HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 23715: APPLICATION FOR THE 2025 BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT COALITION GRANT AND THE BROWNFIELD CLEANUP GRANT City of Port Arthur
Transit Department
Memorandum
To: Ron Burton,City Manager
From: Ivan Mitchell,Transit Director
Date: October 21,2024
Re: P.R 23715—Authorize the City Manager to Submit an Application for the 2025
Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant and the Brownfield Cleanup Grant
Nature of Request: Authorize the City Manager to apply with the U.S Environmental Protection
Agency(EPA)for the 2025 EPA Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant and Brownfield Cleanup
Grant.
Background: The EPA's Brownfields Program aims to empower states, Tribal Nations, communities,
and nonprofit organizations to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up,and reuse brownfield sites. This
program is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act(Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) and
aims to empower states, Tribal Nations,communities, and nonprofit organizations in revitalizing
brownfield properties while addressing environmental justice and community health disparities.
The funding opportunity for the Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant will award assessment grants
for developing inventories of brownfield sites,prioritizing them,conducting community involvement
activities,planning,site assessments, and developing site-specific cleanup and reuse plans. The
application submitted will involve sites owned by the City,Lamar State Port Arthur,and Legacy
Community Development Corporation.
The funding opportunity for the Brownfield Cleanup Grant provides funding for cleanup activities at
brownfield sites owned by the applicant.A brownfield site is defined as real property where
expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of
hazardous substances,pollutants, or contaminants. The application submitted by the City of Port
Arthur will fund cleanup activities at the Sabine Hotel which was previously assessed under a prior
EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant.
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council approve proposed P.R. 23715 for the City
Manager to apply for the 2025 EPA Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant and Brownfield Cleanup
Grant application in an amount not to exceed$3,700,000.00. The award does not require a match
from the City.
P.R. No. 23715
10/21/2024 IM
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN
APPLICATION WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY (EPA) FOR THE 2025 EPA BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT
COALITION AND THE BROWNFIELD CLEANUP GRANTS IN THE
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,700,000.00, NO CASH MATCH
REQUIRED
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has published a Notice of
Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for grant funding through their Brownfields Program for 2025;
and,
WHEREAS, the EPA's Brownfields Program aims to empower states, Tribal Nations,
communities, and nonprofit organizations to prevent,inventory,assess,clean up,and reuse brownfield
sites. This program is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act(Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law) and aims to empower states, Tribal Nations, communities, and nonprofit organizations in
revitalizing brownfield properties while addressing environmental justice and community health
disparities;and,
WHEREAS, the funding opportunity for the Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant will
award assessment grants for developing inventories of brownfield sites, prioritizing them, conducting
community involvement activities, planning, site assessments, and developing site-specific cleanup
and reuse plans. The application submitted will involve sites owned by the City, Lamar State Port
Arthur,and Legacy Community Development Corporation; and,
WHEREAS, Lamar State Port Arthur and Legacy Community Development Corporation are
listed as partners on the assessment application, with sites containing potential contamination to be
determined at a later date; and,
WHEREAS,the funding opportunity for the Brownfield Cleanup Grant provides funding
for cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the applicant. A brownfield site is defined as
real property where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or
potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. The application
P.R. No. 23715
10/21/2024 IM
submitted by the City of Port Arthur will fund cleanup activities at the Sabine Hotel which was
previously assessed under a prior EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant; and,
WHEREAS, the EPA's Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant, provides a unique
opportunity to award assessment grants specifically for developing inventories of brownfield
sites, prioritizing them, conducting community involvement activities, planning, site
assessments, and developing site-specific cleanup and reuse plans; and,
WHEREAS, the EPA's Brownfield Cleanup Grant, provides a unique opportunity to
provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the applicant; and,
WHEREAS, the City Manager desires to apply for the 2025 EPA Brownfield
Assessment Coalition Grant and Brownfield Cleanup Grant.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR,TEXAS:
THAT,the facts, and opinions in the preamble are true and correct.
THAT, the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit a 2025 EPA Brownfield
Assessment Coalition Grant and Brownfield Cleanup Grant application in an amount not to
exceed $3,700,000.00, with no cash match required.
THAT, a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of the City
Council.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this day of November 2025 at a Regular
meeting of the City of Port Arthur, Texas by the following vote: AYES:
Mayor:
Councilmembers:
P.R. No. 23715
10/21/2024 IM
NOES:
Thurman "Bill" Bartie, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sherri Bellard, City Secretary
APP,RQYED A
Roxann Pais Cotroneo, City Attorney
APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: APPROVED AS TO AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS:
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Ronald Burton, CPM Lynda Boswell
City Manager Director of Finance
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Clifton illiams, CPPB Ivan Mi ell
Purchasing Manger Transit Director