[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51039-51040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25016]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7075-4]


Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability 
Act (CERCLA) or Superfund, Section 104; ``Announcement of Proposal 
Deadline for the Competition for the 2002 National Brownfields 
Assessment Demonstration Pilots''

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of proposal deadlines, revised guidelines.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin to accept 
proposals for the National Brownfields Assessment Pilots on October 5, 
2001. The brownfields assessment pilots (each funded up to $200,000 
over two years) test assessment models, and facilitate coordinated 
assessment and cleanup efforts at the federal, state, and local levels 
(see Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 66.811).
    In fiscal year 2002, 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 38 additional National brownfields 
assessment pilots by April 2002. The deadline for new proposals for the 
2002 assessment pilots is December 10 , 2001. All proposals must be 
postmarked by USPS or delivered at U.S. EPA Headquarters by other 
means, no later than December 10, 2001, and a duplicate copy sent to 
the appropriate U.S. EPA Regional Office. Previously unsuccessful 
applicants are advised that they must revise and resubmit their 
proposals to be considered for the 2002 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 (September 
2001 ). The evaluation panels make recommendations to EPA senior 
management. Final award decisions are made by EPA senior management, 
and may take into account policy considerations such as geographic 
distribution of funds. Applicants are encouraged to contact and, if 
possible, meet with EPA Regional Brownfields Coordinators.

DATES: This action is effective as of October 5, 2001, and expires on 
December 10 , 2001. All proposals must be sent via registered or 
tracked (return receipt) mail and postmarked by USPS no later than 
December 10, 2001. Proposals must be sent to U.S. EPA Headquarters and 
a duplicate copy sent to the appropriate U.S. EPA Regional Office. 
Applicants may also send their proposals by commercial delivery service 
provided the proposals arrive at U.S. EPA Headquarters and the 
appropriate U.S. EPA Regional Office on or before close of business on 
December 10, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Mailing addresses for U.S. EPA Headquarters and U.S. EPA 
Regional Offices are provided in the Proposal Guidelines.
    Obtaining Proposal Guidelines: The proposal guidelines are 
available via the Internet: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
    Copies of the Proposal Guidelines will also be mailed upon request. 
Requests should be made by calling the U.S. EPA Call Center 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

    In order to ensure that the Guidelines are received in time to be 
used in the preparation of the proposal, applicants should request a 
copy as soon as possible and in any event no later than seven (7) 
working days before the proposal due date. Applicants who request 
copies after that date might not receive the proposal guidelines in 
time to prepare and submit a responsive proposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The U.S.EPA's Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response, Outreach and Special Projects Staff, (202) 260-
4039.

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, 
and safely cleanup brownfields to promote their sustainable reuse. EPA 
has awarded cooperative agreements to States, cities, towns, counties 
and Tribes for demonstration pilots that test brownfields assessment 
models and facilitate coordinated public and private efforts at the 
Federal, State, tribal and local levels. To date, the Agency has funded 
399 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

[[Page 51040]]

must be in accordance with CERCLA, and all CERCLA restrictions on use 
of funds also apply to the assessment pilots.
    The evaluation panels will review the proposals carefully and 
assess each response based on how well it addresses the selection 
criteria, briefly outlined below. Applicants should address all of the 
evaluation criteria. Responses to the evaluation criteria will be 
utilized to determine whether to make an award and the amount of funds 
to be awarded. All evaluation criteria are equally important. There is 
no guarantee of an award.

Part I (Required)
    1. Problem Statement and Needs Assessment
--Effect of Brownfields on your Community or Communities
--Value Added by Federal Support
    2. Community-Based Planning and Involvement
--Existing Local Commitment
--Community Involvement Plan
--Environmental Justice Plan
    3. Implementation Planning
--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
--Long-Term Benefits
--Sustainable Reuse
--Measures of Success
Part II (Optional)
    5. Greenspace
--Authority and Context
--Community Involvement
--Site Identification, Site Assessment Plan, Flow of Ownership, and 
Reuse Planning


    Dated: September 20, 2001.
Linda Garczynski,
Director, Outreach and Special Projects Staff, Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 01-25016 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P