[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56346-56347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27145]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6459-1]


Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability 
Act (CERCLA) or Superfund, Section 104; National Brownfields Assessment 
Pilots

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 19, 1999. 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.
    In fiscal year 2000, an additional $50,000 may be awarded to an 
applicant to assess the contamination of a brownfields site(s) that is 
or will be used for greenspace purposes. Greenspace purposes may 
include, but are not limited to, parks, playgrounds, trails, gardens, 
habitat restoration, open space, and/or greenspace preservation.
    EPA expects to select up to 50 additional National brownfields 
assessment pilots by April 2000. The deadline for new proposals for the 
2000 assessment pilots is February 16, 2000. Proposals must be post-
marked or sent to EPA via registered or tracked mail by the stated 
deadline. Previously unsuccessful applicants are advised that they must 
revise and resubmit their proposals to be considered for the 2000 
National assessment pilot competition.
    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 
1999). Applicants are encouraged to contact and, if possible, meet with 
EPA Regional Brownfields Coordinators.

DATES: This action is effective as of October 19, 1999, and expires on 
February 16, 2000. All proposals must be post-marked or sent to EPA via 
registered or tracked mail by the expiration date cited above.

ADDRESSES: The proposal guidelines 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 guidelines are also 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, tribes, 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, tribal and local levels. To 
date, the Agency has funded 307 Brownfields Assessment Pilots.
    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 proposals 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 Federal 
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, 
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 brownfields projects by coalitions of such entities, but 
only a single eligible entity may receive a cooperative agreement. 
Cooperative agreement funds will be awarded only to a state, a 
political subdivision of a state, or a federally recognized Indian 
tribe.
    Through a brownfields cooperative agreement, EPA provides funds to 
an eligible state, political subdivision, or Indian Tribe to undertake 
activities authorized under CERCLA section 104. Use of these assessment 
pilot funds must be in accordance with CERCLA, and all CERCLA 
restrictions on use of funds also apply to the assessment pilots. All 
restrictions on EPA's use of funding cited in CERCLA apply to 
brownfields assessment pilot cooperative agreement recipients.
    The evaluation panels will review the proposals carefully and 
assess each response based on how well it addresses the selection 
criteria, briefly outlined below:

Part I (Required)

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

[[Page 56347]]

--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

Part II (Optional)

5. Greenspace

--Authority and Context (2 points out of 8)
--Community Involvement (2 points out of 8)
--Site Identification, Site Assessment Plan, Flow of Ownership, and 
Reuse Planning (4 Points Out of 8)

    Approved: October 4, 1999.
Linda Garczynski,
Director, Outreach and Special Projects Staff, Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 99-27145 Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P