| Section I: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
Under CERCLA 104(k)(6), EPA is authorized to provide financial assistance
which facilitates "the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments,
remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement and site preparation"
to focus brownfields programmatic (goals) attention on the environmental
and human health conditions in low income communities and socio-economically
disadvantaged communities unable to draw on alternative sources of funding
for assessment or cleanup of brownfields and their subsequent redevelopment
and to provide technical assistance to communities which will enable them
to stimulate economic and other beneficial reuses. Under this funding
announcement, EPA will only consider proposals that have an emphasis on
the following subject areas:
- Community Involvement in Low-income and Socio-Economically Disadvantaged
Communities
- Integrated Approaches to Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment in
Low-income and Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Communities
- How the Economics of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Impact
Low-income and Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Communities
These subject areas, which are described in Section
I.1, below, reflect EPA's understanding of the current needs of various
state, local, and tribal brownfields stakeholders regarding research,
training and technical assistance that will facilitate the coordination
of brownfields prevention, assessment, cleanup and sustainable reuse in
low-income and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. EPA will
not consider funding applications for projects that do not fit into the
subject areas described below. Projects may, but need not, have components
that fit under more than one subject area. EPA expects the applicant to
submit a realistic proposal that will provide meaningful outcomes. Note:
EPA cannot legally fund projects that provide products or services for
the direct use or benefit of EPA or other federal agencies.
Sample topic areas for projects are provided in Appendix
B. The list of sample topics is representative of topics for which
EPA would be interested in supporting training, research, or technical
assistance. However, the list is not exhaustive; EPA will consider projects
other than those related to the sample topics provided the project relates
to the three subject areas described above. Additionally, selecting from
the sample topics to develop your project does not guarantee an award.
EPA has previously provided funding to support brownfields training, research
or technical assistance. This RFA seeks to support and further the work
of the brownfields program by focusing further brownfields training, research
or technical assistance on the environmental and human health conditions
in low income and socio-economically disadvantaged communities unable to
draw on alternative sources of funding for assessment or cleanup of brownfields
and their subsequent redevelopment and to provide technical assistance to
communities which will enable them to stimulate economic and other beneficial
reuses.
This RFA is being issued by the Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment
in EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response which seeks to
encourage the cleanup and sustainable redevelopment of Brownfields.
Section I.1: Subject Areas for
Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreements
These subject areas reflect EPA's understanding of the current needs of
various state, local, and tribal brownfields stakeholders as they pertain
to and support the brownfields program and issues related to the environmental
and human health conditions in low income and socio-economically disadvantaged
communities unable to draw on alternative sources of funding for assessment
or cleanup of brownfields and their subsequent redevelopment and to provide
technical assistance to communities which will enable them to stimulate
economic and other beneficial reuses.
Section I.2: Subject Area Descriptions
Community Involvement in Low-income and Socio-Economically Disadvantaged
Communities
Research, technical assistance and training in this subject area must
address brownfields issues from a community-based perspective. In particular,
projects must focus on the challenges facing low-income, socio-economically
disadvantaged communities including social, economic, and health impacts
surrounding brownfields properties. Projects may also examine and develop
ways of enhancing the level of constructive community participation and
coordination with local government officials when making brownfields-related
decisions. Local government coordination on brownfields redevelopment
in various scenarios and for specific reuses such as ports and urban rivers;
petroleum sites; and affordable housing may also be examined. Training
and technical assistance, as well as research projects should aim to provide
communities facing such challenges with information, tools and technology
to better understand or participate in the brownfields cleanup and redevelopment
process, or to understand the impacts of living near a potentially contaminated
brownfields property.
- Integrated Approaches to Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment
in Low-income and Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Communities
Projects in this subject area must explore linkages between brownfields
and other environmental, economic, and social issues, including: port
and waterfront utilization, transportation planning, city and regional
planning, sustainable development, energy issues, air and water quality
issues, and green building design approaches, particularly as these issues
may relate to low-income and socio-economically disadvantaged communities
facing environmental and brownfields challenges. Training, technical assistance,
and research outputs must aim to increase knowledge of linkages amongst
various types of cleanup, redevelopment and planning efforts, and to increase
coordination amongst such efforts.
- How the Economics of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Impact
Low-income and Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Communities
Projects in this subject area must examine the economic issues surrounding
brownfields redevelopment in communities facing environmental and
brownfields challenges, from financing brownfields cleanup and redevelopment
to market forces that may help or hinder brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.
Training, technical assistance, and research outputs must aim to increase
state, local, and tribal stakeholders' knowledge base of economic
issues allowing for informed decision-making on cleaning up and revitalizing
brownfields sites.
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