[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58380-58381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29159]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6182-5]


Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability 
Act (CERCLA) or Superfund, Section 104--Announcement of Proposal 
Deadline for the Competition for the 1999 National Brownfields 
Assessment Demonstration Pilots

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposal deadlines, revised guidelines.

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SUMMARY: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will 
begin to accept proposals for the National Brownfields Assessment 
Pilots on October 30, 1998. The brownfields assessment pilots (each 
funded up to $200,000 over two years) test cleanup and redevelopment 
planning models, direct special efforts toward removing regulatory 
barriers without sacrificing protectiveness, and facilitate coordinated 
environmental cleanup and redevelopment efforts at the federal, state, 
and local levels. EPA expects to select up to 100 additional National 
brownfields assessment pilots by May 1999. Applications will be 
accepted on a ``rolling submissions'' schedule. The deadlines for new 
applications for the 1999 assessment pilots are December 11, 1998, and 
March 22, 1999. Applications postmarked after December 11, 1998, will 
be considered in the second round of competition. Previously 
unsuccessful applicants are advised that they must revise and resubmit 
their applications.
    The National brownfields assessment pilots are administered on a 
competitive basis. To ensure a fair selection process, evaluation 
panels consisting of EPA Regional and Headquarters staff and other 
federal agency representatives will assess how well the proposals meet 
the selection criteria outlined in the newly revised application 
booklet The Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative: Proposal 
Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots (October 
1998).

DATES: This action is effective as of October 30, 1998, and expires on 
March 22, 1999. All proposals must be postmarked or sent to EPA via 
registered or tracked mail by the expiration dates cited above. 
Applications postmarked after December 11, 1998, will be considered in 
the second round of competition.

ADDRESSES: Application booklets can be obtained by calling the 
Superfund Hotline at the following numbers: Washington, DC Metro Area 
at 703-412-9810; Outside Washington, DC Metro at 1-800-424-9346; TDD 
for the Hearing Impaired at 1-800-553-7672.
    Copies of the Booklet are available via the Internet: http://
www.epa.gov/brownfields/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Superfund Hotline, 800-424-9346.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a part of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative, the 
Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots are designed to empower 
States, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment 
to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely cleanup 
and promote the sustainable reuse of brownfields. EPA has awarded 
cooperative agreements to States, cities, towns, counties and Tribes 
for demonstration pilots that test brownfields assessment models, 
direct special efforts toward removing regulatory barriers without 
sacrificing protectiveness, and facilitate coordinated public and 
private efforts at the Federal, State and local levels. To date, the 
Agency has funded 226 Brownfields Assessment Pilots. Of those pilots, 
169 are National Pilots selected under criteria developed by EPA 
Headquarters and 57 are Regional Pilots selected by EPA Regions under 
criteria developed by their offices.
    EPA's goal is to select a broad array of assessment pilots that 
will serve as models for other communities across the nation. EPA seeks 
to identify applications that demonstrate the integration or linking of 
brownfields assessment pilots with other federal, state, tribal, and 
local sustainable development, community revitalization, and pollution 
prevention programs. Special consideration will be given to Empowerment 
Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs), communities with populations 
of under 100,000, and federally recognized Indian tribes. These pilots 
focus on EPA's primary mission--protecting human health and the 
environment. However, it is an essential piece of the nation's overall 
community revitalization efforts. EPA works closely with other federal 
agencies through the Interagency Working Group on Brownfields, and 
builds relationships with other stakeholders on the national and local 
levels to develop coordinated approaches for community revitalization.
    Funding for the brownfields assessment pilots is authorized under 
section 104(d)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,

[[Page 58381]]

Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (CERCLA or 
Superfund), 42 U.S.C. 9604(d)(1). States (including U.S. Territories), 
political subdivisions (including cities, towns, counties), and 
federally recognized Indian Tribes are eligible to apply. EPA welcomes 
and encourages applications from coalitions of such entities, but a 
single eligible entity must be identified as the legal recipient. 
Cooperative agreement funds will be awarded only to a state, to an 
officially recognized political subdivision of a state, or to a 
federally recognized Indian tribe. For non-state applicants, please 
include a statement verifying that your entity has been authorized by 
the state to exercise governmental powers.
    Through a brownfields cooperative agreement, EPA authorizes an 
eligible state, political subdivision, Territory, or Indian Tribe to 
undertake activities under CERCLA section 104. All restrictions on 
EPA's use of funding cited in CERCLA also apply to brownfields 
assessment pilot cooperative agreement recipients.
    The proposal evaluation panels will review the proposals carefully 
and assess each response based on how well it addresses the selection 
criteria, briefly outlined below:

1. Problem Statement and Needs Assessment (4 points out of 20)
    --Effect of Brownfields on your Community or Communities
    --Value Added by Federal Support
2. Community-Based Planning and Involvement (6 points out of 20)
    --Existing Local Commitment
    --Community Involvement Plan
    --Environmental Justice Plan
3. Implementation Planning (6 points out of 20)
    --Government Support
    --Site Selection and Environmental Site Assessment Plan
    --Reuse Planning and Proposed Cleanup Funding Mechanisms
    --Flow of Ownership Plan
4. Long-Term Benefits and Sustainability (4 points out of 20)
    --Long-Term Benefits
    --Sustainable Reuse
    --Measures of Success

    Dated : October 22, 1998.
Linda Garczynski,
Director, Outreach and Special Projects Staff, Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 98-29159 Filed 10-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P