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...for prepurchase help with contaminated sites ...for redevelopment resources ...for funding assistance ...for technical assistance |
| Why Contact Us? |
The RPC’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program started in 1999 with a pilot grant from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through their Brownfield and Land Revitalization Program. This grant
formed the foundation of our program to address Brownfield sites with potential hazardous waste contamination.
Two additional grants provided funding to expand on our initial efforts: a Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund
Grant to provided funding for environmental cleanups and a Petroleum Assessment Grant provides funding to
address sites with potential petroleum-related contamination. Brownfield Redevelopment Program activities are
detailed below by grant. Additional information on specific sites may found on the Property Profiles page.
Original Brownfield Pilot and Supplemental Assessment Grants
RPC began our Brownfield Redevelopment Program in 1999 as a Brownfield Pilot grantee with a grant of
$200,000. The main focus of the grant was to create the Southeast Louisiana Brownfield Consortium and compile
a Brownfields Cookbook, a template for Brownfield assessments and redevelopment.
This original grant was supplemented in 2001 with an additional $119,000, which was used to conduct six (6)
Phase I and one (1) Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs). A total of 823 acres were assessed
throughout the region, including sites in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Tammany Parishes. Included in
this number are the Falstaff Brewery site in New Orleans and the Progressive Church site in Marrero, Jefferson
Parish.
Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Grant (BCRLF)
In 2003, EPA awarded RPC a $500,000 Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) grant. This funding
provides low-interest loans for the environmental cleanup of Brownfield sites. When the loans are repaid, the
funds are then made available for additional cleanup loans and Brownfield-related activities, maximizing the impact
of the initial grant. Part of the grant can also be used to provide services related to cleanup, such as
redevelopment planning. Under RPC’s BCRLF, redevelopment plans were created for three sites: the Jefferson
Lake Canal site in Plaquemines Parish, and the Old Paris Road Landfill site and Old Incinerator & Main Yard site,
both in St. Bernard Parish.
In 2008, RPC provided a $300,000 loan to Progressive Church for the cleanup of the site of their future Family Life
Center, daycare/school facility, and senior housing community. Progressive Church completed the cleanup of the
site in 2008, and received an LDEQ Certificate of Completion on September 10, 2008. Located in Marrero on the
west bank of Jefferson Parish, this project is expected to generate at least 150 new jobs for the area.
Brownfield Petroleum Assessment Grant
In 2004, USEPA opened up the Brownfield grant opportunities to include sites with petroleum-related
contamination, previously excluded from receiving Brownfield funding. RPC was awarded a $200,000 grant to
expand our assessment program to include sites with potential petroleum-related contamination. Under this
grant, RPC conducted various outreach activities, inventoried petroleum sites within our region, and completed
Phase I and II environmental site assessments (ESAs), including a Phase I ESA of the Chronicles Site in Harvey
and the Phase II ESA of the Progressive Church site in Marrero, both in Jefferson Parish.
In addition, RPC organized the Southeast Louisiana Portfields Initiative in partnership with EPA, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ).
In partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, RPC also customized the USTriage software model to catalog
and rank potential brownfield sites based on physical, economic, and environmental criteria.
Current Funding
In 2009, RPC received additional funding from EPA to continue our Brownfield Redevelopment Program. Funding is
currently available to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments on sites with potential hazardous
and/or petroleum contamination. To enroll a site into RPC's Brownfield redevelopment Program, visit our Apply for
Funding page or contact the Brownfield Coordinator for more information.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through their Brownfield and Land Revitalization Program. This grant
formed the foundation of our program to address Brownfield sites with potential hazardous waste contamination.
Two additional grants provided funding to expand on our initial efforts: a Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund
Grant to provided funding for environmental cleanups and a Petroleum Assessment Grant provides funding to
address sites with potential petroleum-related contamination. Brownfield Redevelopment Program activities are
detailed below by grant. Additional information on specific sites may found on the Property Profiles page.
Original Brownfield Pilot and Supplemental Assessment Grants
RPC began our Brownfield Redevelopment Program in 1999 as a Brownfield Pilot grantee with a grant of
$200,000. The main focus of the grant was to create the Southeast Louisiana Brownfield Consortium and compile
a Brownfields Cookbook, a template for Brownfield assessments and redevelopment.
This original grant was supplemented in 2001 with an additional $119,000, which was used to conduct six (6)
Phase I and one (1) Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs). A total of 823 acres were assessed
throughout the region, including sites in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Tammany Parishes. Included in
this number are the Falstaff Brewery site in New Orleans and the Progressive Church site in Marrero, Jefferson
Parish.
Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Grant (BCRLF)
In 2003, EPA awarded RPC a $500,000 Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) grant. This funding
provides low-interest loans for the environmental cleanup of Brownfield sites. When the loans are repaid, the
funds are then made available for additional cleanup loans and Brownfield-related activities, maximizing the impact
of the initial grant. Part of the grant can also be used to provide services related to cleanup, such as
redevelopment planning. Under RPC’s BCRLF, redevelopment plans were created for three sites: the Jefferson
Lake Canal site in Plaquemines Parish, and the Old Paris Road Landfill site and Old Incinerator & Main Yard site,
both in St. Bernard Parish.
In 2008, RPC provided a $300,000 loan to Progressive Church for the cleanup of the site of their future Family Life
Center, daycare/school facility, and senior housing community. Progressive Church completed the cleanup of the
site in 2008, and received an LDEQ Certificate of Completion on September 10, 2008. Located in Marrero on the
west bank of Jefferson Parish, this project is expected to generate at least 150 new jobs for the area.
Brownfield Petroleum Assessment Grant
In 2004, USEPA opened up the Brownfield grant opportunities to include sites with petroleum-related
contamination, previously excluded from receiving Brownfield funding. RPC was awarded a $200,000 grant to
expand our assessment program to include sites with potential petroleum-related contamination. Under this
grant, RPC conducted various outreach activities, inventoried petroleum sites within our region, and completed
Phase I and II environmental site assessments (ESAs), including a Phase I ESA of the Chronicles Site in Harvey
and the Phase II ESA of the Progressive Church site in Marrero, both in Jefferson Parish.
In addition, RPC organized the Southeast Louisiana Portfields Initiative in partnership with EPA, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ).
In partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, RPC also customized the USTriage software model to catalog
and rank potential brownfield sites based on physical, economic, and environmental criteria.
Current Funding
In 2009, RPC received additional funding from EPA to continue our Brownfield Redevelopment Program. Funding is
currently available to conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments on sites with potential hazardous
and/or petroleum contamination. To enroll a site into RPC's Brownfield redevelopment Program, visit our Apply for
Funding page or contact the Brownfield Coordinator for more information.
| Regional Planning Commission · Updated March 2010 |
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| 10 Veterans Boulevard · New Orleans, LA 70124 · 504-483-8500 · brownfields@norpc.org |
| Program History |