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 $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Cooperative Agreement was awarded to the County of McKenzie, North Dakota by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818).

The funding will allow the County to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement activities related to contaminated brownfield sites in three targeted areas - the cities of Alexander, Arnegard, and Watford City. Key planned activities include conducting 10 Phase I and 4 Phase II environmental site assessments, developing 4 remedial action plans, creating 2 brownfields revitalization planning documents, and hosting 8 community meetings. This work is expected to benefit local residents, business owners, and other stakeholders in and around McKenzie County by addressing environmental justice issues, increasing economic opportunities, and improving safety and access to housing and services.

This agreement will provide funding for mckenzie county to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) in mckenzie county, north dakota.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:mckenzie county has identified three target areas throughout the county - city of alexander, city of arnegard, and city of watford city - to be the primary focus of the assessments. These target areas were selected based on community need, high potential for reuse of identified brownfields, and the ability to address environmental justice issues. Decades of industry shifts and the boom-and-bust economic cycles have left the target areas with a need for greater diversity of jobs, an excess of vacancies, a lack of affordable housing, and daycare and senior housing shortages resulting in jobs leaving the county, reduced safety, and increased poverty which is stressing housing and economic development in the target areas. These areas have been identified based on county needs and the likelihood of reuse. Further, the recipient anticipates conducting 10 phase i and 4 phase II environmental site assessments, presenting at 8 community meetings, developing 4 remedial action plans, developing 2 planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and submitting quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near mckenzie county, north dakota.