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 $2.65 million cooperative agreement awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 will fund the Great Falls Development Authority's (GFDA) brownfields revolving loan fund program in Cascade County, Montana. The GFDA will re-capitalize its revolving loan fund to provide $848,000 in subgrants and loans for the assessment and cleanup of contaminated brownfield sites. It anticipates issuing two loans, two subgrants, and one loan/subgrant combination to remediate five sites directly, and has identified an additional eight potential cleanup projects. The GFDA will oversee environmental site work, create community involvement plans, and report program outcomes through EPA's ACRES system over the five-year period ending September 2027. This Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreement from EPA will facilitate the redevelopment of contaminated properties and benefit the local community.

This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act for great falls development authority (gfda) to RE-capitalize a revolving loan fund as authorized by cercla 104(k)(5)(a)(II) in cascade county, montana. Activities:this agreement will provide funding for the gfda to RE-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 gfda will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to oversee the environmental site activities and will create a community involvement plan and administrative record for each site that is remediated. The gfda 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:the recipient proposes to use to provide $848,000 of subgrants to eligible enitites for the clean up of contaminated sites. Outcomes:gfda will issue approximately 2 loans, 2 subgrants, 1 loan/subrant combination to remediate 5 brownfield site(s); additionally the recipient has identifed an addtional 8 potential cleanup projects for a total of 13 brownfields sites. The recipient anticipates holding a community meeting for every loan/subgrant project (potentially 13), finalizing an analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives for every loan and subgrant (potentially 13), and submitting 20 quarterly reports in the five year grant period. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near cascade county, montana.