American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) Supplemental Funding for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grantees, 16386-16388 [E9-8240]

Download as PDF 16386 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 68 / Friday, April 10, 2009 / Notices estimated to average 15 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. Respondents/Affected Entities: Refractory product manufacturers. Estimated Number of Respondents: 8. Frequency of Response: Initially, occasionally and semiannually. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 338. Estimated Total Annual Cost: $30,344, which is comprised of: $27,304 in labor costs, $3,040 in O&M costs, and no annualized capital/startup costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the estimation methodology for labor hours or cost to the respondents in this ICR compared to the previous ICR. This is due to two considerations. First, the regulations have not changed over the past three years and are not anticipated to change over the next three years. Secondly, the growth rate for respondents is very low, negative, or non-existent. The previous approved ICR renewal indicated 470 annual labor hours; after review of the burden tables, it was determined that the number of indicated hours was based on a calculation error. The decrease in burden is due to a correction in the labor hours from 470 to 338 per year. Dated: April 6, 2009. John Moses, Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. E9–8241 Filed 4–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8791–3] American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) Supplemental Funding for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grantees AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) plans to make available approximately $40 million in Recovery Act funding to supplement Revolving Loan Fund capitalization grants previously awarded competitively under section 104(k)(3) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(3). Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) pilots awarded under section 104(d)(1) of CERCLA that have not transitioned to section 104(k)(3) grants are not eligible to apply for these funds. EPA will award these funds under the criteria described below only to RLF grantees who have demonstrated an ability to deliver programmatic results by making at least one loan or subgrant and have effectively utilized existing available loan funds (high performing RLF grantees). The Agency is now accepting requests for Recovery Act supplemental funding from high performing RLF grantees. Requests for funding must be submitted to the EPA Regional Contact (listed below) by May 1, 2009. Specific information on submitting a request for Recovery Act RLF supplemental funding can be obtained by contacting the EPA Regional Contact. DATES: This action is effective April 10, 2009. ADDRESSES: Mailing addresses and contact information for U.S. EPA Regional Offices and U.S. EPA Headquarters are provided below and in the Recovery Act Process and Consideration Guidelines for RLF Grant Supplemental Funding. The guidelines are available at: https://www.epa.gov/ brownfields/eparecovery. Copies of the guidelines will also be sent upon request. Requests should be made by calling U.S. EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, (202) 566–2777 or regional offices. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debi Morey, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, (202) 566–2735 or the appropriate Brownfields Regional Contact. REGIONAL CONTACTS Region States Address/phone number/e-mail EPA Region 1, Diane Kelley, Kelley.Diane@epa.gov. EPA Region 2, Larry D’Andrea, DAndrea.Larry@epa.gov. EPA Region 3, Tom Stolle, Stolle.Tom@epa.gov. CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT .......................... EPA Region 4, Wanda Jennings, Jennings.Wanda@epa.gov. AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN ............ EPA Region 5, Deborah Orr.Deborah@epa.gov. Orr, IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI ............................. Chapa, AR, LA, NM, OK, TX ................................ EPA Region 7, Susan Klein, Klein.Susan@epa.gov. EPA Region 8, Ted Lanzano, Lanzano.Ted@epa.gov. IA, KS, MO, NE ........................................ One Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02114– 2023; Phone (617) 918–1424; Fax (617) 918–1291. 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007; Phone (212) 637–4314; Fax (212) 637–4360. 1650 Arch Street, Mail Code 3HS51, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103; Phone (215) 814–3129; Fax (215) 814–5518. Atlanta Federal Center, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., 10th FL, Atlanta, GA 30303–8960; (404) 562–8682 (w); (404) 562–8439 (fax). 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Mail Code SE–4J, Chicago, Illinois 60604–3507; Phone (312) 886–7576; Fax (312) 886–7190. 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 (6SF–PB), Dallas, Texas 75202–2733; Phone (214) 665–6780; Fax (214) 665–6660. 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101; Phone (913) 551–7786; Fax (913) 551–8688. 1595 Wynkoop Street (EPR–B), Denver, CO 80202– 1129; Phone (303) 312–6596; Fax (303) 312–6067. EPA Region 6, Monica Smith.Monica@epa.gov. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:39 Apr 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 NJ, NY, PR, VI .......................................... DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV ........................ CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY ........................ PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10APN1.SGM 10APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 68 / Friday, April 10, 2009 / Notices 16387 REGIONAL CONTACTS—Continued Region States Address/phone number/e-mail EPA Region 9, Debbie Schechter, Schechter.Debbie@epa.gov. AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU ........................... EPA Region 10, Brooks Stanfield, Stanfield.Brooks@epa.gov. AK, ID, OR, WA ........................................ 75 Hawthorne Street, SFD 9–1, San Francisco, California 94105; Phone (415) 972–3093; Fax (415) 947– 3520. 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101; Phone (206) 553–4423; Fax (206) 553–0124. