The EPA will accept applications for the following activities:

Assessment: These grants provide funding for developing inventories of brownfields, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities, and conducting site assessments and cleanup planning related to brownfield sites. Assessment grants for individual applicants can be either community-wide or site-specific. Community-wide proposals are appropriate when a specific site is not identified and the applicant plans to spend grant funds on more than one brownfield in its community. Site-specific proposals are appropriate when a specific site has been identified and the applicant plans to spend grant funds on this one site only. Applicants may apply for up to $200,000 each to address hazardous substances and/or petroleum contamination on sites. Approximately $52.4 million is available for assessment grants. Eligible applicants include local and state government, and eligible tribal communities, and coalitions thereof. Detailed guidelines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-09.pdf.

Revolving Loan Fund (RLF): These grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. An individual applicant, who does not have an active Brownfields RLF Grant, can apply for up to $1,000,000. A 20 percent cost match is required, which may be waived. Funds may be used to clean up sites contaminated with petroleum and/or hazardous substances. Approximately $11 million is available for RLF grants. Eligible applicants include local and state government, and eligible tribal communities, and coalitions thereof. Detailed guidelines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-10.pdf.

Cleanup: These grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at specific brownfield sites owned by the applicant. An individual applicant can apply for up to $200,000 per brownfield site and can submit up to three site-specific cleanup proposals to address hazardous substances and/or petroleum contamination. A 20 percent cost match is required, which may be waived. Approximately $29.5 million is available for cleanup grants. Eligible applicants include local and state government, eligible tribal communities, and non-profit organizations. Detailed guidelines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-11.pdf.

EPA urges applicants to review the Frequently Asked Questions which can be found at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/proposal_guides/fy11_arc_faqs.pdf.
Proposals are due on October 15, 2010 and may be submitted through grants.gov before midnight, Eastern Time, or postmarked before midnight by U.S. mail or express delivery.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control Revolving Loan Fund provides subgrants or loans for the redevelopment of brownfields to municipalities, nonprofits or developers who are bona fide purchasers, innocent land owners, or contiguous property owners. Contact Thomas Cota at 714-484-5459 or tcota@dtsc.ca.gov.

The Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund (USTCF) provides owners or operators of onsite leaking underground storage tanks with assessment and cleanup funds. Contact Diana Romero at 916-341-5766 or dromero@waterboards.ca.gov.

The Orphan Site Cleanup Fund (OSCF) provides eligible owners or operators of UST sites that are not covered by the USTCF with assessment and cleanup funds. Contact Judy Reid at 916-341-5760 or jreid@waterboards.ca.gov.

The Cleanup Loans and Environmental Assistance to Neighborhoods (CLEAN) Program provides low interest loans to finance environmental assessment and hazardous waste cleanups. Loans for Preliminary Endangerment Assessments are available up to $100,000. At this time, DTSC is not accepting CLEAN applications, but anticipate accepting loan applications in Fall 2010.

Under the Targeted Brownfields Assessment program, EPA Region 9 contractors conduct environmental site assessments for public agencies at brownfields where there are reuse plans. Contact Carolyn Douglas at 415-972-3092 or douglas.carolyn@epa.gov.

Under the EPA's Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Communities program, CCLR provides in-kind technical assistance and training to communities and other stakeholders on brownfields issues with the goal of increasing the community's understanding and involvement in brownfield cleanup and revitalization. The TAB grants serve as an independent source of information assisting communities with community involvement, better understanding the health impacts of brownfield sites, science and technology relating to brownfield site assessment, remediation, and site preparation activities, brownfield finance questions, and information on integrated approaches to brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. Contact Ignacio Dayrit at 415-398-1080 x107 or ignacio.dayrit@cclr.org.

EDA announces general policies and application procedures for grant-based investments under the Public Works, Planning, Local Technical Assistance, and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs that will promote comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts to enhance the competitiveness of regions, resulting in increased private investment and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs in areas experiencing substantial and persistent economic distress.

Current Closing Date for Applications: September 30, 2010 - Applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received.

For more information, visit http://www.eda.gov/PDF/FY09-EDAP-FFO-FINAL.pdf

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) advances economic growth by assisting communities experiencing chronic high unemployment and low per capita income to create an environment that fosters innovation, promotes entrepreneurship, and attracts increased private capital investment. EDA requests proposals for the following programs: Public Works, Planning, Local Technical Assistance, and Economic Adjustment Assistance. Under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program, EDA has allocated $14.7 million to the Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund, which supports projects that foster economic competitiveness while enhancing environmental quality. Proposals are being accepted and are being reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Eligible Entities: State and local governments, nonprofit organizations

Application Due: September 30, 2010

For more info, including contact info, go to the following link:

The purpose of HOPE VI Revitalization grants is to assist Public Housing Authorities to: 1. Improve the living environment for public housing residents of severely distressed public housing projects through the demolition, rehabilitation, reconfiguration, or replacement of obsolete public housing projects (or portions thereof); 2. Revitalize sites (including remaining public housing dwelling units) on which such public housing projects are located and contribute to the improvement of the surrounding neighborhood; 3. Provide housing that will avoid or decrease the concentration of very low-income families; and 4. Build sustainable communities.

The maximum amount of each grant award is $22 million. A match of at least 5% is required.

Click here for the Full Announcement.

The California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004 (AB 389) provides qualified innocent landowners, bona fide purchasers or contiguous property owners with immunity from liability for certain hazardous materials response costs or other damages.

The Site Designation Process (AB 2061) allows a Responsible Party who agrees to carry out a site investigation and remedial action to request the Site Designation Committee within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) to designate a single state or local agency to oversee the cleanup action.

The California Land Environmental Restoration and Reuse Act (CLERRA, SB 32) enables cities and counties to direct or conduct the investigation and remediation at brownfield sites that are outside of redevelopment areas.

