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 (EPA) Region 7 awarded Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) a $1.2 million Cooperative Agreement under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. This award funds comprehensive brownfields assessment and redevelopment activities across 16 counties in southeastern Nebraska (Butler, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Polk, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Richardson, Thayer, and York).

SENDD will deliver assessment-related activities authorized under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(k)(2), including conducting up to 30 Phase I and 15 Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and/or Hazardous Building Materials Assessments, developing eight site-specific cleanup plans and analyses of brownfield cleanup alternatives, developing four planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and organizing seven community engagement meetings. The recipient will competitively procure qualified environmental professionals to conduct site activities and report progress through EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES), submitting 16 quarterly reports over the performance period. No subawards are included in this cooperative agreement. These deliverables will directly benefit residents, business owners, and stakeholders throughout the region by identifying environmental hazards and supporting the remediation and redevelopment of blighted, vacant, and underutilized properties.

This agreement will provide funding to southeast nebraska development district to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) in butler, fillmore, gage, jefferson, johnson, lancaster, nemaha, otoe, pawnee, polk, saline, saunders, seward, richardson, thayer, and york counties in nebraska. 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:further, the recipient anticipates conducting up to 30 phase i and 15 phase II environmental site assessments and/or hazardous building materials assesments, holding 7 community meetings, developing 8 site-specific cleanup plans/analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, developing 4 planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization, and submitting 16 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near butler, fillmore, gage, jefferson, johnson, lancaster, nemaha, otoe, pawnee, polk, saline, saunders, seward, richardson, thayer, and york counties in nebraska.