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

Award Overview

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 awarded a $1.0 million Cooperative Agreement to Flint Hills Regional Council, Inc. under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818), effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. Funding was provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to capitalize a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) as authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(k)(3) serving five Kansas municipalities—Clay Center, Herington, Hillsboro, and Wakefield—and seven counties: Chapman, Chase, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wabaunsee.

Deliverables and Activities

Under this agreement, Flint Hills Regional Council will establish and manage an RLF from which loans and subgrants will be provided to eligible entities for brownfield site remediation and redevelopment. Key activities include procuring qualified environmental professionals to oversee environmental site activities, creating community involvement plans and administrative records for each remediated site, and competitive procurement of cleanup services. The recipient will report program income, interim progress, and final accomplishments through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES) using required Property Profile Forms and Brownfields RLF Forms. Expected outcomes include environmental remediation through hazardous substance removal or containment, public health protection through contaminant exposure mitigation, economic revitalization of previously contaminated properties, and enhanced community stakeholder engagement.

This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) for flint hills regional council to capitalize a revolving loan fund as authorized by cercla 104(k)(3) in the following five city limits: clay center, herington, hillsboro, wakefield, along with the counties of chapman chase, geary, lyon, morris, pottawatomie, riley, and wabaunsee, located in kansas. Activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding for the recipient to 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, the recipient will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to oversee the environmental site activities, will create a community involvement plan and administrative record for each site that is remediated, and 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:loans and sub-awards for cleanups of brownfields.outcomes:the expected outcomes of the fhrc RLF program include: - environmental improvement: removal or containment of hazardous substances leading to reduced risks to soil, water, and air quality. - public health protection: mitigation of exposure to contaminants for nearby residents, workers, and vulnerable populations. - economic revitalization: redevelopment of formerly contaminated sites into productive commercial, residential, or community uses, supporting local jobs and investment. - enhanced community engagement: increased awareness and involvement of stakeholders in environmental decision-making and site reuse planning. - sustainable reuse: return of vacant, underutilized properties to the local tax base and reuse in alignment with comprehensive plans and resilience goals. Further, the recipient will issue approximately 2 to 3 loans and 1 to 2 subgrants to remediate 2 to 5 brownfield site(s); anticipates holding 4 to 6 community meetings and outreach sessions, finalizing 2 to 5 analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, quality plans, and submitting 20 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near five city limits: clay center, herington, hillsboro, wakefield, along with the counties of chapman chase, geary, lyon, morris, pottawatomie, riley, and wabaunsee, located in kansas.