The Polanco Redevelopment Law provides redevelopment agencies with tools to respond to brownfield properties. Polanco prescribes processes for redevelopment agencies to follow when cleaning up a hazardous substance release in a redevelopment project area. It also provides immunity from liability for redevelopment agencies and subsequent property purchasers for sites cleaned up under an approved cleanup plan.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control and local Regional Water Quality Control Boards have various programs to expedite the remedial process and to limit liability for prospective purchasers.

The EPA will accept applications for the following activities:

Assessment: These grants provide funding for developing inventories of brownfields, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities, and conducting site assessments and cleanup planning related to brownfield sites. Assessment grants for individual applicants can be either community-wide or site-specific. Community-wide proposals are appropriate when a specific site is not identified and the applicant plans to spend grant funds on more than one brownfield in its community. Site-specific proposals are appropriate when a specific site has been identified and the applicant plans to spend grant funds on this one site only. Applicants may apply for up to $200,000 each to address hazardous substances and/or petroleum contamination on sites. Approximately $52.4 million is available for assessment grants. Eligible applicants include local and state government, and eligible tribal communities, and coalitions thereof. Detailed guidelines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-09.pdf.

Revolving Loan Fund (RLF): These grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. An individual applicant, who does not have an active Brownfields RLF Grant, can apply for up to $1,000,000. A 20 percent cost match is required, which may be waived. Funds may be used to clean up sites contaminated with petroleum and/or hazardous substances. Approximately $11 million is available for RLF grants. Eligible applicants include local and state government, and eligible tribal communities, and coalitions thereof. Detailed guidelines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-10.pdf.

Cleanup: These grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at specific brownfield sites owned by the applicant. An individual applicant can apply for up to $200,000 per brownfield site and can submit up to three site-specific cleanup proposals to address hazardous substances and/or petroleum contamination. A 20 percent cost match is required, which may be waived. Approximately $29.5 million is available for cleanup grants. Eligible applicants include local and state government, eligible tribal communities, and non-profit organizations. Detailed guidelines can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/grants/epa-oswer-oblr-10-11.pdf.

EPA urges applicants to review the Frequently Asked Questions which can be found at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/proposal_guides/fy11_arc_faqs.pdf.
Proposals are due on October 15, 2010 and may be submitted through grants.gov before midnight, Eastern Time, or postmarked before midnight by U.S. mail or express delivery.

Registration Open!

The 2010 Western Brownfields Workshop
Missoula, Montana - September 14 - 16

EPA is now accepting registrations for the 2010 Western Brownfields Workshop in Missoula, Montana, September 14-16. This collaborative interactive workshop offers EPA Brownfields grantees in Regions 8, 9, and 10 an opportunity to network with other grantees, EPA representatives, and other public, private, and nonprofit Brownfields experts. It is is open to veteran and new EPA Brownfields grantees, those parties interested in applying for EPA Brownfields grants, federal and state partners, and consultants invited by grantees.

The workshop is free, but registration is required. Download the registration form. Any questions or completed registration forms should be directed to wbwregistration@sra.com.

EDA announces general policies and application procedures for grant-based investments under the Public Works, Planning, Local Technical Assistance, and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs that will promote comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts to enhance the competitiveness of regions, resulting in increased private investment and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs in areas experiencing substantial and persistent economic distress.

Current Closing Date for Applications: September 30, 2010 - Applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed as received.

For more information, visit http://www.eda.gov/PDF/FY09-EDAP-FFO-FINAL.pdf

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) advances economic growth by assisting communities experiencing chronic high unemployment and low per capita income to create an environment that fosters innovation, promotes entrepreneurship, and attracts increased private capital investment. EDA requests proposals for the following programs: Public Works, Planning, Local Technical Assistance, and Economic Adjustment Assistance. Under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program, EDA has allocated $14.7 million to the Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund, which supports projects that foster economic competitiveness while enhancing environmental quality. Proposals are being accepted and are being reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Eligible Entities: State and local governments, nonprofit organizations

Application Due: September 30, 2010

For more info, including contact info, go to the following link:

February 3-5, 2011
Charlotte, NC

Today, more than ever, we are faced with environmental and economic challenges that will define our generation, shape our future, and test our resilience as cities, regions, states and a nation. Join leaders from across the U.S. as we tackle these challenges head-on and demonstrate smart growth solutions that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create a green economy, assure a healthy population, and expand transportation and housing options for all Americans.

The program will kick off on Thursday morning and continue through Saturday afternoon and includes a dynamic mix of plenaries, breakouts, implementation workshops, specialized trainings, and coordinated networking activities. Exciting tours of local model projects from Charlotte, NC and surrounding cities will be featured. There will be something for everybody, from veteran experts to smart-growth novices, with nearly 90 sessions and workshops. Learn from hundreds of speakers who cross disciplines to share insights, and valuable tools and strategies for making smart growth a success in your community.

Plan to join us, and others, from across the U.S. next February for the smart growth event of the year! Visit www.NewPartners.org to get more details.

The purpose of HOPE VI Revitalization grants is to assist Public Housing Authorities to: 1. Improve the living environment for public housing residents of severely distressed public housing projects through the demolition, rehabilitation, reconfiguration, or replacement of obsolete public housing projects (or portions thereof); 2. Revitalize sites (including remaining public housing dwelling units) on which such public housing projects are located and contribute to the improvement of the surrounding neighborhood; 3. Provide housing that will avoid or decrease the concentration of very low-income families; and 4. Build sustainable communities.

The maximum amount of each grant award is $22 million. A match of at least 5% is required.

Click here for the Full Announcement.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the 14th National Brownfields Conference will be held on April 3-5, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!