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111–05) (Recovery Act). EPA received $100 million in Recovery Act appropriations for the CERCLA 104(k) Brownfields Program of which 25% must be used at Brownfields sites contaminated with petroleum. The Agency has allocated approximately $40 million of Recovery Act funds for supplemental funding of current RLF grantees as authorized by CERCLA 104(k)(4). Policy Changes To Expedite Effective Use of Recovery Act Supplemental RLF Funds RLF supplemental funding awarded with Recovery Act funds is not subject to the 20 percent cost share required by CERCLA 104(k)(9)(B)(iii). Further, in order to increase flexibility, the Agency will not require that RLF grantees use at least 60 percent of the supplemental funding award for loans; RLF grantees may use up to 100 percent of Recovery Act funds for either loans or subgrants. In addition, while EPA is still limiting individual subgrants to no more than $200,000 per site, RLF grantees may petition EPA to waive the $200,000 per site subgrant limitation, if such a waiver would promote the goals of the Recovery Act through increased job creation, retention, and economic development. In accordance with OMB’s February 18, 2009, guidance for implementing the Recovery Act, EPA will provide supplemental RLF funding under new awards rather than through amendments to existing RLF grants. This will ensure that RLF grantees will track Recovery Act funds separately from RLF funds awarded using EPA’s annual appropriation for Brownfields grants. Process and Criteria for Awarding Recovery Act Funding EPA will consider requests for Recovery Act supplemental RLF funding from high performing RLF grantees that are submitted to the EPA regional office awarding the RLF grant VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:39 Apr 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 and are postmarked and received by email by May 1, 2009. High performing RLF grantees must submit a new request for Recovery Act supplemental RLF funds even if the grantee has a pending request for Brownfields RLF supplemental funding under consideration by EPA. There is no maximum amount of supplemental funding that an RLF grantee can request under this notice. EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (AA for OSWER) will select recipients for RLF Recovery Act supplemental funding and the grants will be awarded by EPA regional award officials. EPA regional offices and OBLR will evaluate requests and make funding recommendations to EPA’s AA for OSWER based on the following criteria: • Demonstrated ability to make loans and subgrants with Recovery Act funds quickly (i.e., ‘‘shovel-ready’’ projects) for cleanups that can be started and completed expeditiously, • Demonstrated ability to use supplemental RLF funds in a manner that maximizes job creation and economic benefit, • Demonstrated ability to track and measure progress in creating jobs associated with the loans or subgrants, • The RLF grantee must have made at least one loan or subgrant AND have effectively utilized existing available loan funds, • Demonstrated ability to track and measure progress of cleanups resulting from a loan or subgrant, • Demonstrated need for supplemental funding, including the number of sites and communities that may benefit from supplemental funding, • Demonstrated ability to administer and ‘‘revolve’’ the RLF grant, and administer subgrant(s) and/or loan(s), • Demonstrated ability to use the RLF grant to address funding gaps for cleanup, • Community benefit from past and potential loan(s) and/or subgrant(s), and, • Demonstrated ability to use the RLF grant to provide funding to promote projects incorporating sustainable reuse and renewable energy. PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Priority consideration will be given to funding those grantees who can demonstrate they have shovel-ready projects that will expeditiously result in job creation and can clearly demonstrate how they will track and measure their progress in creating the jobs associated with the loans or subgrants. In addition, EPA may consider geographic distribution of the funds among EPA’s ten Regions. Consistent with section 104(k)(12)(B) of CERCLA, in making decisions on RLF Recovery Act supplemental funding, EPA will take into account the requirement that twenty-five percent of the Recovery Act appropriation for Brownfields grant be used at sites contaminated with petroleum. Applicants for RLF Recovery Act supplemental funding must specify the amount of funding they are requesting for subgrants and loans to cleanup these sites. States must demonstrate that their Governor or State legislature has agreed to accept Recovery Act funds as required by section 1607 of the Recovery Act. RLF grantees requesting supplemental funding should be aware that grant agreements will include all terms and conditions required by the Recovery Act. Under section 1604 of the Recovery Act, funds may not be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, zoo, golf course, or swimming pool. Under section 1512 of the Recovery Act, OMB implementing guidance and Agency policy, there will be additional reporting requirements. There may also be requirements under Section 1605 of the Recovery Act, to use American made iron, steel and manufactured goods for Recovery Act projects. Under Section 1606 of the Recovery Act, contractors and subcontractors hired with Recovery Act funds are required to pay prevailing wages to laborers and mechanics in compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act. Grantees selected for Recovery Act RLF supplemental funding must be willing to comply with these requirements. Each grantee and sub-grantee awarded funds made available under the Recovery Act shall promptly refer to the Office of Inspector General any credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, contractor, sub-grantee, E:\FR\FM\10APN1.SGM 10APN1 16388 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 68 / Friday, April 10, 2009 / Notices subcontractor, or other person has submitted a false claim under the False Claims Act or has committed a criminal or civil violation of laws pertaining to fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, gratuity, or similar misconduct involving those funds. