News Releases from Region 08
$3.3M for property assessment, cleanup and revitalization projects in EPA Region 8
Brownfields grants part of $55 million to clean up and redevelop sites across the country
The United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 today awarded more than $3.3M in 2016 Brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund, and cleanup grant funding for projects in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, including the Flathead Indian Reservation and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Please scroll below for brief project descriptions and contact information for each grantee.
EPA’s Brownfields program strives to expand the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. The investments will provide communities with the funding necessary to assess, clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment. This latest funding advances EPA’s broader commitment to making a visible difference in communities by focusing on coordinating federal investments to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically distressed communities address local priorities.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in the United States. Since the inception of the EPA’s Brownfields Program in 1995, cumulative brownfields program investments have leveraged more than $20 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged per EPA brownfields dollar expended. These investments have resulted in approximately 108,924 jobs nationwide. Studies have shown that residential property values near brownfields sites that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent.
Grantees and projects awarded in EPA Region 8 include:
Metro West Housing Solutions: Lakewood, Colorado $200,000
The City of Kalispell, Montana $400,000
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes: The Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana $200,000
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs: Bent County, Colorado $206,000
The Uintah Basin Association of Governments: Duchesne County, Utah $550,000
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe: Fort Yates, North Dakota $400,000
The City of Fargo, North Dakota $400,000
Provo City, Utah $400,000
Centro Civico Mexicano: Salt Lake City, Utah $200,000
The City of Casper Wyoming $400,000
..............................................................................................................................
Metro West Housing Solutions: Lakewood, Colorado $200,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
Metro West Housing Solutions: Tami Fischer, 303- 987-7813, tamfis@mwhsolution.org
Metro West Housing Solutions will use the EPA grants funds to conduct environmental cleanup activities at a 3.68 acre site, part of the original Martischang Plaza along Alameda Boulevard, which will be redeveloped as apartments. The property includes surface parking, an office tower, and strip center. Previous environmental assessments have found lead-based paint, asbestos and mold in parts of the building, and soil vapors on an underground floor. Once cleanup is complete, approximately 55 apartments will be developed in the tower, along with 100 in a separate, newly constructed building. Metro West will incorporate a variety of green design and energy-efficient features into the redevelopment, as well as services and programming to make a positive impact on new residents and the surrounding community.
The City of Kalispell, Montana $400,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
City of Kalispell: Katharine Thompson, 406-758-7713, mkthompson@kalispell.com
The City of Kalispell will receive $400K in EPA grant funds to conduct targeted environmental assessments at an extensive inventory of brownfields sites within the City’s Core Area. Many of these sites are related to historic industrial uses in the area and also include former auto repair and paint shops, wrecking yards, dry cleaners and other facilities where solvents, petroleum and metals are potential contaminants. These environmental site assessments will be critical to the redevelopment of catalytic sites along a railroad corridor that has been identified by the community as a priority for redevelopment and use as a pedestrian trail and green space.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes: The Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana $200,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
Confederated Salish and Kootenai: Rich Janssen, 406-883-2888; richj@cskt.org
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will receive $200K in EPA grant resources to conduct environmental assessments at properties containing damaged buildings and abandoned mills, dumps, and vehicle junkyards in communities across the Flathead Reservation. These assessments will inform cleanup needs and advance Tribal plans for the reuse and redevelopment of these properties.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs: Bent County, Colorado $206,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
Colorado Department of Local Affairs: Calvin Feik, 719-456-2223, bent.admin@bentcounty.net
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs will use the EPA grants funds to clean up asbestos contamination in several currently underutilized and unoccupied buildings at the Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community to make them suitable for reuse as transitional housing for residents and provide much needed space for offices and educational programs. Once completed, the cleanup project will allow the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to expand services to homeless veterans and other individuals. It will also improve the quality of life of current and future residents by removing the blight of the vacant buildings.
The Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community, formerly the Fort Lyon Veterans Administration Hospital, provides recovery oriented transitional housing to homeless individuals from across Colorado, with an emphasis on serving homeless veterans. There are currently 224 residents on campus. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs and other state agencies work in partnership with Bent County and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless to provide services at the facility.
