →

Updates to RR Program Guidance on Submitting Documents; Advice on Using Fillable PDF Forms

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As the Remediation and Redevelopment Program strives to make site file records available electronically through its online resource, BRRTS on the Web (BOTW), we’ve updated our guidance for consultants to submit those records in the most timely and effective ways possible.

The Guidance for Submitting Documents to the Remediation and Redevelopment Program (RR-690) includes a number of updates. Consultants are encouraged to review the updated guidance. By following the recommendations in the guidance, consultants will help RR staff identify and review submittals in a timely manner.

If you have questions on how to submit documents to the RR Program, please contact a regional RR Program Environmental Program Associate (EPA).

The RR Program also reminds consultants that when saving or editing Program forms to use Adobe Acrobat software. This is especially important if the form will need to be edited before submitting to the DNR. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free at https://get.adobe.com/reader/.

Snapshot: PECFA Financials

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The RR Program provides monthly updates on the status of PECFA claims and the overall PECFA budget.

Below are the updated PECFA claim numbers for August 2017, including the number of claims received, claims paid, and the total dollar amount of claims paid in the current fiscal year.

Number

Value
Claims Received 81 $716,832
Claims Paid 107 $515,125
Claims in audit line (as of August 31) 13 $323,128
Total Paid FY18 $1,196,495

 

Upcoming ITRC Training

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September 19:
Integrated DNAPL Site Strategy

September 26:
Integrated DNAPL Site Characterization

September 28:
Use and Measurement of Mass Flux and Mass Discharge

October 3:
Geophysical Classification for Munitions Response

October 5:
Issues and Options in Human Health Risk Assessment – A Resource When Alternatives to Default Parameters and Scenarios are Proposed

October 12:
Groundwater Statistics for Environmental Project Managers

October 26:
Geospatial Analysis for Optimization at Environmental Sites

 

PECFA U & C Cost Schedule Task Reference Guide Posted

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The U & C Cost Schedule #22 has been posted in the new format of a UCCS Task Reference Guide. This format incorporates the U & C Task Reference Guide (formerly RR-069) directly into the applicable sections of the U & C Cost Schedule. This new format will continue to be updated semi-annually and posted to the PECFA web page, under the “Reimbursement” tab, then under the “Schedule” column.

In addition, PECFA Claim Completion Instructions (RR-946) and PECFA – Claim and Cost Eligibility Overview (RR-942) have also been updated and are posted under the “Documents” tab on the PECFA web page.

 

Cleanup & Redevelopment Webinars

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The Center for Creative Land Recycling – an EPA provider of Technical Assistance for Brownfields – will offer a variety of webinars in the coming weeks:

  • Dig and haul. Pump and treat. These approaches are so 1990 and may create as many environmental impacts as they set out to fix. Learn how new in-situ treatment technologies reduce the risks and advance the interim or final reuse of brownfield sites. Register here for in-situ remediation on September 13, 2017.
  • Ever wonder how the plant kingdom can contribute to your remediation efforts? Our in-depth dive will let you into the mechanics, best practices, trends, and latest research on phytoremediation. Register here for Phytoremediation on October 4, 2017.
  • Learn how brownfields are being safely transformed into assets that support community health in a variety of ways, from gardens to clinics. Learn how the growing trend of brownfields to healthfields might inform your project. Register for Urban Agriculture and Healthfields here on October 11, 2017.

All the classes above begin at 1:00 CST and are free of charge, but require advance registration.

2017 National Brownfields Training Conference – Registration Open

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Registration is open for the 2017 National Brownfields Training Conference. This year’s event is being held in Pittsburgh, PA and will run from Dec. 5-7, 2017.

This is the premier brownfields and land revitalization event of the year; attendees will enjoy opportunities to participate in training events, observe success stories first hand during mobile workshops, listen to experts regarding best practices for meeting brownfields challenges, and network with thousands of other stakeholders.

Registration and accommodations are now open for the event.

Visit the official Brownfields Conference Website for additional information at www.brownfields2017.org.