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews: Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and is therefore not subject to OMB review. Because this grant action is not subject to notice and comment requirements under the Administrative Procedures Act or any other statute, it is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or Sections 202 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1999 (UMRA) (Pub. L. 104–4). In addition, this action does not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Although this action does not generally create new binding legal requirements, where it does, such requirements do not substantially and directly affect Tribes under Executive Order 13175 (63 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). Although this grant action does not have significant Federalism implications under Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), EPA consulted with states in the development of these grant guidelines. This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations that Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. This action does not involve technical standards; thus, the requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. Section 272 note) do not apply. This action does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Section 3501 et seq.). The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides that before certain actions may take effect, the agency promulgating the action must submit a report, which includes a copy of the action, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. Since this grant action, when finalized, will contain legally binding requirements, it is subject to the Congressional Review Act, and EPA will submit its final action in its report to Congress under the Act. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:39 Apr 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 Dated: April 6, 2009. David R. Lloyd, Director, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. [FR Doc. E9–8240 Filed 4–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER–FRL–8592–2]. Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability Responsible Agency: Office of Federal Activities, General Information, (202) 564–1399 or https://www.epa.gov/ compliance/nepa/. Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed 03/30/2009 Through 04/03/2009 Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9. EIS No. 20090097, Final Supplement, COE, NC, Topsail Beach Interim (Emergency) Beach Fill Project— Permit Request, Proposal to Place Sand on 4.7 miles of the Town’s Shoreline to Protect the Dune Complex and Oceanfront Development, Onslow and Pender Counties, NC, Wait Period Ends: 05/ 11/2009, Contact: Dave Timpy, 910– 251–4634. EIS No. 20090098, Draft EIS, NPS, WY, Jackson Hole Airport Use Agreement Extension Project, To Enable Continued Air Transportation Services, Grand Teton National Park, Teton County, WY, Comment Period Ends: 06/10/2009, Contact: Jennifer Carpenter, 307–739–3465. EIS No. 20090099, Final EIS, FHW, MT, US–212 Reconstruction Project, from Rockvale to Laurel, Proposes to Improve Safety for Local and Regional Traffic Area, Yellowstone and Carbon Counties, MT, Wait Period Ends: 05/11/2009, Contact: Alan C. Woodmansey, P.E., 406–449–5302 Ext. 233. EIS No. 20090100, Draft EIS, BLM, UT, Mona to Oquirrh Transmission Corridor Project, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Decommissioning a Double-Circuit 500/345 Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line, Right-of-Way Grant, Rocky Mountain Power, Juab, Salt Lake, Tooele and Utah Counties, UT, Comment Period Ends: 07/08/2009, Contact: Clara Stevens, 435–743– 3100. EIS No. 20090101, Draft EIS, AFS, CA, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit South Shore Fuel Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration, To PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Manage Fuel Reduction and Forest Health in the Wildland Urban Intermit (WUI), El Dorado County, CA, Comment Period Ends: 05/26/ 2009, Contact: Duncan Leao, 530– 543–2660. EIS No. 20090102, Draft EIS, FAA, 00, Programmatic—Streamlining the Processing of Experimental Permit Applications, Issuing Experimental Permits for the Launch and Reentry of Useable Suborbital Rockets, Comment Period Ends: 05/26/2009, Contact: Stacey M. Zee, 202–267–9305. EIS No. 20090103, Final Supplement, NOA, 00, Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan, Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region, Management Modifications for the Hawaii-Based Shallow-Set Longline Swordfish Fishery, Proposal to Remove Effort Limits, Eliminate the Set Certificate Program and Implement New Sea Turtle Interaction Caps, Wait Period Ends: 05/11/2009, Contact: William L. Robinson, 808– 944–2200. EIS No. 20090104, Draft EIS, BIA, NY, Cayuga Indian Nation of New York Conveyance of Land into Trust Project, Approval of a 125+ Acre FeeTo-Trust Property Transfer of Seven Separate Parcels Located in the Village of Union Springs and Town of Springport and Montezuma in Cayuga County and the Town of Seneca Falls in Seneca County, NY, Comment Period Ends: 05/26/2009, Contact: Kurt G. Chandler, 615–564–6832. EIS No. 20090105, Draft EIS, AFS, MT, Lower West Fork Project, To Treat Units in and Adjacent to the Wildland-Urban-Interface (WUI) With Prescribed Fire, and Commercial and Pre-Commercial Thins, West Fork Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, MT, Comment Period Ends: 05/26/2009, Contact: Dave Campbell, 406–821–3269. EIS No. 20090106, Draft EIS, AFS, SD, Slate Castle Project Area, Proposes To Implement Multiple Resource Management Actions, Mystic Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, Pennington County, SD, Comment Period Ends: 05/26/2009, Contact: Katie Van Alstyne, 605–343–1567. EIS No. 20090107, Second Draft Supplement, NRS, WV, Lost River Subwatershed of the Potomac River Watershed Project, Construction of Site 16 on Lower Cove Run and Deletion of Site 23 on Cullers Run in the Lost River Watershed, Change in Purpose for Site 16 and Updates Information Relative to Site 23, U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Hardy E:\FR\FM\10APN1.SGM 10APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 68 (Friday, April 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16386-16388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8240]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-8791-3]


American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) 
Supplemental Funding for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grantees

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) 
plans to make available approximately $40 million in Recovery Act 
funding to supplement Revolving Loan Fund capitalization grants 
previously awarded competitively under section 104(k)(3) of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 
(CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9604(k)(3). Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund 
(BCRLF) pilots awarded under section 104(d)(1) of CERCLA that have not 
transitioned to section 104(k)(3) grants are not eligible to apply for 
these funds. EPA will award these funds under the criteria described 
below only to RLF grantees who have demonstrated an ability to deliver 
programmatic results by making at least one loan or subgrant and have 
effectively utilized existing available loan funds (high performing RLF 
grantees).
    The Agency is now accepting requests for Recovery Act supplemental 
funding from high performing RLF grantees. Requests for funding must be 
submitted to the EPA Regional Contact (listed below) by May 1, 2009. 
Specific information on submitting a request for Recovery Act RLF 
supplemental funding can be obtained by contacting the EPA Regional 
Contact.

DATES: This action is effective April 10, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Mailing addresses and contact information for U.S. EPA 
Regional Offices and U.S. EPA Headquarters are provided below and in 
the Recovery Act Process and Consideration Guidelines for RLF Grant 
Supplemental Funding. The guidelines are available at: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/eparecovery. Copies of the guidelines will also 
be sent upon request. Requests should be made by calling U.S. EPA's 
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields and 
Land Revitalization, (202) 566-2777 or regional offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debi Morey, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid 
Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Brownfields and Land 
Revitalization, (202) 566-2735 or the appropriate Brownfields Regional 
Contact.

                                                Regional Contacts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Address/phone number/e-
             Region                                       States                                   mail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA Region 1, Diane Kelley,       CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT...............................  One Congress Street,
 Kelley.Diane@epa.gov.                                                                    Suite 1100, Boston, MA
                                                                                          02114-2023; Phone
                                                                                          (617) 918-1424; Fax
                                                                                          (617) 918-1291.
EPA Region 2, Larry D'Andrea,     NJ, NY, PR, VI.......................................  290 Broadway, 18th
 DAndrea.Larry@epa.gov.                                                                   Floor, New York, NY
                                                                                          10007; Phone (212) 637-
                                                                                          4314; Fax (212) 637-
                                                                                          4360.
EPA Region 3, Tom Stolle,         DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV...............................  1650 Arch Street, Mail
 Stolle.Tom@epa.gov.                                                                      Code 3HS51,
                                                                                          Philadelphia,
                                                                                          Pennsylvania 19103;
                                                                                          Phone (215) 814-3129;
                                                                                          Fax (215) 814-5518.
EPA Region 4, Wanda Jennings,     AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN.......................  Atlanta Federal Center,
 Jennings.Wanda@epa.gov.                                                                  61 Forsyth Street,
                                                                                          S.W., 10th FL,
                                                                                          Atlanta, GA 30303-
                                                                                          8960; (404) 562-8682
                                                                                          (w); (404) 562-8439
                                                                                          (fax).
EPA Region 5, Deborah Orr,        IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI...............................  77 West Jackson
 Orr.Deborah@epa.gov.                                                                     Boulevard, Mail Code
                                                                                          SE-4J, Chicago,
                                                                                          Illinois 60604-3507;
                                                                                          Phone (312) 886-7576;
                                                                                          Fax (312) 886-7190.
EPA Region 6, Monica Chapa,       AR, LA, NM, OK, TX...................................  1445 Ross Avenue, Suite
 Smith.Monica@epa.gov.                                                                    1200 (6SF-PB), Dallas,
                                                                                          Texas 75202-2733;
                                                                                          Phone (214) 665-6780;
                                                                                          Fax (214) 665-6660.
EPA Region 7, Susan Klein,        IA, KS, MO, NE.......................................  901 N. 5th Street,
 Klein.Susan@epa.gov.                                                                     Kansas City, Kansas
                                                                                          66101; Phone (913) 551-
                                                                                          7786; Fax (913) 551-
                                                                                          8688.
EPA Region 8, Ted Lanzano,        CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY...............................  1595 Wynkoop Street
 Lanzano.Ted@epa.gov.                                                                     (EPR-B), Denver, CO
                                                                                          80202-1129; Phone
                                                                                          (303) 312-6596; Fax
                                                                                          (303) 312-6067.

[[Page 16387]]

 
EPA Region 9, Debbie Schechter,   AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU...............................  75 Hawthorne Street,
 Schechter.Debbie@epa.gov.                                                                SFD 9-1, San
                                                                                          Francisco, California
                                                                                          94105; Phone (415) 972-
                                                                                          3093; Fax (415) 947-
                                                                                          3520.
EPA Region 10, Brooks Stanfield,  AK, ID, OR, WA.......................................  1200 Sixth Avenue,
 Stanfield.Brooks@epa.gov.                                                                Seattle, Washington
                                                                                          98101; Phone (206) 553-
                                                                                          4423; Fax (206) 553-
                                                                                          0124.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-05) (Recovery Act). 
EPA received $100 million in Recovery Act appropriations for the CERCLA 
104(k) Brownfields Program of which 25% must be used at Brownfields 
sites contaminated with petroleum. The Agency has allocated 
approximately $40 million of Recovery Act funds for supplemental 
funding of current RLF grantees as authorized by CERCLA 104(k)(4).

Policy Changes To Expedite Effective Use of Recovery Act Supplemental 
RLF Funds

    RLF supplemental funding awarded with Recovery Act funds is not 
subject to the 20 percent cost share required by CERCLA 
104(k)(9)(B)(iii). Further, in order to increase flexibility, the 
Agency will not require that RLF grantees use at least 60 percent of 
the supplemental funding award for loans; RLF grantees may use up to 
100 percent of Recovery Act funds for either loans or subgrants. In 
addition, while EPA is still limiting individual subgrants to no more 
than $200,000 per site, RLF grantees may petition EPA to waive the 
$200,000 per site subgrant limitation, if such a waiver would promote 
the goals of the Recovery Act through increased job creation, 
retention, and economic development.
    In accordance with OMB's February 18, 2009, guidance for 
implementing the Recovery Act, EPA will provide supplemental RLF 
funding under new awards rather than through amendments to existing RLF 
grants. This will ensure that RLF grantees will track Recovery Act 
funds separately from RLF funds awarded using EPA's annual 
appropriation for Brownfields grants.

