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 the City of Red Oak a $500,000 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 brownfield assessment and revitalization activities within Red Oak, Iowa, designed to address properties whose development or reuse may be complicated by the presence of hazardous substances or contaminants. The city will conduct environmental site inventories, characterization, and assessments; facilitate community engagement through meetings and visioning sessions; develop site-specific cleanup plans and alternatives analyses; and prepare planning documents to support brownfield redevelopment and reuse.

Specific deliverables include conducting at least 13 Phase I and 6 Phase II environmental site assessments; holding a minimum of 7 community meetings and 2 visioning sessions; developing 6 site-specific cleanup plans, 3 analyses for brownfield cleanup alternatives, 2 site reuse assessment plans, 1 market study, 1 infrastructure evaluation, a health assessment, and a brownfield revitalization plan; and preparing 1 generic quality assurance project plan. The city will competitively procure and direct qualified environmental professionals to conduct environmental site activities and will submit quarterly progress reports through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). This award includes no subawards.

This agreement will provide funding for the city of red OAK to conduct eligible assessment-related activities as authorized by cerlca 104(k)(2) within the city limits of red OAK, iowa. 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 at least 13 phase i and 6 phase II environmental site assessments, holding at least 7 community meetings and 2 visioning sessions, developing 6 site-specific cleanup plans/analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, developing planning documents to initiate brownfields revitalization including, 1 generic quality assurance project plan, 3 analysis for brownfields cleanup alternatives (abca), 2 site reuse assessment plans, 1 market study,1 infrastructure evaluation, a health assessment, a brownfields revitalization plan, and submitting 15 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near red OAK, iowa.