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National Perspective Review Of Brownfields Proposals

National Perspective Review Of Brownfields Proposals. EPA Region 4. The United States Environmental Protection Agency. Overview. Grant Programs Background Purpose And Intent Impact Of History General Suggestions For A Better Proposal Going Beyond The Criteria. Background.

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National Perspective Review Of Brownfields Proposals

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  1. National PerspectiveReview Of Brownfields Proposals EPA Region 4 The United States Environmental Protection Agency

  2. Overview • Grant Programs Background • Purpose And Intent • Impact Of History • General Suggestions For A Better Proposal • Going Beyond The Criteria

  3. Background • Overall Vision and Plan for Project, from Assessment thru Cleanup and Redevelopment • Give Us Reasons To Believe Overall Project/Vision Will Be Completed • Schedule, Cost Estimates All Project Phases • Funds • Thought Out

  4. Background • Evidence Of Local Commitment • Budget, In-Kind, Man-hours • Leveraging • Local Partners, “Ground Swell” • Community Groups, Environmental Groups, Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development District/Department, School Boards, Transit Authority, Banks, Local Business, Churches

  5. Background • Assessment Grant • Local Program Seed Money • Technical Work, Use Contractor (Assessment, Cleanup Planning, Cleanup) • Work Applicant Can Do - Limit Contractor Use (Outreach, Reporting) • If Possible, Make Activities In-Kind

  6. Background • Strong Relationship with State • Cleanups Are Overseen And Approved by State • Private Projects Should Have Public Benefits

  7. Background • EPA Has Seen Local Programs Struggle • Lack of Political Support • Assessment, Access • RLF, Loans Do Not Occur • Criteria Worth Extra Effort • Community Need and Involvement • Budget • Reduction of Threats to Human Health/Environment • Greenspace • Experience Counts • History of Success on Related Projects or Partnering

  8. Key Terms • Collaboration, Coordination, Voluntary • Partners: Local, State, Federal, Private, Non-Profit • Stakeholders, Community • Outreach, Meaningful Public Participation • Commitment • Vision • Incentives • Transform, Change Catalyst, Revitalize • Innovative

  9. Potential Red Flags • Superfund Sites • Marketing, except RLF • Contingencies • Fund Raising • Lobbying • Enforcement Action/Order • Administrative, Indirect

  10. General Suggestions • Read Guidelines! • All Criteria Matter, If Not Applicable - Say So • Respond to All Parts of Each Criterion • Get Clarification Of Any Not Fully Understood • Reviewer Knows Only What You Tell Them • Be Specific But Not Overly Detailed • Be Specific And Thorough But Brief • Provide Project Specifics • If Not Possible Provide Area Wide Specifics

  11. General Suggestions • Adhere To Format (page limit, font size, budget) • Proposal With Pages Less Than Limit – OK! • Copy Ready • Budget Versus All Project Activities Discussed in Proposal – Who Is Paying? • If Not Planning To Charge Activity To Grant, Show As In-Kind Or Leverage In Budget Narrative or Table • Examples: Community Involvement, Cleanup Planning

  12. General Suggestions • Know And Explain Community • Strengths • Unique Programs Or Characteristics • Vision 2025, Main Street/Downtown Program, Railroad City, Heritage Rivers • Weaknesses (help justify funds) • Recognized By Outside Sources • University or Environmental Groups studies, Sierra Club

  13. General Suggestions • Know What Activities Are Allowable Grant Expenses, When in Doubt - Ask • Non-Allowable Costs Red-Flags • Administrative Cost Ban • Examples: Indirect, “Admin-type” Activities, Supervision, Management • Various Planned Grant Activities • Examples: Redevelopment Costs, Unjustified Demolition for Cleanup/RLF, Land Acquisition

  14. General Suggestions • Applying For Both Assessment and Cleanup Grants - For Same Project, At Same Time - Viewed Unfavorably • Quality of Proposal and Project Both Matter

  15. General Suggestions • Be Clear About • Total Amount Of Federal Funds Requested • Type Of Proposal, Assessment Only • Community Wide • Site Specific • Type Of Funds Requested • Hazardous • Petroleum

