Brownfield Oversight Community Action Project

Sample Proposal

The following proposal is a sample of a proposal that was actually funded through the
EPA Environmental Justice Small Grant Program. To find this grant, as well as an
interactive tutorial on writing grants, visit
http://danpatch.ecn.purdue.edu/~epados/grants/src/msieopen.htm
 Brownfield Oversight Community Action Project

Proposal Summary

Due to the credible work done by the professionals and community representatives who
have been collaborating on the Environmental Health Project, the ISCHC has been
successful in working with the City to secure the State Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) approval for participation in a special Brownfield Assessment Pilot Project.
Through this program, the DNR will fund Phase I and II Environmental Assessments at
two contaminated abandoned properties within the ISCHC's service area. Once these
assessments are complete the ISCHC, DNR, City and State Electric Power Company
have committed to continue to work with the community to help explore options for
moving these projects forward with the ultimate goal of clean-up and viable economic
redevelopment.

The funding we are requesting through the EPA's Small Grant Program will be used to
expand upon the professional and community expertise/involvement that has been
instrumental in advancing our Environmental Health Project. With the collaboration of
real estate, lending and economic development professionals we will form a Brownfields
Oversight Community Action Team to learn about and monitor the progress of the
remediation of these brownfield properties from beginning to end. A comprehensive
public education/community involvement campaign will be conducted to ensure the
meaningful participation of neighborhood residents and to assist in selecting and giving
visibility to environmental repair technologies, costs and clean-up options and to
advocate for appropriate redevelopment for the neighborhood.

At the end of the one year grant period, it is expected that Phase I and II Environmental
Assessments will have been accomplished, a process will have been established to
complete site investigation and that the Brownfield Oversight Community Action Team
will have identified strategies and options for remediation. A community economic
development marketing effort will be in place to promote the use of these properties once
remediation is complete. During the project, a minimum of three major media
announcements and public meetings will have been held on the project's progress.
Numerous community group meetings will have also been held on an as needed basis to
fully inform sectors of the community that may not have the time/financial resources to
fully participate in Oversight Team Activities. Communication issues will also be
addressed for groups and individuals who do not tend to receive information or who
historically did not place much trust in the information presented through
traditional/mainstream print and electronic media. Preparation and distribution of
materials in Spanish, Hmong and Laotian will be done where appropriate.

Introduction of the Organization

Since 1969, the Imaginary Street Community Health Center (ISCHC) a community based
human service agency, has provided primary health care, health education and social
services to low income individuals on the near south side City of Wonderland. ISCHC
serves those who otherwise would find accessing health care difficult due to language,
cultural and financial barriers. In 1995, the ISCHC opened an Office of Environmental
Health which has been the coordination point or a major Environmental Justice Initiative
-- the Environmental Health Education Project. This project's purpose has been to
identify and map the locations of known environmental hazards in the multi-cultural
neighborhood that surrounds the clinic and to utilize a collaborative process which relies
on the expertise of environmental professionals and community residents to develop
strategies, information and materials to provide useful, accurate information to families in
the neighborhood so that they can take steps to avoid, minimize or reduce their exposure
to environmental hazards. The project has successfully assembled data on air emissions,
water discharges and solid/hazardous waste sites, has conducted a statistically valid
survey of area residents to determine awareness of environmental issues and behaviors
that can have an effect on health and has completed a demographic and socioeconomic
profile of the project's target area. Utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS)
mapping capability we are in the process of correlating environmental hazard information
with locations of at-risk populations within the neighborhood. With the assistance of
individuals from the community we are developing materials and strategies for a public
outreach campaign.

Problem Statement/Needs Assessment

On February 23, 1996 the State DNR announced a creative pilot program to kick-start
municipal brownfield remediation projects in 11 municipalities across the State. The City
of Wonderland received awards for two sites located within the ISCHC's service area.
Through this program, the DNR will conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental
Assessments on these properties. As these assessments are conducted and completed the
City through the Departments of City Development and Public Works, the DNR, State
Electric Power Company (EPCO) and ISCHC have committed to work together to
expedite the progress of the assessments, bring other private sector partners to the table
and include the active participation of community residents throughout the entire scope of
the project. The activities surrounding the assessment process will demonstrate real world
requirements of the Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3), Solid Waste Disposal Act,
Section 800(a) and comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act, Section 311.