Uintah Basin Association of Governments: Duchesne County, Utah $550,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
Uintah Basin Association of Governments: Kevin Yack, 435-722-4518, keviny@ubaog.org
The Uintah Basin Association of Governments is partnering with Duchesne County and the City of Roosevelt to use the EPA grant funds to assess environmental contamination, identify cleanup needs and spur the redevelopment of properties in the communities of Roosevelt, Duchesne and Myton and rural areas throughout Duchesne County. The Utah Association of Governments will focus on high-priority sites that are underused and potentially contaminated to attract private investments and opportunities for job creation.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe: Fort Yates, North Dakota $400,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe: Hans Bradley, 701-854-3823, hbradley@standingrock.org
EPA awarded the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe $400K in Brownfields grant funds to conduct environmental cleanup activities at the Old BIA Elementary School and the Old Sitting Bull College in the Fort Yates Community, North Dakota. The Tribe will use the funds to clean up asbestos, PCBs, and mold contamination and make the buildings safe for use as space for Tribal offices and programs.
Fargo, North Dakota $400,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
City of Fargo: Jim Gilmour, 701-241-1476, jgilmour@cityoffargo.com
The City of Fargo will use the EPA Brownfields funds to assess sites in areas that have been identified as priorities for revitalization, including the Main Street Corridor and the Downtown/Red River Corridor. The City has documented at least 36 sites of potential environmental concern which include current or former handlers of hazardous waste, known petroleum or hazardous substance spill incident sites, and sites with current or former underground storage tanks in the two target areas. Frequent Red River flooding has also made areas of the flood damaged downtown area and land bordering the Red River into potential brownfields as flood waters deposited sediment laden with petroleum, agricultural chemicals and debris. Target sites were subject to a wide range of past land uses including current and former manufacturing facilities, a dry cleaning facility, railroad tracks, the underutilized buildings and service stations with petroleum storage tanks.
Provo City, Utah $400,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
Provo City: Allison Lew, 801-852-6170, alew@provo.org
Provo City will use the EPA funds to assess environmental contamination and spur the redevelopment of several abandoned and underused properties located near Provo Central Station and nearby residential areas. These include a former manufacturing site, a foundry, and vacant parcels with a high potential for redevelopment.
Centro Civico Mexicano: Salt Lake City $200,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
Centro Civico Mexicano: Brandy Farmer, 801-792-7131, brandyfarm@gmail.com
EPA awarded Centro Civico Mexicano $200K in Brownfields grant funds to cleanup environmental contamination and make way for the development of new senior housing and a cultural center at the non-profit organization’s property in Salt Lake City. The cleanup project will remove contaminated soils on the Centro Civico Mexicano property, mitigating environmental exposures and paving the way for the development of a multi-use community facility in the Depot District Redevelopment Project Area of Salt Lake City. The new facility will include a 59-unit senior housing project, and during later phases, retail stores and a modern civic center featuring a gymnasium, theater, cultural gallery, classrooms, kitchen, and offices. Centro Civico Mexicano offers various cultural, recreational and educational programs for Mexicans and other Hispanic people in Utah, serving a vibrant and growing community which represents approximately 17 percent of Salt Lake County’s total population.
“Centro Civico Mexicano is the oldest Hispanic organization in Utah, established in 1935 by immigrants from Mexico,” said Brandy Farmer, President and CEO of Centro Civico Mexicano. “The migration was stimulated by the start of World War I that reduced the number of laborers working on the railroads and mines. Realizing they missed their culture, they needed a place of their own to celebrate their traditions and to work on social justice issues. We are grateful for EPA’s Brownfields grant funding and all of our partners in helping us to revitalize our community.”
“Centro Civico Mexicano is a symbol representing the spirit of Mexicans who came to America with ‘orgullo’, proud to be Mexican, yet prepared to defend and contribute to their adopted homeland," added John Florez, a Utah native who formerly served on the U.S. Senate Labor Committee and as Utah industrial commissioner.
Casper, Wyoming: $400,000
U.S. EPA: Ted Lanzano, 303-312-6596, lanzano.ted@epa.gov
City of Casper: Liz Becher, 307-235-8241
EPA awarded the City of Casper, Wyoming $400K in Brownfields grant funds to assess, cleanup and redevelop properties in areas that have been identified as priorities for revitalization. The City of Casper will use the EPA Brownfields funds to conduct environmental assessments and identify cleanup needs at properties in the City’s Old Yellowstone District and areas along the North Platte River. Large sections of the area include abandoned and/or blighted properties, including underutilized commercial and industrial sites that carry the perception of contamination. These include an old rail refueling facility, auto repair and service shops, a bulk plant liquid refueling facility, a former dry cleaner and a former game processing and dry ice plant. The uncertainty regarding these facilities have hindered redevelopment, despite efforts by community leaders to attract investment.
More information:
Applicants Selected for Funding: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-fy16-arc-grants-selected-funding
More on ARC grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
More on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
More on successful Brownfields stories: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories