Solicitation of Public Comments for Final Brownfield's Assessment Grant Proposal

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MED) is soliciting comments on its Final Brownfield's Assessment Grant Proposal to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant program is part of the new Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfield's Revitalization Act signed by President Bush in January 2002 to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfields sites, including sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances (including substances mixed with petroleum). Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.
MDE’s Final Grant Proposal is a follow up to its initial proposal that was submitted December 16, 2002. EPA regional panels reviewed and evaluated initial proposals and invited some to submit final proposals. EPA accepted MDE’s initial proposal and invited MDE to prepare and submit a final proposal, which is due March 19, 2003. National Evaluation Panels composed of EPA and other federal officials will evaluate and rank final proposals. Final selections will consider National Evaluation Panel rankings and other statutory and policy considerations. In spite of the March 19th deadline for the proposal, MDE will be accepting comments until April 30, 2003 for future amendments to its proposal.
Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. The brownfields assessment grant program provides funding for grant recipients to inventory, characterize, and assess brownfields and to conduct planning and community involvement activities. MDE’s proposal includes brownfields assessments of properties in the Carroll Creek and East Street Corridor of Frederick City.
Interested persons may submit comments for MDE’s Grant proposal on (but not limited to) the redevelopment options for properties identified in the grant proposal; the impact of redevelopment on public health or the environment; options for remediation of contamination at identified properties; and, opportunities for community involvement during the property investigation/remediation and redevelopment process.
For more detailed information and assistance regarding the application process, contact the EPA Call Center at (703) 412-9810 or 1-800-424-9346. Proposal guidelines are also available at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields. Written comments on the properties for MDE’s grant proposal should be sent to: Karl Kalbacher, Program Administrator, Environmental Restoration & Redevelopment Program, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 625, Baltimore, MD 21230-1719, email Kkalbacher@mde.state.md.us, or fax (410) 537-3472. For further information regarding this notice, please call Karl Kalbacher at (410) 537-3437.