Process and Criteria for Awarding Recovery Act Funding

    EPA will consider requests for Recovery Act supplemental RLF 
funding from high performing RLF grantees that are submitted to the EPA 
regional office awarding the RLF grant and are postmarked and received 
by e-mail by May 1, 2009. High performing RLF grantees must submit a 
new request for Recovery Act supplemental RLF funds even if the grantee 
has a pending request for Brownfields RLF supplemental funding under 
consideration by EPA. There is no maximum amount of supplemental 
funding that an RLF grantee can request under this notice. EPA's 
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency 
Response (AA for OSWER) will select recipients for RLF Recovery Act 
supplemental funding and the grants will be awarded by EPA regional 
award officials. EPA regional offices and OBLR will evaluate requests 
and make funding recommendations to EPA's AA for OSWER based on the 
following criteria:
     Demonstrated ability to make loans and subgrants with 
Recovery Act funds quickly (i.e., ``shovel-ready'' projects) for 
cleanups that can be started and completed expeditiously,
     Demonstrated ability to use supplemental RLF funds in a 
manner that maximizes job creation and economic benefit,
     Demonstrated ability to track and measure progress in 
creating jobs associated with the loans or subgrants,
     The RLF grantee must have made at least one loan or 
subgrant AND have effectively utilized existing available loan funds,
     Demonstrated ability to track and measure progress of 
cleanups resulting from a loan or subgrant,
     Demonstrated need for supplemental funding, including the 
number of sites and communities that may benefit from supplemental 
funding,
     Demonstrated ability to administer and ``revolve'' the RLF 
grant, and administer subgrant(s) and/or loan(s),
     Demonstrated ability to use the RLF grant to address 
funding gaps for cleanup,
     Community benefit from past and potential loan(s) and/or 
subgrant(s), and,
     Demonstrated ability to use the RLF grant to provide 
funding to promote projects incorporating sustainable reuse and 
renewable energy.
    Priority consideration will be given to funding those grantees who 
can demonstrate they have shovel-ready projects that will expeditiously 
result in job creation and can clearly demonstrate how they will track 
and measure their progress in creating the jobs associated with the 
loans or subgrants. In addition, EPA may consider geographic 
distribution of the funds among EPA's ten Regions.
    Consistent with section 104(k)(12)(B) of CERCLA, in making 
decisions on RLF Recovery Act supplemental funding, EPA will take into 
account the requirement that twenty-five percent of the Recovery Act 
appropriation for Brownfields grant be used at sites contaminated with 
petroleum. Applicants for RLF Recovery Act supplemental funding must 
specify the amount of funding they are requesting for subgrants and 
loans to cleanup these sites. States must demonstrate that their 
Governor or State legislature has agreed to accept Recovery Act funds 
as required by section 1607 of the Recovery Act.
    RLF grantees requesting supplemental funding should be aware that 
grant agreements will include all terms and conditions required by the 
Recovery Act. Under section 1604 of the Recovery Act, funds may not be 
used for any casino or other gambling establishment, zoo, golf course, 
or swimming pool. Under section 1512 of the Recovery Act, OMB 
implementing guidance and Agency policy, there will be additional 
reporting requirements. There may also be requirements under Section 
1605 of the Recovery Act, to use American made iron, steel and 
manufactured goods for Recovery Act projects. Under Section 1606 of the 
Recovery Act, contractors and subcontractors hired with Recovery Act 
funds are required to pay prevailing wages to laborers and mechanics in 
compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act. Grantees selected for Recovery Act 
RLF supplemental funding must be willing to comply with these 
requirements.
    Each grantee and sub-grantee awarded funds made available under the 
Recovery Act shall promptly refer to the Office of Inspector General 
any credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, contractor, 
sub-grantee,

[[Page 16388]]

subcontractor, or other person has submitted a false claim under the 
False Claims Act or has committed a criminal or civil violation of laws 
pertaining to fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, gratuity, or 
similar misconduct involving those funds.
    Statutory and Executive Order Reviews: Under Executive Order 12866 
(58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' and is therefore not subject to OMB review. Because 
this grant action is not subject to notice and comment requirements 
under the Administrative Procedures Act or any other statute, it is not 
subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or 
Sections 202 and 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1999 (UMRA) 
(Pub. L. 104-4). In addition, this action does not significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Although this action does not 
generally create new binding legal requirements, where it does, such 
requirements do not substantially and directly affect Tribes under 
Executive Order 13175 (63 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). Although this 
grant action does not have significant Federalism implications under 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), EPA consulted 
with states in the development of these grant guidelines. This action 
is not subject to Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning 
Regulations that Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or 
Use'' (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001), because it is not a significant 
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. This action does not 
involve technical standards; thus, the requirements of Section 12(d) of 
the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 
Section 272 note) do not apply. This action does not impose an 
information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Section 3501 et seq.). The 
Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., generally provides that 
before certain actions may take effect, the agency promulgating the 
action must submit a report, which includes a copy of the action, to 
each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United 
States. Since this grant action, when finalized, will contain legally 
binding requirements, it is subject to the Congressional Review Act, 
and EPA will submit its final action in its report to Congress under 
the Act.

    Dated: April 6, 2009.
David R. Lloyd,
Director, Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, Office of 
Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. E9-8240 Filed 4-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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