Brownfield Funding Update

Contaminated soil being reclaimed for a community garden site.
 
Safe growing on brownfields doesn't only depend on cover materials - it depends on type, nature and extent of contaminants on and in soil and subsurface and even groundwater.
 
 
Other key considerations:
 

• Is it a community garden or an urban farm?
• Are you growing for your own consumption or to sell?
• Do you own the site - if so, you may also have environmental liability issues to consider.

 
We have general information in our fact sheet, "How Does Your Garden Grow?" released last year but that was directed more at highlighting how vacant lots may be brownfields and how EPA and our state and tribal resources and expertise when combined with extension service agriculture and soil expert colleagues can create safe growing for gardens and urban farms. etc..
 
 
If you have a known Brownfield with identified contamination, you probably want to work with your state or tribal response program to get their recommendations on risks to public health and the environment and get their sign off on cover or capping based on the type of site, nature and extent of contamination on the surface, subsurface or potentially groundwater. Alternatively, you could check their site inventory to see if properties that have already been assessed and cleaned are available for safe growing.
 
 
We also have just posted proposal guidelines for our next funding cycle:
 
 
Primarily, local, regional, state and tribal governments are eligible for our funding, though non-profits may be eligible for cleanup grants on sites they own, provided they meet certain conditions. We have $92 million available for assessment, revolving loan fund, clean and job training grants. The Deadline for applications is Oct 15, 2010.
 
Learn more from the RFP on our website at:
 
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm
 
 
Also, think about joining us at our FREE national Brownfield conference in Philadelphia, April 3-5, 2011: www.brownfields2011.org
 
 
I believe brownfields and urban ag will remain an active topic for national discussions and we hope to learn lots from Greensgrow Farm and other practitioners from around the country.
 
Regards,
Ann Carroll,
US EPA,
Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization.