Niagara County Brownfields Program
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities at which expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.”
As home to Love Canal, the birthplace of the federal Superfund Program, Niagara County has well-documented evidence of the impact of brownfield contamination on health, welfare, and the general quality of life. In 1999, Niagara County established a countywide brownfields program to identify brownfield sites and return them to productive use.
Niagara County’s brownfields program consists of site assessment, end use planning, and a revolving loan fund for cleaning up brownfield sites. The site assessment program uses competitively awarded funds from USEPA to hire engineering firms to complete environmental site assessments at prioritized sites. The end use planning program consists of USEPA funds, funds from New York State, and local matching funds for end use planning efforts in the region. The Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) was created by a $1 million grant award from USEPA to Niagara County and further supplemented with a $900,000 USEPA grant award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The BCRLF provides low-interest loans and subgrants to eligible entities cleaning up brownfield sites in Niagara County, New York.
Brownfields revitalization is critical to the future of Niagara County. Remediating contaminated sites and making them productive again results in job creation and a healthier environment. Therefore, Niagara County is concentrating on brownfields redevelopment as a key strategy for economic regeneration and environmental revitalization.
Learn more about Niagara County’s brownfield program
Download Niagara County Brownfields Program 2007 Brochure
Download Niagara County Petroleum Brownfields Brochure
View a map of properties assessed with USEPA assessment grant funding
CURENTLY AVAILABLE BROWNFIELD INCENTIVES
Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program (BCRLF)
To aid in brownfields remediation, Niagara County established a BCRLF with competitively awarded funds from USEPA. Through the BCRLF, low-interest loans are available to the private sector and subgrants are available to local municipalities and non-profit organizations that need assistance in remediating brownfield sites in Niagara County, NY.
General Program Guidelines:
-
The BCRLF program offers low-interest loans (3%) and subgrants;
-
Subgrants can only be given to eligible nonprofit organizations and municipalities that own the brownfield site prior to the signing of the subgrant award;
-
Loans can be given to any eligible entity;
-
Recipients of funds cannot be a liable party for the contamination;
-
Money can only be used for cleanup costs at hazardous waste sites;
-
Site remediation must be conducted under New York State oversight.
Eligible Activities:
· Actions associated with removing, mitigating, or preventing the release or threat of a release of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
· Site monitoring activities that are reasonable, necessary, and incidental during the cleanup process.
· Costs associated with meeting public participation, worker health and safety, and state oversight.
BCRLF Application Process Flowchart
If you are interested in applying for a loan or subgrant from the BCRLF, we encourage you to download a Qualifying Application and contact Amy E. Fisk, AICP, President, Niagara County Brownfield Development Corporation at (716) 278-8754 or amy.fisk@niagaracounty.com.
Niagara County Brownfield Development Corporation
The BCRLF program is managed by the Niagara County Brownfield Development Corporation (NCBDC). The NCBDC is a local development corporation created by Niagara County to review and approve projects and authorize disbursement of BCRLF funds. In compliance with the New York State Public Authorities Accountability Act (PAAA), the following information on the NCBDC is available for download:
· NCBDC Mission Statement
· Performance Measures Report
· List of Board Members and Committees
· NCBDC Articles of Incorporation
· Meeting Minutes – 12/10/08
· Meeting Minutes – 01/20/09
· Meeting Minutes – 06/10/09
· Meeting Minutes – 07/15/09
· Meeting Minutes – 03/04/10
· Meeting Minutes – 04/28/10
· Meeting Minutes – 05/18/10
· BCRLF Program Organizational Chart
· NCBDC Bylaws
