Grant could lead to demo projects on tribal lands

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected Kansas State University to receive $4 million in grant funding over the course of five years to provide technical assistance and increase the capacity of tribal nations and entities to build sustainable brownfield programs, establish and enhance their Tribal Response Programs and conduct and oversee brownfields assessment and cleanup activities.

According to the EPA, the grant will enable Kansas State to provide its technical assistance to several different types of federally recognized tribes, native villages and tribal-affiliated corporations and organizations.

“EPA is excited to continue working with Tribal entities to clean up and revitalize brownfield sites across the country,” says Cliff Villa, deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the EPA.

The EPA defines a brownfield project as one involving a property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Such projects may involve the demolition of abandoned structures as well as the abatement and remediation of materials found onsite.

The agency says its cooperative agreement grant assigned to Kansas State will support tribal communities in their efforts to tackle the challenges of assessing, cleaning up and preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment.

According to the EPA, Kansas State personnel will create deliverables that align with tribal priorities, capacity and goals to address the following subject areas:

• brownfields finance and planning strategies for tribal nations and entities;
• science and technology relating to brownfields assessment, remediation and site preparation for “safe and resilient” reuse;
• assisting tribal nations and entities in understanding and building Tribal Response Programs;
• promoting collaboration regarding brownfield property reuse; and
• forming integrated approaches to brownfield cleanup and reuse.

More information on the EPA’s Brownfields Program can be found here.