Brownfields Program Awarded One Million Dollars to Establish a Brownfields Revolving Loan Program

By: Bridget Wilson, Unit Chief, Remedial Section/Orphan Sites Unit

Every city and county, in both rural and urban areas, has abandoned, underutilized, and potentially contaminated properties. There are more than 600,000 properties across the nation that are now commonly referred to as "brownfields properties." The expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of these properties are complicated by the presence or potential presence of environmental contamination. Additionally, the potential liability associated with contamination complicates business development, property transactions, or expansion on the property.

KDHE currently has several programs available to assist with the redevelopment of brownfields properties. The goal of KDHE's Brownfield program is to ensure that contaminated properties owned, or to be purchased by, local governments (city, county) and non-profit organizations are appropriately assessed, cleaned up, and reused. KDHE has been conducting Brownfields Targeted Assessments (BTAs) for municipalities at brownfields properties since 1996. Assessments conducted for municipalities provide information regarding the presence (or absence) of contamination on a piece of property, allowing the city to base redevelopment decisions on the results of the BTA. KDHE's program has saved local communities thousands of dollars in fees associated with property assessment and due diligence requirements.

In May 2002, EPA awarded KDHE one million dollars to create a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF). Brownfield revolving loan funds will be utilized for environmental cleanups at properties owned by municipalities, as well as properties owned by not-for-profit organizations, across the state. The purpose of the program is to facilitate the reuse and/or redevelopment of contaminated properties by making low interest loans available for financing environmental cleanups.

On October 28, 2002, EPA hosted an awards ceremony to present KDHE the BCRLF award. Christie Todd Whitman, the administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, presented a ceremonial check for one million dollars to Dr. Ron Hammerschmidt, Director of the Division of Environment, KDHE. A local government can utilize the brownfields program to address possible health or environmental risks at a property to get that property back in productive use – producing jobs, increasing the community's tax base or adding other benefits such as creating parks or other types of recreational areas.