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 Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 awarded a $2 million Cooperative Agreement to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements (CFDA 66.818) program. The award will support brownfield site inventory, assessment, and cleanup planning activities from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2027.

Specifically, subawards will provide approximately $88k each to the municipalities of Longmont, Lyons, Cortez, and Firestone, Colorado for personnel to assist in identifying and assessing brownfield sites with the selected qualified environmental professional. It is expected that multiple Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments will be conducted across three target areas encompassing 86 parcels and 286.5 acres in Longmont and Lyons, two parcels in Cortez, and four parcels in Firestone. The recipient will report on progress to the EPA through at least 20 quarterly reports during the award period. The work will benefit residents, businesses and brownfields in the specified municipalities and potentially other areas of Colorado.

This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) for colorado department of public health and environment (cdphe) to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) primarily focused in several target communities within the state of colorado. Cdphe will provide subgrants to the city of longmont, and the towns of lyons, firestone and cortez; other target areas within the jurisdiction of cdphe may be considered for inclusion. Cdphe will select the qualified environmental professional contractor(s). The subgrants will provide funding for personnel to create a site inventory of eligible brownfield sites for assessment within their respective municipal jurisdictions. The municipalities will manage the site identification, submit eligibility determinations, conduct oversight and review of QEP activities within their jurisdiction, under the umbrella oversight of cdphe. 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, and 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:specifically, this brownfields assistance agreement will provide funding to the recipient to inventory and assess brownfield properties for future use and redevelopment. Subgrants to the city of longmont and the towns of lyons, cortez and firestone, colorado will provide funding to personnel to assist the cdphe at a local level for sites to be assessed through the QEP selected by cdphe. Additional target areas within the jurisdiction of cdphe may be considered for inclusion. Outcomes:further, the recipient anticipates conducting multiple phase i phase II environmental site assessments in the 3 primary target areas. Additional target areas may be considered. Exact number of assessments is not known, but will be tracked and reported in acres by cdphe. A total of 8 sites in 3 target areas have been identified, though the number of parcels (88) may result in some subdivision of sites and resulting assessments. Target area 1 includes 86 parcels and 286.5 acres in longmont and lyons, colorado. Target area 2 includes 2 parcels in cortez, colorado and target area 3 includes 4 parcels in firestone, colorado. Subgrants will be issued to these municipalities for personnel to provide expertise to identify sites, hold community meetings, develop site-specific cleanup plans/analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, develop planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization in collaboration with cdphe and the QEP. Subgrantees will report to cdphe, through meetings, periodic reports on site progress and recommendations. Cdphe will track all activities and submit a minimum of 20 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and brownfield in and near longmont, lyons, cortez and firestone, colorado; additional target areas within the state me be considered for inclusion.