Site Descriptions. The Former Chem-site was used for paint stripping, electroplating and
as a chemical manufacturing and storage facility for over 100 years. Within a block of a
residential neighborhood the site is an eyesore, attractive nuisance to young children and
for gang activity and a potential health hazard. Demographic/socioeconomic data for
Census Tract 157 where Chem is located indicates approximately 4,000 residents,
including more than 500 children under age five and 1500 children under the age of 18.
The population is 75% non-white (63% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 24% White and 3% African
American). Forty six percent of the population is below the poverty level. In 1987 and
1988 US EPA removed over 50 barrels containing various hazardous substances and
pumped out several plating tanks containing unidentified liquids and sludge. The Chem
Building has been fenced off and boarded up several times, but vandals remove the
fencing and frequently trespass on the site. The properly has a high development potential
because of its location near major highways, other industries and an under-employed
population.

The second site is a former tannery warehouse, that has been used as a tannery and for
waste and metal reclamation activities as well as for the storage of 55 gallon drums of
unknown substances. The 1.3 acre parcel is located in a once heavy manufacturing area
of Wonderland. The site is a health and safety threat to trespassers and vandals have
broken in and dumped waste on the property. Soil at the site is contaminated from past
uses and groundwater contamination is suspected. The property is adjacent t o marina
development on the Knackasack River. Located in Census Tract 166, the population of
neighborhood residents is 53% Hispanic, 40% White, 3% Native American and 3%
African American. 47% of the population live below the poverty level.

Communication Strategies Required. A random sample telephone survey was

conducted in August 1995 (including residents of these census tracts) to assess how
neighborhood residents receive Information about environmental issues and how they
perceive environmental issues affect their daily lives. The survey demonstrated that there
are clear differences along racial/ethnic lines when it comes to awareness/understanding
of environmental problems. In the survey, 80% of White and Native Americans
respondents reported awareness of efforts to reduce ozone, while only 50 % of African
Americans and 40% of Latinos mentioned this awareness. When asked to report
environmental issues that affected their daily lives 43% of respondents mentioned
garbage, 25% mentioned hazards from traffic, 24% mentioned crime and 7% mentioned
industrial emissions. As we have worked with community residents on strategies to
present information on environmental issues that can affect health of children and
families, we can report anecdotally that some neighborhood leaders believe
environmental issues are too complicated for them to effectively be able to address and
communicate to the people that they serve An accompanying reality is that the press of
daily activities for individuals working in neighborhood services -- providing daycare,
social services, income support services, job training along with basic literacy services --
can take precedence over environmental degradation and even associated health effects
when remedies appear to take so long and are so expensive

Project Objectives

The Objectives of this project are:

1. To conduct a highly visible community education/involvement campaign around

two brownfield remediation projects located within the ISCHC's service area.
2. To fully inform and engage interested neighborhood groups and the public in
general about real world environmental decision-making and environmental
justice issues. To educate and publicize Information - about contaminants found
on the sites, where they came from, why they are still there, the costs associated
with removal and clean-up,- about technologies and strategies employed to
implement the removal of contaminants, - about the real and perceptual barriers to
 redevelopment of brownfield sites that exist in the minds of real estate developers
and lenders and how these barriers can best be overcome, - about changes in local,
state and federal law that have been made to mitigate liability and encourage
brownfield development and related standards of clean-up that may be used to
facilitate productive use of the property.
3. To completely explore and provide information about health effects that may be
associated with the properties as they exist, how these risks may be affected by
the clean-up process and how these risks may be improved through remediation.
4. To fully include the residents of the community in a discussion of trade-offs (if
any) that may be required -- what is the proper balance between the economic
development needs of the neighborhood to generate family supporting with the
costs of cleaning up to ensure protection of the environment?
5. To support the activities of the new creative partnership -- the Brownfield
Oversight Community Action Team formed by ISCHC's Community Advisory
Committee, the State's DNR, City of Wonderland, State Electric Power Company,
other private sector partners and the community of residents which live in the
neighborhood.

