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 $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) will provide funding to North Central Montana Economic Development District, Inc. (also known as Sweetgrass Development) to capitalize a revolving loan fund. The recipient will use this funding to issue loans and subgrants to clean up and remediate approximately 4 brownfield sites contaminated with hazardous substances like petroleum, asbestos, and lead-based paint across a 5-county region in central Montana, as well as on the Blackfeet Nation and Little Shell Chippewa reservations. In addition to the site cleanup activities, the recipient will conduct community outreach, oversee environmental professionals, and report on program income and accomplishments. This 4-year award, with a start date of October 1, 2023, aims to facilitate the expansion, redevelopment, and reuse of these brownfield properties to benefit local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in the region.

This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) for north central montana development district, also know as sweetgrass development, to capitalize a revolving loan fund as authorized by cercla 104(k)(3). Sweetgrass development is a private, non-profit corporation created in 2004 to support economic development in the counties of cascade, glacier, pondera, teton and toole, as well as the blackfeet nation and little shell tribe of chippewa indians of montana. Sweetgrass currently has an RLF inventory of 10 sites within the geographic area that are ready for cleanup. Of these, six are located within the target area and include 4 petroleum sites, 2 hazardous substance sites (asbestos and lead-based paint), and range in size from 0.161 acres to 2 acres. In addition to these sites, there are an additional 15 more on our assessment inventory anticipated to be ready for cleanup within the next five years. 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:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes: further, the recipient will issue an anticipated number of 2 loans and 2 subgrants to remediate 4 brownfield site(s); anticipates holding a minimum of 4 community meetings, finalizing a minimum of 4 analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, and submitting 20 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and NEAR0 the counties of cascade, glacier, pondera, teton and toole, as well as the blackfeet nation and little shell tribe of chippewa indians of montana. Outcomes will include cleaned up properties contaminated with materials that inhibit the RE-use of the property, RE-use and revitalization of the target areas.