Brownfields
Brownfields Assessment Program
AVCOG received a Brownfield Assessment Grant to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement activities related to potential petroleum and hazardous waste impacted Brownfield Sites in the region.
AVCOG's Brownfield Redevelopment Program helps convert Brownfields from community liabilities into community assets by providing funding and guidance to navigate the environmental process from environmental site assessment (ESA) to cleanup.
Brownfields is sometimes considered a three-step process. These steps precede redevelopment and identify potential funding sources. Although redevelopment of a Brownfield occurs after site cleanup, plans for reuse are generally produced earlier during the process.
Phase I ESA - A research report that documents the history and current status of a property and identifies potential environmental concerns.
- Funds available for Phase I investigations through: AVCOG, MDEP/DECD, US EPA
Phase II ESA - Based on the findings of the Phase I report, a Phase II investigation confirms whether or not contamination is actually present at the site. Typically, soil, paint, asbestos and groundwater samples are collected at the site and analyzed for suspected contaminants.
- Funds available for Phase II investigations through: AVCOG, MDEP/DECD, US EPA
Cleanup/Remediation - If contamination is found in the samples collected during Phase II investigation, cleanup/remediation may be required to remove the contaminants prior to development.
- Funds available for cleanup/remediation:
- Cleanup loans to for profits, non-profits or municipalities from MDEP/DECD and AVCOG
- Cleanup grants to municipalities or non-profits only from MDEP/DECD & US EPA and AVCOG
AVCOG Brownfields Program Brochure (PDF)
General Site Selection Criteria (PDF)
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program
In May 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) funding to establish a Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BC-RLF) for properties within the AVCOG region. These funds are targeted for Hazardous Substance and Petroleum remediation.
The program is being carried out under the statutes and regulations of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of the program is to provide below market rate loans and subgrants to facilitate the cleanup of abandoned or underused properties (Brownfields) contaminated with contaminants or hazardous materials in order to revitalize these properties, and to protect the environment and public health.
AVCOG's Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BFRLF) provides below market rate loans and/or subgrants to facilitate cleanup of contaminated properties (Brownfields) within its service area.
The purpose of this program is to assist in the revitalization of these properties to promote jobs and a cleaner environment for the communities in the AVCOG Region.
Loan funds are available to municipalities and other public entities, non-profit agencies and organizations, and private property owners/developers who comply with the eligibility requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Subgrants are available only to eligible municipalities and non-profit owners of Brownfield properties. The amount of a loan and/or subgrant for which an applicant will be eligible will be at the sole discretion of the AVCOG Brownfields RLF Program based on individual project and underwriting considerations.