Project Methods/Activities

We propose a coordinated community involvement and communication campaign to

accompany neighborhood brownfield remediation. The Brownfield Oversight
Community Action Team will serve as monitor, resource gatherer, serve as project
manager for effectively engaging the community in the process for moving these projects
along. We will integrate a series of public meetings and small community group meetings
with a formal media/visibility campaign. Specific outreach to other than mainstream
press -- Spanish, Hmong and Laotian publications, radio and television programming.

August - October 1996

 Integrate interested members of the ISCHC's Community Advisory Committee

into the Brownfield Oversight Community Action Team. Conduct outreach as
needed to include neighborhood professionals in lending and financial services,
representatives of philanthropic/grant making institutions, real estate and
economic and community development activists.
 Develop effective systems and contact list to enable the Brownfield Oversight
Team activities and project progress to be conveyed to interested groups and
individuals who cannot actively participate in meetings but who wish to monitor
progress. Activities to support this effort will include but not be limited to
broadcast fax capability for meeting notices and summaries, preparation of basic
scope of project materials, translation of information as needed for distribution of
news releases and project advisories to ethnic radio/TV stations and newspapers.
 Presentation of project activities to community meetings of ethnic/cultural groups,
interested neighborhood small business associates and church youth groups.
 Develop regular meeting schedule for Brownfield Oversity Team.
  Conduct editorial visits to major print/electronic media outlets to provide
background and invite background participation of environmental reporters.
 Develop complete list of media outlets, contacts, editorial and advertising policies
to include non- outlets as well as business, trade and professional journals in areas
likely to cover environmental economic development issues.

October- November 1996 - Phase I Environmental Assessment

The DNR believes that soil and groundwater contamination is probable at both sites and
suspects that contaminants may have leached into the soil and migrated off site. The
Phase I Environmental Assessment will have been completed on both project parcels by
this time and will identify areas of known or potential environmental contamination.
Information gained during Phase I will include a complete review of records associated
with past activities at the site, interviewing individuals and conducting physical
inspections of the property in question.

 Findings of Phase I will be reviewed by Brownfield Oversight Team and

strategies for targeted outreach to neighborhood and appropriate media will be
identified and implemented.
 The meetings of the Brownfield Oversight Team will be monitored and records
kept to assure that this process of brownfield remediation can be developed into a
model for review by all interested parties and for possible dissemination to other
municipalities and groups interested in collaboration on brownfield development.
 Materials will be developed (in an understandable and culturally appropriate
format) and a display prepared to provide information to neighborhood groups on
these issues.
 A major press announcement and public meeting will be held to explain and give
visibility to the history of these properties, the nature of the contaminants
suspected to be present on the site and to discuss the health effects that may have
been present to persons who have trespassed on the sites or who live in the
immediate vicinity.
 Special outreach will be done to Wonderland Public Schools (elementary, middle
and high) in the neighborhood for incorporation of this project as part of the
District's School To Work initiative. Teachers and students could be involved in
the project and work with professionals at DNR, firms that do site investigations,
sampling, lab analysis and firms that will be contracted with to do demolition and
clean up and site preparation. Schools can also provide visible public forums for
the discussions surrounding how clean is clean and appropriate economic
development activities for these parcels.

November 1996 - February 1997 - Liability, Clean-Up and Redevelopment

Discussion

Under State law, the first step in getting an exemption from liability under portions of the
Hazardous Substances Discharge Law is to conduce a "thorough environmental
investigation of the property". Under State's Land Recycling Program this thorough
investigation consists of the Phase I and II Environmental Assessment and a chapter NR
716 Site investigation. Each step in the process must receive the approval of the DNR.
Because the DNR will be conducting the Phase I and II assessments, these projects will
provide excellent models for explaining to the public how this process works.

