Cooperative Agreement 00A00801

DESCRIPTION:BROWNFIELDS ARE REAL PROPERTY, THE EXPANSION, DEVELOPMENT OR REUSE OF WHICH MAY BE COMPLICATED BY THE PRESENCE OR POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, POLLUTANT, OR CONTAMINANT. THIS AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR MERRIMACK VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION TO RE-CAPITALIZE A REVOLVING LOAN FUND AS AUTHORIZED BY CERCLA 104(K)(5)(A)(II) IN IT'S 15 MEMBER COMMUNITIES, WHICH INCLUDES THE CITIES OF AMESBURY, HAVERHILL, LAWRENCE, METHUEN, AND NEWBURYPORT; AND THE TOWNS OF ANDOVER, BOXFORD, GEORGETOWN, GROVELAND, MERRIMAC, NEWBURY, NORTH ANDOVER, ROWLEY, SALISBURY, AND WEST NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.ACTIVITIES:THIS AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE RECIPIENT TO RE-CAPITALIZE A REVOLVING LOAN FUND FROM WHICH TO MAKE LOANS AND SUBGRANTS TO CLEAN UP BROWNFIELD SITE(S) AND CONDUCT OTHER NECESSARY ACTIVITIES TO PRUDENTLY MANAGE THE RLF. ADDITIONALLY, MERRIMACK VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL COMPETITIVELY PROCURE (AS NEEDED) AND DIRECT A QUALIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL TO OVERSEE THE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ACTIVITIES AND WILL CREATE A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN AND ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD FOR EACH SITE THAT IS REMEDIATED. MERRIMACK VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL REPORT ON PROGRAM INCOME, INTERIM PROGRESS, AND FINAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY PROFILE FORM AND BROWNFIELDS RLF FORM USING EPA'S ASSESSMENT, CLEANUP AND REDEVELOPMENT EXCHANGE SYSTEM (ACRES).SUBRECIPIENT:SITE-SPECIFIC AND NON-SITE-SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. NON-SITE-SPECIFIC TASKS INCLUDE DOING OUTREACH/MARKET TO COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPERS TO FIND PROJECT TO MAKE SUBGRANTS TO, CONTRACTING WITH A QUALIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL (QEP), AND DOING MORE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND UPDATING OUTREACH MATERIALS RELEVANT TO THE RLF PROGRAM. SITE-SPECIFIC TASKS INCLUDE VERIFYING SITE AND SUBGRANT ELIGIBILITY, PREPARING SUBGRANT AGREEMENTS, PREPARING QAPPS, CONDUCTING SITE-SPECIFIC PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES, PREPARING ABCAS, AND CONSULTING WITH, AND ENROLLING SITES IN, THE STATE VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM (VCP). OUTCOMES:MERRIMACK VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL ISSUE APPROXIMATELY 3 (THREE) LOANS AND 3 (THREE) SUBGRANTS TO REMEDIATE UP TO 6 (SIX) BROWNFIELD SITE(S); ANTICIPATES HOLDING 12 (TWELVE) COMMUNITY MEETINGS, FINALIZING UP TO 6 (SIX) ANALYSIS OF BROWNFIELD CLEANUP ALTERNATIVES, AND SUBMITTING 20 (TWENTY) QUARTERLY REPORTS. WORK CONDUCTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS IN AND NEAR THE 15 (FIFTEEN) MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPALITIES SERVED BY THE MERRIMACK VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION: AMESBURY, ANDOVER, BOXFORD, GEORGETOWN, GROVELAND, HAVERHILL, LAWRENCE, MERRIMACK, METHUEN, NEWBURY, NEWBURYPORT, NORTH ANDOVER, ROWLEY, SALISBURY, AND WEST NEWBURY.