For Release: Wednesday, April 13, 2005
DEC: Applications Now Available for Citizen Participation in Brownfield Cleanups
Technical Assistance Grants Will Help Promote Public Awareness in Remedial Projects
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced that applications are available for grants to support efforts that increase public awareness and understanding of cleanup activities taking place in communities. DEC's Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) are a component of the comprehensive Superfund/Brownfield legislation signed into law by Governor George Pataki in 2003.
"Governor Pataki is committed to encouraging community participation in the significant progress being made with DEC's cleanup programs in revitalizing neighborhoods throughout New York State," Commissioner Sheehan said. "The TAG program is an important citizen participation tool that will help keep residents, businesses and community leaders informed of the improvements being made through our brownfield cleanup programs."
Eligible community groups which have incorporated as not-for-profit corporations may apply to receive grants for up to $50,000 per eligible site. Currently, $3 million is available to fund TAGs. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. TAGs, in the form of State Assistance Contracts (SACs), are available for the purpose of obtaining independent technical assistance in interpreting existing environmental information about an eligible "significant threat" site being cleaned up in the State Superfund Program or Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP).
Technical assistance is intended to help the grant recipient and the community it represents understand existing environmental data developed about the site, comment on site remedial activities and proposals, and share this information with the public. Eligible community groups cannot be a party responsible for the contamination at the site and must be incorporated as not-for-profit corporations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. An eligible community group must certify that its membership represents the interest of the community affected by the site, and that its members' health, economic well-being, or enjoyment of the environment are potentially threatened by the site.
Information about TAGs, including the TAG application, is available on DEC's website or by calling DEC's Division of Environmental Remediation at (518) 402-9711. Applications are now being accepted by DEC on a continuous basis. There is no matching contribution required on the part of the grant recipient.
New York's State Superfund Program provides for the investigation and cleanup of sites that pose a significant threat to public health and/or the environment due to contamination by hazardous wastes. The new statutory BCP, modeled after the former Voluntary Cleanup Program, is designed to enhance private-sector cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields. The goals of the program include protecting public health and the environment, reducing development pressure on "greenfields," and promoting job creation and community redevelopment.
The Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, proposed by Governor Pataki and approved by voters in November 1996, authorizes $1.75 billion for important environmental programs. The Bond Act included $200 million for Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) grants to municipalities for costs associated with the investigation and cleanup of brownfields.
Since 1995, more than $62.7 million in Bond Act funding has been committed for 157 investigation and cleanup projects at brownfield sites throughout New York State under the ERP. Total Bond Act/ERP funding includes 129 investigation projects totaling $27.1 million and 28 remediation projects totaling $35.6 million. Other applications are under review by DEC and additional grants are anticipated in the near future. Brownfields are abandoned or underused properties where real or perceived environmental contamination hinders the potential for redevelopment.
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