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Minnesota Brownfields News
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Vapor Intrusion Forum Part II
January 15, 2015, St. Paul
Hosted by MN Brownfields
Register Here
EDAM Winter ConferenceJanuary 22-23, Brooklyn Park More info here
National Brownfields Training Conference September 2-4, 2015, Chicago Registration is now open!
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EMAIL SUBSRCIPTION
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter and email updates! If you would like to unsubscribe, simply click the SafeUnsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.
BROWNFIELD RESOURCE GUIDE
This updated reference has all of the cleanup and redevelopment grants, loans and other assistance available to communities throughout Minnesota. Thank you to the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development for taking the lead on the update! |
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Surly's destination brewery open for business
Since its inception in 2005, Surly Brewing has become a staple in the Minnesota beer scene. Omar Ansari, Surly's founder and president, had the vision for a destination brew ery for years, yet Minnesota's antiquated laws prohibited selling beer produced on the premises. Pioneering the omnibus liquor bill signed by Mark Dayton in 2011, now dubbed the "Surly Bill," Surly and other local breweries kicked off the Power of the Pint campaign  which influenced craft brew lovers to call their representatives in support of the bill, which now allows breweries to sell their beer on site. With the help of TEGRA Group, Surly selected a transit-oriented development site in the Prospect Park neighborhood near the new Metro Green Line and bike trails. The site had a history of contamination dating back to the 1940s, and with the help of ~$2 million in cleanup funding from the Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Fund, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Contamination Cleanup Program, and Hennepin County's Environmental Response Fund, the Surly destination brewery was constructed. Barr Engineering, a Minnesota Brownfields member, and McGough Construction remediated the site and constructed the ~$30 million project which opened on Friday, December 19th. Read more here.
Open house for TCAAP allows first peek at Rice Creek Commons site
 In August of 2014, the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant site was renamed Rice Creek Commons by Ramsey County to better market the site. Three consulting groups have worked on the vision for the site for the past year, Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. of St. Paul, Cuningham Group Architecture of Minneapolis, and Gateway Planning Group Inc. of Dallas. The master plan was unveiled, and highlights include three neighborhoods, two of which will be predominantly single-family housing and the other which will include mixed-use developments. This development is expected to add 3,800 residents to Arden Hills. To see the renderings and for more information, click here.
DEED Contamination Cleanup and Investigation grantees announced
 The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has announced the grant awards for the Fall 2014 Contamination Cleanup and Investigation grants. Grants were awarded to 17 different projects in 11 different cities, totally ~$6.5 million. These grants are highly competitive, with requests being nea rly doubly subscribed. For a complete list of awardees, click here. Congratulations to the grantees!
MPCA update on draft SRVs
 Thanks to those of you who submitted your comments to Minnesota Brownfields. We, along with several other groups, submitted a letter to MPCA regarding their proposed SRV changes. MPCA wishes to clarify that draft revised SRVs will not be used by any MPCA program until all comments have been addressed, background values have been determined, an additional comment period has taken place after the background values are released, and the SRVs are finalized. MPCA expects to release the background values for comment in February, 2015 and will update stakeholders.
Top 10 Development Projects that will change the Twin Cities in 2015
From transit-oriented development projects to restaurants with ferris wheels, the face of the Twin Cities is constantly evolving. Of the slated development and redevelopment projects set for 2015, The Line hypothesizes that these 10 will create the biggest splash in MSP's framework.
Metropolitan Council RFP for Blue Line Light Rail Extension Project
The Metropolitan Council is soliciting proposals for Consultant Services to assist the Council
with completion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the BLRT alignment. Proposals are due on January 27 at 5pm. Click here to view the RFP.
Sponsorship opportunities available
Have you attended a Minnesota Brownfields event in the past? Would you like to see more? A new year means new collaboration and education opportunities through Minnesota Brownfields. We have drafted a tentative list of upcoming events and are looking for sponsorship and partners. Contact Martha Faust via email or at 651-307-4371.
Grain elevator up for auction in Minneapolis
In the market for a used grain elevator? On January 6th at 9am, bidding begins on the grain elevator and property located at 3333 E 41st St, right off of Hiawatha Ave and the Blue Line Light Rail. The property was previously operated by CHS, Inc. until the mid 1990s, when it was sold to J&S Acquisitions who filed for bankruptcy in 2011. More information on the site can be found here.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Online Training Opportunities from ITRC
Green and Sustainable Remediation
January 6, 12:00pm-2:15pm
An Improved Understanding of LNAPL Behavior in the Subsurface - State of Science vs. State of Practice - Part 1
January 8, 12:00pm-2:15pm
Petroleum Vapor Intrusion: Fundamentals of Screening, Investigation, and Management
January 13, 12:00pm-2:15pm
LNAPL Training Part 2: LNAPL Characterization and Recoverability - Improved Analysis - Do you know where the LNAPL is and can you recover it?
January 15, 12:00pm-2:15pm
LNAPL Training Part 3: Evaluating LNAPL Remedial Technologies for Achieving Project Goals
January 22, 12:00pm-2:15pm
Council of Development Finance Agencies Brownfields Financing webinar series
 The EPA and CDFA are partnering for a three part webinar series on brownfield and redevelopment financing tools and technical assistance programs. The first of the webinars is Thursday, February 19, at 3:00pm CT and will include case studies of redevelopment projects that have successfully implemented different financing tools. Registration is free.
Chicago's newest city park was once a Superfund site
La Villita Park in Chicago opened on December 14, 2014 after neighborhood groups and the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization worked for years to remediate the site. The site had been owned and operated by Celotex to produce, store, and sell asphalt products, and was contaminated with PAHs. The city, park district, and two state grants contributed to the $19 million clean-up and construction costs. For more info, continue reading.
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THANK YOU MEMBERS AND SPONSORS
Minnesota Brownfields work is largely made possible through the generous contributions of our members. Individual memberships are available starting at $25/year, but a contribution at any level helps pay for this monthly e-newsletter and other publications and programming. Donate now.
Thank you to those named below for becoming Redevelopment, Remediation or RAP Development level members, renewing membership at those levels, or for sponsoring our events in the past 12 months:
- American Engineering Testing
- AMEC
- American National Bank
- Barr Engineering Company
- Bay West
- Braun Intertec Corporation
- Carlson McCain
- City of Duluth/DEDA
- Dominium
- Dorsey & Whitney
- Duluth Seaway Port Authority
- Economic Development Association of Minnesota
- Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
- Gray Plant Mooty
- Hillcrest Development, LLLP
- Historical Information Gatherers
- Hyde Development, LLC
- Impact 7G
- Johnson Wilson
- Landmark Environmental, LLC
- LHB Inc.
- Liesch - a Terracon Company
- Metropolitan Council
- Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Minnesota Power
- The Opus Group
- Pace Analytical
- Peer Engineering
- Saint Paul Port Authority
- SEH, Inc.
- Stinson Leonard Street
- Stoel Rives
- Vieau Associates Inc.
- Wenck Associates
- WSB & Associates
- WSP USA Corp.
- Xcel Energy
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Through education, research and partnerships, Minnesota Brownfields promotes the efficient cleanup and reuse of contaminated land as a means of generating economic growth,
strengthening communities and enabling sustainable land use and development.
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