News / Policy and Legislation
NBA Adds Board Member
The NBA is pleased to announce that Randall Jostes, President & CEO, Environmental Liability Transfer, Inc., has recently accepted to serve a two-year term as a Director. In addition, the organization is accepting additional nominations to serve on the board. Member Feature
Brownfields Can Lead Way in Building Sustainable Communities
Development professionals, municipal economic development planners, private industry and others interested in Brownfield development attended a workshop to learn more about place-making and turning our urban cores into more vibrant, livable and unique places to live, work and play. The all day workshop was co-sponsored by the Michigan Municipal League (MML) and hosted by the National Brownfield Association (NBA). Link to PDF.
Multi-Purpose Pilot Grants
The EPA has announced $3.8 million in grants to both assess and clean up contaminated sites and revitalize communities through a new Multi-Purpose Grant approach. Nine recipients were selected across the country. These pilots will help each of the nine recipients overcome obstacles with conducting assessments and cleanup activities, and help to eliminate the delay that can occur when moving from assessment to cleanup when funding has not been secured. The investments represent a broad range of distressed communities and redevelopment opportunities. The revitalization of these brownfields sites will reduce threats to human health and the environment, promote community involvement, and attract investment in local neighborhoods.
EPA News Release, May 30, 2012
List of Awardees (PDF)
Fact Sheets for Brownfields Grant Awardees
Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), Cleanup Grants, and Supplemental Funding for RLF Grants EPA is announcing $69.3 million in new Brownfields grants to provide communities with funding necessary to assess, clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and create jobs while protecting public health. The 245 grantees include tribes and communities in 39 states across the country, funded by EPA’s Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) grants and RLF Supplemental Grants. Since the Program’s inception, EPA’s Brownfields investments have leveraged more than $18.3 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding from a variety of public and private sources and have resulted in approximately 75,500 jobs. EPA has awarded 2,008 Assessment grants totaling $480.1 million, 292 Revolving Loan Fund grants totaling $286.1 million, and 838 Cleanup grants totaling $157.6 million.
EPA News Release, May 24, 2012
List of Awardees (PDF)
Fact Sheets for Brownfields Grant Awardees
EPA Establishment of the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB)
As required by section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, we are giving notice that EPA is establishing the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB). The purpose of the GLAB is to provide advice to the Administrator in her capacity as Chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force established per Executive Order 13340 (May 18, 2004), on matters related to Great Lakes restoration and protection. The major objectives will be to provide advice and recommendations on: Great Lakes protection and restoration policy; long term goals and objectives for Great Lakes protection and restoration; and annual priorities to protect and restore the Great Lakes that may be used to help inform budget decisions. EPA has determined that this federal advisory committee is in the public interest and will assist the EPA in performing its duties and responsibilities. Copies of the GLAB's charter will be filed with the appropriate congressional committees and the Library of Congress.
Bill To Change NJ Priority Ranking Of Environmental Clean-Up Loans Advances
A NJ bill sponsored by Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin that would change the priority ranking of state funding for brownfield redevelopment projects was unanimously released from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. The measure (A-2395) would change the priority of grants awarded by the state Economic Development Authority (EDA) from its Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) and also would add new priority categories. Read more: http://njtoday.net/2012/06/11/bill-to-change-priority-ranking-of-environmental-clean-up-loans-advances/#ixzz1xzRKXaZs
British government announces sweeping energy policy changes
The biggest reforms to the UK energy sector in two decades were announced and prompted warnings from consumer groups and green campaigners that they would raise bills and penalize renewable energy and boost reliance on nuclear power. The sweeping reforms, detailed in the draft energy bill, grant the government powers to intervene in the market on a scale not seen since the industry was privatized. http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/british-government-announces-sweeping-energy-policy-changes-297461
Triad Research Group Shows Majority Support for Sustainability in Northeast Ohio.
The Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortia, a HUD 2010 Grantee, released a survey which showed that 59 percent of residents found it “extremely important” to make sure that “Northeast Ohio is a sustainable place for future generations.” Almost all residents of Northeast Ohio surveyed said they wanted local governments to work more closely together to grow the economy and 85 percent found it “extremely important” to improve the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams.
Brownfields 2013 Call for Session Ideas Now Open!
Each year the National Brownfields Conference's educational program is a direct result of your presentation ideas. Don't miss your chance to be part of the most engaging and powerful event of its kind - the Call for Ideas is now open and will close on August 3rd.
EPA Announces $3 Million In Environmental Job Training Grants
Grants provide job trainees opportunities to protect public health in their communities U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus announced that EPA is awarding $3 million to 15 grantees through the Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training (EWDJT) program. The grants will recruit, train, and place unemployed individuals in jobs that address environmental challenges in their communities. These investments will protect the health of local communities by targeting economically disadvantaged neighborhoods where environmental cleanups and jobs are often most needed.
More information on environmental workforce development and job training grants: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pilot_grants.htm
REGENESIS Announces New Technologies
REGENESIS, a world leader in advanced technologies for contaminated site remediation, announces three new remediation-focused technologies: PetroCleanze™,Retro-Coat™ and Plume Stop™. Ben Mork, Ph.D., Director of Research and Development at REGENESIS, introduced the new technologies in Monterey, California at the recent Battelle-sponsored Eighth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds.
For more information visit REGENESIS online http://www.regenesis.com/www.regenesis.com or http://blog.regenesis.com/http://blog.regenesis.com for more details.
|