 In collaboration with the public information office of the DNR, a complete

brownfields information packet with specific materials on these two properties
will be assembled. Specific outreach to business reporters and development
professionals on how the process can work, what limits on liability can be
achieved etc.
 A major press event and public meeting in the community will be held to
announce the formation of a Community Economic Development Marketing
Initiative to begin the process of evaluating the economic development potential
for these properties.

February - April 1997 - Phase II Environmental Assessment

The Phase II Environmental Assessment is conducted to physically confirm the presence

or absence of environmental contamination at a site. It is not meant to determine the
nature and extent of the contamination.

Phase II will include but is not limited to field sampling of media, laboratory analysis of
samples and visual confirmation of environmental contamination at the property. The role
of the Brownfields Oversight Team will be to review Phase II results, interpret
information and assist in developing strategies and an action plan to support activities of
the NR 716 Site Investigation.

 Potential for major press announcement NR 716 Site investigation. (The NR 716
Site assessment will provide the information necessary to identify the remedial
options for the site. It is assumed at this point that financial resources need to be
in place to proceed with future phases of the project and any remediation
activities.)
 Brownfield Oversight Team will consider potential future' uses for the properties
in light of evolving picture of contamination.
 A public meeting and specific community outreach will be conducted during this
phase to fully inform the public of the types of contaminants on the site,
implications for health and safety due to activities at the site. It is also at this point
that the "how clean is clean" discussion will begin. It is suspected for example
that groundwater contamination exists on both properties, but in the case of both
properties, municipal water is used for drinking. Health effects from groundwater
contamination are theoretically negligible. In the case of the 3rd street property,
the proximity to the Knackasack River and migration of contaminants off site may
be occurring. The Team will address the multitude of issues involved in
addressing: What are the recommended strategies and cost of clean up appropriate
to these sites? What level of clean up is required for future productive use of the
properties?
  Develop specific media/photo opportunities sought to give visibility to testing
process with ultimate goal of de-mystifying site work.

May - September 1997

Ongoing remediation activities as indicated. Depending on the outcomes of the "thorough

environmental investigation of the property" and the certification of the DNR that
appropriate phases of investigations are done, clean-up activities can commence. It is
anticipated that a schedule will also be announced for when the properties will be cleaned
up along with a ; strategy for marketing the sites.

Project Budget

AMOUNT ACTION CALCULATION

500 hrs ~ $20.00 per
$10,000 Project coordination
hour
$ 2,500 Project coordination 25 hrs @ $100 per hour
Supplies, printing collateral materials, traveling
$ 4,500 display for community meetings, graphic design
for community economic development marketing
Promotional costs for community outreach,
$ 3,000 advertising meetings, room rental fees, etc.
$20,000 Total

Following is the form filled out in the corresponding area (Section B. Budget
categories).
Brownfield Oversight Community Action Project

Budget Summary
 Brownfield Oversight Community Action Project

Appendix

Key Personnel. Key Personnel for this project include ISCHC CEO, and 2 other
individuals. Their resumes are attached. It is anticipated that these individuals will devote
significant volunteer time in addition to compensated time.

CEO's Resume
Individual I Resume
Individual II Resume

CEO's NAME

CEO's ADDRESS

EDUCATION

1994 Doctoral Degree in Public Health

University
1982 Master of Science - Community Health Nursing
Scholarship in Community Health
University
1979 Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Fellowship in Public Policy
University

EMPLOYMENT

June 1990 - Chief Executive Officer

present Imaginary Street Community Health Center, Inc.

