Economic Development & Planning
Brownfields Site Assessment And Revolving Loan Programs
The DuBois property in Turners Falls received Brownfields Site Assessment funding.
Project Overview
As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "brownfields" are properties that the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of may be complicated by the actual presence or perceived potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The FRCOG administers a Brownfields Program on behalf of the region that consists of a site assessment program and a revolving loan fund and subgrant program for clean up. The site assessment program uses EPA grant funds to hire an engineering firm to complete environmental site assessments for selected properties. The Brownfields Clean-up Revolving Loan Fund and Subgrant Program was created through a $1 million pilot grant from the EPA in 1999. A subsequent $500,000 grant from the EPA in 2005 increased the fund's resources and allowed both loans and sub-grants to be offered to eligible applicants. The FRCOG Brownfields Program brochure (PDF, 166K) provides an overview of program activities and resources.
Current Activities
VaVacant or underutilized brownfield sites impact our region's natural resources, community health, and economic development opportunities. As of fall 2011, the FRCOG Brownfields Program has assessed or provided clean up funds for over 40 properties in 15 Franklin County towns. This has been accomplished through the award of four $200,000 EPA site assessment grants and $1.5 million in EPA revolving loan fund grants. In summer 2011, it was announced that the FRCOG was awarded a fifth $200,000 EPA site assessment grant to continue this successful program.
The FRCOG is presently conducting a procurement process to hire a firm to conduct assessments and is contacting member municipalities to inquire about potential sites that may be appropriate for the program. The volunteer Brownfields Steering Committee provides program oversight, establishes site selection criteria, and makes the determination of which sites are to be included in the program. For a site to be considered, a letter of request must be submitted by the Board of Selectmen or Mayor to the FRCOG. Please note that soil and groundwater testing can only be conducted with the property owner’s permission. The FRCOG will work with the municipality and the property owner to further explain the program.
Future Plans
The FRCOG will proceed in implementing its fifth environment site assessment grant award from the EPA. This grant allows the FRCOG to hire a professional environment engineering firm to conduct site specific assessments, as directed by the Brownfields Steering Committee. In addition, the FRCOG will continue to market its revolving loan fund and subgrant program, which is available to help fund clean up activities for eligible applicants. The goal of these activities is to mitigate Brownfields sites of contamination and encourage their redevelopment for productive use.
For more information about how to request a site or for site eligibility, please contact FRCOG Director of Planning & Development Peggy Sloan (psloan@frcog.org or 413-774-1194 x105) or Senior Economic Development Planner Jessica Atwood (jatwood@frcog.org or 413-774-1194 x101). .
Links
MA Department of Environmental Protection's Brownfields Program
US Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Program
Page last updated on December 5, 2011 .