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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 awarded the City of Brighton, Colorado a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Cooperative Agreement under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements (CFDA 66.818) program. This 4-year award will fund the City to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement activities for several downtown properties with potential contamination concerns. The activities will include competitively procuring and directing qualified environmental professionals to perform environmental site assessments, develop remedial action plans, and engage the community. The City anticipates conducting 12 Phase I and 6 Phase II environmental assessments, developing 6 remedial action plans, and submitting quarterly progress reports. This work aims to determine the extent of contamination at the properties in order to secure additional funding for future cleanup and redevelopment of the sites for affordable housing and commercial/industrial uses.

This agreement will provide funding for city of brighton to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) in brighton, colorado. Activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding to the recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement related activities. Additionally, the recipient will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to conduct environmental site activities. Also, the recipient will report on interim progress and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (acres). Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the city of brighton identified several downtown properties, all in a 3-mile distance adjacent to a railroad, in need of environmental assessments. Due to their historical use, and in some cases, unfortunate fire destruction, there is appropriate concern that contaminants like asbestos, lead, other heavy metals, petroleum, and solvent-based products exist at these properties. There is also concern soils at these properties are contaminated with arsenic and heavy metals due to the proximity of the railroad. These concerns for contamination have stalled sale and redevelopment. This 3-year grant will help the city conduct environmental assessments to determine whether contaminants exist at these properties so that additional funding can be secured for future cleanup and redevelopment for much needed affordable housing and commercial/industrial redevelopment. The recipient anticipates developing a steering committee to assist in the ranking and prioritization of brownfields sites in the downtown area, will develop marketing materials and implement an outreach strategy to engage the community, conduct area-wide planning including a report with redevelopment profiles for at least 15 properties, conduct 12 phase i and 6 phase II environmental site assessments, hold at least one public meeting, develop 6 remedial action plans, and submit quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement with benefit the residents, business owners and stakeholders in and near the city of brighton, colorado.