  16. General SuggestionsPut Yourself in Reviewer’s Shoes • Do Not Make Reviewer Hunt For Answers • Organize Proposal by Criteria, Use Number System • Describe All Unique or Local Terms Used • Reviewer Does Not Know Your Area • Briefly Explain All Local and State Programs • Avoid Reiterating entire Criteria in Response • Don’t Reiterate General Brownfields Concepts, Except As They Relate To Your Vision

  17. General SuggestionsPut Yourself in Reviewer’s Shoes,cont. • Know Your Reviewer (Scientists, Engineers, Environmentalists) • Cleanup Plan Description • Get Technical Professional Help • Specifics • All Environmental Impacts, Direct and Indirect • Discuss Other Area Environmental Projects • Specifics Preferred • Details Generally Preferred, Don’t Overdo • Provide Numbers, If Possible • Use Simple Legible Charts/Tables • Examples: Demographics, Contaminant Levels, Grant History

  18. General SuggestionsPut Yourself in Reviewer’s Shoes,cont. • Overall Proposal Check • Unnecessary Redundancy? • Unusual Activities? Explained? Justified? • “Media Services For Site Project” • “Offsite Planning” • Understandable? Readable? • Ask Third Party to Read Proposal

  19. General Suggestions Proposal Attachments • Summarize and Refer to All Attachments • Mandatory Attachments • State Letter(s) • Petroleum determination by State • RLF Legal Opinion • Excluded or Property-Specific Site Information • Attach Community Notice Documentation • Attach Site Access Agreement, Assessment Site Specific Only • Think Minimal Attachments, Value Added?

  20. General SuggestionsProposal Attachments, continued • Maps (81/2 x 11, copy ready) • Include Index • Support Letters Are Encouraged • From Sub-Jurisdictions, If Proposal Covers Multiple Jurisdictions • From Local Community Based Groups • From Partners Discussed In Proposal • Letters Should Include Discussion Of Partner’s Specific Contributions, If Any

  21. Specific Criteria Suggestions Above and Beyond, Extra Points • Community Need • Compare Demographics To State/National • Primary: Race, Unemployment, Poverty, Income • Other: Crime, Disabled, Food Stamps, Renters, High School Graduate, Unmarried Mothers, Infant Mortality • Think Sensitive Populations (Children, Elderly) • Any Special Designation of Need • Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community, Renewal Community, Treasury Hot Zone, Health & Human Services Underserved Medical Community, Weed & Seed www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice

  22. Specific Criteria Suggestions Above and Beyond, Extra Points • Budget • Realistic Environmental Costs • Ph I, $2,000-5,000 • Ph II, highly variable, $20,000 + • Ph III/Cleanup Plan, highly variable, $10,000 + • Explain all Personnel Costs • What Will Staff Do On Project? • Do Environmental Work With Federal Funds • Be Clear About Your Intent - What Will Be Charged To Grant? In-Kind? Donated?

  23. Specific Criteria Suggestions Above and Beyond, Extra Points • Community Involvement • Early and Often, Never Too Soon To Build Relationship • Plan to Provide Translators • Conduct Design Charette, if appropriate • Hold Public Meetings • Use Internet • Go Overboard, Have an Aggressive Plan • Community Based Group List, Residents, “Grass Roots”, Business, Neighborhood Groups • Are They Actual Partners? How Are They Involved? • Use Citizen Advisory Committee • Form Before Proposal Submission or Plan to Form

  24. Specific Criteria Suggestions Above and Beyond, Extra Points • Leveraging • Explain How Funds Will Be Used In Project • Research Identify Potential Funding Sources • Private, Foundations • Federal • EDA for Redevelopment; HUD for BEDI, CDBG; COE • State • Bonds, Park Funds • Local • Tax, Community Development Block Grant

  25. Specific Criteria Suggestions Above and Beyond, Extra Points • Ability to Manage Grants • Refer to Grant Requirements • Progress Reports • Financial Reports • Minority/Women Owned Business Reports • Quality Assurance • Quality Management Plan – Before Award • Quality Assurance Project Plans – Before Sampling

  26. Specific Criteria Suggestions Above and Beyond, Extra Points • Site Selection – Assessment • Site Specific, Attach Access Consent • Access For Private Sites • Refer to Written Agreement • Attach Example of Written Agreement • Past Experience Getting Access

  27. Contacts Brownfields National Homepage www.epa.gov/brownfields EPA Region 4 http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

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