Administrator of a community health center providing primary care and

other
health related services to persons residing on the near south side of
Wonderland.
The agency employs over 140 employees and has an annual budget
of $6 million.
July 1988 - Special Assistant to the Commissioner
June 1990 Wonderland Health Department
 Assisted the Commissioner in health care planning, development and
evaluation. Negotiated with private health care providers for increased
service
delivery to the low - income and uninsured populations in Wonderland.
Conducted epidemiological studies for the department.
April 1988 - Consultant to the Mayor
June 1988 Office of the Mayor, City of Wonderland

Responsible for preliminary planning of fiscal, management and program

services restructuring in the health department in the absence of a health
commissioner. Made recommendations for the planning of the
department's
$12 million annual budget
February Administrator
1987- Children's Home Health Services In Children's Hospital
February 1988
Planned and developed a home health care service for Children's Hospital.
Responsibilities included overall financial, regulatory and personnel
management of an agency with an annual budget of over $2 million and
staff
of 40 employees.
May 1985 - Director of Nursing - Family Hospital and Family Hospital Nursing
January 1987 Home

Responsible for overall management of a 170 bed nursing home which

had
an annual budget of $4 million and over 100 employees. Hospital
responsibilities
included utilization review, quality assurance and JCAH accreditation.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

1998 EPA's Children's Health Advisory Committee

1995 - 1996 National Association of Community Health Centers
Member, Board of Directors
1995 - present State Primary Care Association
President, Board of Directors
1990 - 1995 State Primary Care Association
Member, Board of Directors
1986 - 1987 Future Wonderland Leadership Training Program
1986 - 1987 State Legislative Council Study on Long term Health Care Insurance
Council member, appointed by Assembly Speaker
1985 - 1988 Imaginary Street Community Health Center, Inc.
1989 - 1990 Member, Board of Directors and Board President (1986 - 1988)
1984 - 1985 State Legislative Council Study on Bioethics
Council member, appointed by Senate President
1983 - 1987 State Diabetic Association
Member, Board of Directors & Board Secretary (1986 - 1987)
1983 - 1988 State Board of Nursing
President (1984-1986)
1982 Social Development Commission
Commission Member
1981 - 1983 State Nurses Association
Member, Board of Directors
1981 Inner City Development Project (ICDP) - South
Member, Board of Directors

PROFESSIONAL / PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

July - August 1989 Studied Spanish and Health Care Economics.

CONSULTING ACTIVITIES

1994 - 95 Health Care Plans - Network development for Medicaid HMO.

1994 - 95 Prepaid contract Review for a number of Community Health centers.

Professional Background Of Individual I

Individual I is the President of an economic and environmental consulting firm located in

Wonderland. Individual I, an attorney, has held a number of senior management and
consulting positions with federal, state and local governments on air, land and water
quality issues over the past twenty years. He was the Regional Administrator for the U.S.
Coastal Management Program. He served on the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency/State Department's international negotiating team that resulted in major revisions
in a Water Quality Agreement, for which he received EPA's Bronze Medal for his
technical, management and legal support during the negotiations. He also served as the
Governor of State's lead person on developing acid rain, water diversion and soil
conservation legislation in the 1980's.

More recently, Individual I has been a consultant to the U.S. EPA on a public
involvement and communication project designed to enlist public support for local
environmental protection programs. He has also been a consultant to the Mayor of
Wonderland and local officials on a number of diverse economic and environmental
issues. Projects with the City of Wonderland included: development of a sustainable
development strategy, analyzing and recommending redevelopment alternatives for
portions of the City's Valley, developing a long-term water supply policy that was
adopted by the Wonderland Common Council and working with the Department of City
Development and Housing Authority on a strategy for promoting economic self
sufficiency for the City's chronically unemployed.

Currently, Individual I is working with the Wonderland Public School System on

implementing their School To Work initiative, having lead responsibilities for organizing
the private, governmental and non-profit sectors in supporting this initiative. He is also
Co-director of the Imaginary Street Community Health Center's Environmental Health
Project which is targeted to Wonderland's near south side and is designed to reduce
health risks for children who are exposed to environmental hazards.

Education

Juris Doctorate, University; M.S. in Environmental Studies/Urban & Regional Planning,

University; B.S. in Resource Development from a University.

Professional Affiliations

Member of two Bar Associations.

