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EPA’s Brownfields Program and the BUILD Act

BrownfieldsandBUILDACT

§ HistoricoverviewofBrownfieldsLaw§ BUILDActImplementation–Immediate(FY18grantees)

§ BUILDActImplementation–Future(FY19granteesandbeyond)

§ NextSteps

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Definition:“Brownfield”(federal)ABrownfieldssiteisrealproperty…

theexpansion,redevelopment,orreuseofwhichmaybecomplicatedbythepresenceorpotentialpresenceofahazardoussubstance,pollutant,orcontaminant.

Brownfields…howitstarted§  1993:Mayorsmeetw/EPAAdministratorre:impactsofbrownfields

§  Superfund’sstrictandseveralliabilitymadeitdifficultformunicipalitiestomanagecontaminatedpropertiesleftbehindafterpesticide,sugar,industrialandmanufacturingoperationsclosed

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BrownfieldslinktoSuperfund?

§  SuperfundHistory–CongressestablishedCERCLAin1980inresponsetogrowingconcernoverhealthandenvironmentalissuesposedbyhazardouswastesites

§  Superfund’sliabilityprocedureistoensurePotentiallyResponsibleParties(PRPs)andpropertyownersareheldaccountablefortheiractionsandproperties

HowdidSuperfundLiabilityhelpcreatetheBrownfieldsChallenge?

§  PotentialpurchasersordevelopersdidnotwanttobenamedasPRPs

§  Scaredlendersfrominvestingontheseprojects(e.g,bankers,developers)

§  Timeframeassociatedwithresolvingliabilityissues

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FederalBrownfieldsLawH.R.2869-"SmallBusinessLiabilityReliefandBrownfieldsRevitalizationAct”– SignedJanuary11,2002

§  BasicallyrelievesanownerfromCERCLAliabilityifthepropertywaspurchasedafterJan.2002AND

§  Theownerconductedan“AllAppropriateInquiry”–  requirementsforassessingtheenvironmentalconditionspriortoacquisition

BiggestImpactsofLaw§  BonaFideProspectivePurchaserprovisionassistswithliabilityfear

§  Developedguidanceonwhatconstitutesduediligence-AllAppropriateInquiriesmadefinalNovember1,2006

§  Developedagrantsprogramandsetasideannualfunding(upto$200Mayear)

§  Fundscouldbespentonsiteswithpetroleumcontamination

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� NOTanEnforcementProgram� Grantsandtechnicalassistance� Liabilityprotectiontoincreasecertaintyandencourageprivateinvestment

Cleanup, Remediation, and

Waste Management Deconstruction, Demolition, and

Removal

Design and Construction for

Reuse

Sustainable Use and Long Term

Stewardship

EPA’sBrownfieldsProgram

2002BrownfieldsAmendments

SubtitleA– BrownfieldsRevitalizationFundingSubtitleB– BrownfieldsLiabilityClarificationsSubtitleC– StateResponsePrograms

RecentlyAmendedbytheBrownfieldsUtilization,Investment,andLocalDevelopmentAct(BUILDAct)-enactedonMarch23,2018

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BUILDActAmendments–OwnershipandLiability

§  Removed “involuntarily” providing certainty to governmental entities that took control of a site by virtue of its function as sovereign

§  Provide relief for Alaska Native Villages and Native Corps

§  Added exemption of certain publicly owned sites for grant eligibility – Receive assistance for sites acquired prior to

1/11/02 so long as did not contribute/cause contamination

§  Revised Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser definition to include tenancy or leasehold interests 11

BUILDActAmendments–CompetitiveGrantPrograms

§  ExpandedEligibilityforNonprofitOrganizationsandLLCs–  501(c)(3)nonprofitstoreceiveassessmentandRLFgrants

§  IncreasedFundingforCleanupGrants(upto$500kpersite)§  EstablishedaMulti-PurposeGrant(upto$1M)for

assessment&cleanup§  AddedtwonewRankingCriteriaforgrantprograms§  RemovedAdministrativeCostProhibition(allowingforupto

5%onadministrativecosts)§  Re-authorizedlevelfundingat$200MeachFY2019-2023

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BUILDActAmendments–State&TribalResponsePrograms

§  Authorizednewgrantprogramavailableto128(a)recipientstoprovidetraining,technicalassistanceorresearchforsmallanddisadvantagedcommunities(15,000poporless)– Use104(k)funding,maxof$20kpercommunity,nomorethan$1.5Mtotalcanbeawarded

– Willcounttowardsoverall15%TechnicalAssistancecapon104(k)appropriations

§  Re-authorizedfundingat$50MeachFY2019-2023

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FollowingprovisionswillbeimplementedimmediatelyandareavailabletoFY18grantrecipientsandfuturegrantrecipients.§  recipientsmayuseupto5%ofawardonadministrativecosts

§  petroleumsitesnolongerwillbeevaluatedas“relativelylowriskascomparedtootherpetroleumsitesintheState”

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BUILD Act Implementation: immediate provisions

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BUILD Act Implementation: future provisions

FY19grantguidelines(Fall2018):§  Neweligibility:501(c)(3)entitiesareeligibleforallgrant

types§  CleanupGrants–upto$500k;maxofonegrantperentity§  Newstatutoryrankingcriteria-extentthegrantwould:

–  addressasiteadjacenttobodyofwaterorfederally-designatedfloodplain

–  facilitatelocationofafacilitygeneratingrenewableelectricityfromwind/solar/geothermal,oranyenergyefficiencyimprovementprojectatabrownfieldsite

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BUILD Act Implementation: future provisions cont’d

Multi-PurposeGrant–(Policydecisionsunderconsideration)§  Carryoutinventory,characterization,assessment,planningand

remediationactivitiesfor1ormoresites–  Grantmaxupto$1M–  5-yearperiodofperformance–  nomorethan15%ofthetotalappropriationforthisgrant–  Developedanoverallplanforrevitalization–  Demonstratecapacitytoconductrangeofeligibleactivities– Mustmeetneedsofthe1ormoresitesintheproposedarea

§  Entitymustownthesiteforcleanup 16

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BUILD Act Implementation Timeline

§  August2018:Policydecisionsoncleanupgrantfundingamounts,smallcommunitytechnicalassistancegrantsandthemulti-purposegrantoptionaremade

§  Fall2018:IssueFY19assessment,cleanupand128(a)StateandTribalProgramallocationguidance

§  Spring2019:EPAannouncesnewFY19grantrecipients

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ContactInformation

NoemiEmeric-FordUSEPABrownfieldsProgram

213-244-1821emeric-ford.noemi@epa.gov

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§  Cleanup Grant Amount Policy –  How would your community meet the 20% cost share? –  How long does the average cleanup take? –  What are the barriers your community experiences to getting a

site ready for reuse?

§  Multipurpose Grant –  Within a target area, which resources does your community need

the most – inventory, planning, assessment or cleanup? –  Provide brief example of a target area in your community that

would benefit from a multipurpose grant –  What complications and barriers could affect your community's

ability to complete the grant accomplishments within a 5-year grant period?

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Solicited Stakeholder Input on EPA’s BUILD Act Implementation

128(a) Small Grants States and Tribes may provide a variety of activities to small and disadvantaged communities

– what other types of activities might be proposed under this grant?

Ø  Evaluation criteria would likely include: –  community description, demonstration of

community support, project purpose, expected outcomes, leveraged resources & timeline §  What other types of evaluation criteria are useful

to select proposals?

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Solicited Stakeholder Input on EPA’s BUILD Act Implementation

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