Minnesota Brownfields News 
    
UPCOMING EVENTS   
 
MN Real Estate Journal Brownfields Summit
October 11, Golden Valley 
More info and registration here
 
 
MPCA Consultants' Day 
October 22, St. Paul  
More info and registration here
 
 
ReScape Awards Event
November 7, St. Paul
More info here 

 
AIA Minnesota Annual Convention
November 12-15, Minneapolis
More info here    
 
IN THIS ISSUE
Minnesota News
National News
Thank You Members & Sponsors
MN Brownfields ReScape Awards


 
 
 
 

Join us November 7 at St. Paul's Union Depot. We'll honor finalist projects in four categories: Community Impact, Economic Impact, Environmental Impact and Small City Impact, as well as the winner of the Mac Hyde award. 

Questions? Call 651.307.4371.

MINNESOTA NEWS    


Fall Brownfield Grant Round Deadline: November 1
Over $8 million in grant funds in addition to low cost loans will be available to investigate or clean up contaminants associated with real estate development on redevelopment sites.
State and federal funds are available for environmental investigation and cleanup activities at sites with:
  • Petroleum contamination  
  • Groundwater contamination
  • Soil contamination
  • Soil vapor mitigation
  • Asbestos and hazardous materials  

For more information see programs and funds available from:

Looking for further information about available grants and loans?  Check out the Brownfield Resource Guide, a joint project of the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and Minnesota Brownfields.    

 

  

Minnesota Brownfields Brownfield Gap Financing Program Success
Since April, 2013, Minnesota Brownfields has co-managed Hennepin County's Brownfield Gap Financing Program (BGFP), which makes small grants to non-profit developers for assessment and cleanup activities. The program is funded through the County's Environmental Response Fund. As of August 31, nearly $123,000 of a $150,000 grant had been committed to eighteen different projects throughout the county. Funded projects include affordable housing, a child care center, a non-profit commercial bakery, a battered women's shelter, and community gardens.  Learn more about BGFP here. 

  

MPCA logo


Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Consultants Day  

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Petroleum Remediation Program (PRP) is hosting a Consultants'Day training event on October 22. The event will be held at the Continuing Education and Conference Center on the University of Minnesota Campus in St. Paul, MN.  More info here.   

 

 

Get Linkedin with Minnesota Brownfields 

Minnesota Brownfields hosts an interest group on LinkedIn with 225 members and growing. The group posts late-breaking news, events, and job notices. To stay in touch, look here.

  

 
Hennepin County Welcomes New Environmental Services Staff

Hennepin County Department of Environmental Services is pleased to announce that Mary Finch will join the Land and Water Unit on October 21st.  As part of her many duties, Mary will assist John Evans and Gil Gabanski with the Environmental Response Fund.  Her new colleagues are delighted that Mary has accepted the position; please join us in congratulating Mary. 

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Planning for EPA Brownfield Grants During Federal Shutdown 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had not yet released guidelines for its FY14 Assessment, Cleanup and Revolving Loan Fund (ARC) Grants prior to Monday's government shutdown, which has effectively furloughed most employees of the agency. As of the moment, it's uncertain how the FY14 ARC Request for Proposals (RFP) may be impacted by the shutdown. 


EPA's most recent guidance urged communities who intend to apply for an ARC grant to begin their background work now. There are many activities that applicants can perform in advance of the RFP (commonly referred to as the ARC Guidelines) being made publicly available in order to prepare in advance for the competition. Further guidance from EPA may be accessed here.

 
 

Urban Lofts Favored Over Suburban Office Parks

Richard Florida, Senior Editor of the Atlantic magazine, examines historical and geographic trends in venture capital-financed technology, which is recently shifting to urban areas. Richard explains, "Cities are denser and more efficient, especially for start-ups" mainly because "older buildings in the urban locations can be much more affordable". Read full article.  


 
Forecasting an Engineering or Institutional Control Breach
For cleanup site managers, excavations by third-parties can breach institutional or engineering controls relied upon in a site's cleanup remedy. Third-party excavators include utility companies, developers and contractors whose work is not part of the site cleanup process. Terradex completed an analysis of excavation records for sites in California from utility clearance centers. The findings offer a formula for reasonable predictions of annual excavation frequency near cleanup sites. Applying these insights can inform efforts for safer and enduring cleanup site remedies. Access their analysis here. 


Is Suburb Sprawl Increasing?   
The New York Times recently examined strong growth in the nation's housing market, and whether it is driving the return of suburban sprawl. The exurban community of Otsego, MN was part of the analysis. 
 

2013 Brownfield Renewal Person of the Year Award   

Brownfield Renewal invites you to consider nominating a brownfield
professional for their Person of the Year Award. Nominations will be accepted through October 18, with voting to take place between October 28-November 1. Additional information and how to submit a nomination here. 
 
 
 
ALSO OF NOTE 

 


By day, she assists Minnesota communities in implementing plans to remediate and redevelop forlorn brownfield sites. She has also fearlessly served as Chair of Minnesota Brownfields Board of Directors since 2011.

 

And in September, Deb DeLuca traveled to Bend, Oregon to compete in the USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships. Deb took 3rd place in her age division. We're proud of you: go, Deb, go!




THANK YOU TO 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. Donate now.

We thank 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
  • American National Bank 
  • Barr Engineering Company
  • Bay West 
  • Beazley Consulting 
  • Braun Intertec Corporation
  • Carlson McCain
  • Central Iron Range Initiative  
  • City of Duluth/DEDA 
  • Jon Carlson
  • Economic Development Association of Minnesota 
  • Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
  • Gray Plant Mooty
  • Halleland Habicht 
  • Hillcrest Development, LLLP  
  • Historical Information Gatherers
  • Hyde Development, LLC
  • Impact 7G
  • Javelin Group
  • Landmark Environmental, LLC
  • Leonard, Street, and Deinard
  • LHB 
  • Liesch  
  • Loucks Associates
  • Metropolitan Council
  • Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • The Opus Group   
  • Parkway Law
  • Peer Engineering
  • Pope Architects 
  • Saint Paul Port Authority
  • Stantec
  • Stoel Rives
  • TKDA 
  • Western Bank
  • Xcel Energy      
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.