Adjunct Professor at the University School of Architecture and Urban Planning (1987-
1991) and part time Lecturer.

INDIVIDUAL II NAME

Individual II Address

EXPERIENCE

Project Consultant

Hunger Project - Interim Communications Coordinator responsible for all agency written
materials for public distribution including quarterly Hunger Newsletter, desktop
publishing layout/design and photos, press releases and fund raising appeals. Wrote and
produced commemorative 20th Anniversary 1994 Annual Report which generated more
than $11,000 for this anti-poverty agency.

Imaginary Street Community Health Center - Project Coordinator, Environmental Health

Education Project. Responsible for community outreach, staff support, media relations,
preparation of all written materials and project coordination activities for the Office of
Environmental Health.
Director of Government Relations

Lead lobbyist for State Federation of Cooperative (SFC). Provided primary staff
assistance to WFC healthcare, mutual insurance, housing and credit union members.
Responsible for research, issue development and political action on state and federal level
in these issue areas.

Project Administrator

Directed all aspects of successful national telemarketing get-out-the-vote campaign for an

Action League. Identified, mobilized and raised funds from individuals in key states for
the 1992 federal elections, including successful US Senate races in two states.
Responsible for recruitment. training, supervision and motivation of total staff of
approximately 500 individuals. Coordinated issue/message development, production of
training materials and successful fundraising scripts for Action League's project
culminating in receipts in excess of $ 1.6 million.

Director, Government Relations Private Sector Public Relations

Directed legislative lobbying activities and issues management campaigns in the agency
on Federal, State, City and County issues. Produced and executed public relations
strategies and successful media relations programs for non-profit agencies. Worked
closely with these agencies to effectively integrate long term public relations goals with
strategic planning and fundraising projects. Provided crisis response and ongoing crisis
management assistance as needed. Research, writing for various publications and issue
development papers were also routinely produced for these and other corporate clients to
support legislative lobbying and community information programs.

Executive Assistant

Special project coordinator and policy development specialist on such issues as

community aides formula funding, aging and long term care and child support
enforcement. Legislative liaison to the County Board and recruitment/outreach for
qualified minority candidates for service on various board and commissions.

Energy Policy Coordinator

Directed the formulation and publication of State's 1986 Energy Efficiency Plan.
Responsibilities included coordination of energy conservation policy issues, internal
development of the plan, initiating and maintaining contacts in affected state agencies
and public interest groups, soliciting and encouraging legislative interest. Served as press
contact, public relations advisor and organizer for media placements and public hearings
around the state on plan recommendations.
Governor's Scheduler and Legislative

Scheduled, advanced and staffed Governor as needed for all appearances throughout the
state. Duties included gathering and synthesizing issues and policy related materials,
investigation of local concerns/interest groups and maintaining flow of this information
to the Governor, key policy and state agency staff. Legislative Liaison: Served as
Governor's State Senate liaison and provided assistance and advice to Governor on
national environmental issues. Served as staff representative to the National Governors'
Association Energy and Environment Committee, Alliance for Acid Rain Control and
Center for Clean Air Policy analysis chaired by Governor. Also served as Governor's
representative to the National Groundwater Policy Forum and organized successful
public hearings on the recommendations of The Forum's report in the State.

Legislative Analyst and Assistant to the Senate Organization Committee

Provided staff support for the State Senate Organization Committee comprised of Senate
leadership. Responsible for efficient flow of legislation from committee to the Senate
floor for action. Researched and presented all requests requiring committee action to
committee members and was responsible for documentation and dissemination of
committee action to all Senate offices, interested public groups and the press.

Legislative Staff Support

Progressively responsible legislative staff support positions. Part-time messenger in the

State Assembly while attending college; legislative assistant, Assistant Journal Clerk -
State Senate and first, female Head Record Clerk for the State Senate. 1971-1976.

Education

University
BA 1974
 Brownfield Oversight Community Action Project
Completed SF424 Form
This image is a rendering of the actual SF-424, and is not to scale.