Brownfields

Green Team Assistance for Local Governments

Green Team Meeting

The DNR’s “Green Team” meetings bring important parties together to discuss issues, answer key questions and give everyone a better understanding of the project.

Contaminated land often raises liability concerns, technical issues and funding questions. The DNR’s “Green Team” meetings bring important parties in the cleanup and redevelopment process together to discuss issues, answer key questions and give everyone a better understanding of the project at hand. DNR staff are available to discuss liability protections, regulatory processes and financial assistance available for the investigation, remediation and redevelopment of a contaminated property.

Green Team meetings are an effective and efficient way for local governments and others to evaluate options, plan for and work through a brownfield project. Many successful brownfield redevelopment projects in Wisconsin start with a local Green Team meeting. Funding from the EPA helps make this possible.

DNR staff participate in more than 100 Green Team meetings annually. Additional information, including a list of meetings held so far this year, can be found in the Section 128(a) Grant Mid-Year Report.

To learn more about Green Team meetings in general, visit the RR Program’s Green Team assistance web page.

FY 16-17 Remediation and Redevelopment Program 128(a) Mid-Year Report Complete

Mid Year Report 128a FY 16-17 Cover

The DNR submits reports twice a year to EPA on the use of brownfields grant funds to enhance its state response program and to fulfill public record requirements.

The RR Program’s mid-year report to the EPA, which details outputs and outcomes funded by a federal grant, is now available for review. The Section 128(a) Grant Mid-Year Report, for the reporting period of September 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017, highlights work completed in the first half of the funding year.

Since 2003, the RR Program has consistently and efficiently used these funds under a cooperative agreement with the EPA to enhance state efforts with brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. Previous reports can be found on the Brownfields Program web page.

 

Free Webinar: Brownfields Financing Webinar Series – Financing Brownfields with Private Activity Bonds (PABs)

As part of CDFA’s Brownfields Technical Assistance Program, the Brownfield Financing Webinar Series will include three 90-minute webinars over the year and will focus on effective use of brownfields and redevelopment financing tools, while highlighting best practices, case studies, and CDFA’s technical assistance program participants. This series is designed for professionals who work directly with brownfield sites as well as economic development professionals and communities interested in shaping programs to enhance redevelopment financing opportunities.

The latest webinar of this series discusses the use of Private Activity Bonds (PABs) for brownfield redevelopment projects and how communities can use PABs strategically and in combination with other financing tools.

The Brownfields 2017 Call for Ideas Is Open

Help design a fantastic conference agenda — submit your educational programming proposals for the EPA’s 2017 National Brownfields Training Conference.

Join the next National Brownfields Training Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 5 -7, 2017.  In addition to regular conference programming, EPA will hold pre-conference workshops on December 4.

You are invited to submit your ideas for dynamic educational sessions that encourage conversation and participation from your fellow attendees. A great Brownfields 2017 educational program will motivate brownfields stakeholders to engage, learn, and share their experiences and knowledge of community revitalization challenges and solutions.

How to Submit an Idea

Submit an abstract for a Brownfields 2017 session or presentation using our online submission form on www.brownfields2017.org. Deadline is March 17, 2017.

For questions, contact Patricia Overmeyer, at the EPA Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, 202-566-2774, Overmeyer.Patricia@epa.gov

Prepared Workbook: Process for Risk Evaluation, Property Analysis and Reuse Decisions

The Prepared Workbook for Brownfields and Land Revitalization from the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is a risk management framework for evaluating various actions that a local government might take to bring about a desired reuse at contaminated properties that it does not currently own.

The workbook is available now from the CDFA and is a good resource for municipal officials who are looking to clean up and redevelop contaminated property.

 

Free Webinar – Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization: Meet the Funders – Parks, Community Health, and the Arts February 28, 2017

Brownfield grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are one of many sources of funds that can support redevelopment of contaminated sites. This webinar will highlight a number of redevelopment resources available from the National Park Service (NPS), The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to leverage your brownfield dollars.

The webinar will also feature a presentation from a community that has successfully used grants, loans and other support from these agencies for its revitalization efforts. It is the fourth in OBLR’s webinar series on what communities need to know to successfully leverage resources for brownfields revitalization. Register online.

Free Brownfields Technical Assistance in 2017

Ready to redevelop that brownfield property but not sure how to finance it? Let the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) financing experts provide free recommendations for your project. Opportunities are now available for on-site technical assistance through CDFA Brownfields Project Response Teams. CDFA staff and advisors will travel to your community to tour the site, meet with stakeholders, and provide financing recommendations. To learn more, take part in the CDFA’s free webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 1:00 EST.

The Council of Development Finance Agencies is a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing public, private and non-profit entities alike. For more information about CDFA, visit www.cdfa.net.

DNR Secretary Tours Merrill Brownfields

Merrill Brownfields Tour

In the photo are (L to R): Christine Haag, DNR; David Johnson, City of Merrill; Ken Maule, Merrill Area Development Corporation; DNR Sec. Stepp; John Robinson, DNR; Marie Steenlage, WEDC; Gary Hartwig, Merrill Area Development Corporation; Tim Weber, WEDC; John Gozdzialski, DNR.

Wisconsin DNR Sec. Cathy Stepp (center) leads a “Cabinet on the Road” tour of Merrill, Wis. The group paused for a photo in front of the River Bend Trail, a bicycling and walking path that winds its way along the Wisconsin River and passes through a handful of brownfield cleanup sites that the City and DNR have teamed up to address, including the former Hurd Manufacturing property.

Gov. Scott Walker kicked off the Cabinet on the Road series last July as a way for the administration to hear directly from citizens about important matters affecting their communities.

Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization: Meet the Funders – Economic Development Webinar Recording Available

Are you a local government representative searching for brownfield funding? Wondering what federal brownfield financial assistance is available beyond the EPA? In this webinar, Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization: Meet the Funders – Economic Development, you will hear from federal agencies such as the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, US Dept. of Agriculture-Rural Development and the US Economic Development Administration (part of US Dept. of Commerce), about practical and immediately useful information about the type of funding available and how to apply for it.

DNR Brownfields “Annual Accomplishments” Report Available

The RR Program’s annual brownfields accomplishments report to US EPA, which details outputs and outcomes funded by a federal grant, is now available. The Section 128(a) Grant Final Accomplishments Report, for the reporting period of September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016, highlights work completed in past the funding year. Since 2003, the RR Program has consistently and efficiently used these funds to enhance state efforts with brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.

Previous 128(a) reports can be found on the Brownfields Program webpage.