No kakou ke kuleana o ke ola o ka `aina.
"WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIFE BROUGHT FORTH FROM OUR LAND"
Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open lands and both improves and protects the environment.
Justification: Kauai is our home and we have a responsibility to care for the island. Our useable lands are finite and of immense value to everyone. Contaminated lands have value but the contamination must be cleaned so re-use can occur. In many cases, the land may be perceived as contaminated and this perception may keep the land from being used productively. This Assessment project, initiated by the County of Kauai’s Office of Economic Development was designed to be a start in putting Brownfield lands back into production.
Kauai Brownfields Overview:
In November 2003, the Office of Economic Development (OED) applied for a grant under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields program. Funding available under the Brownfields program allows for productive redevelopment of commercial or industrial land that has suffered some kind of contamination. Public or private sites can be eligible for Brownfields. The EPA awards Brownfields grants in three categories: 1) Assessment grants 2) Cleanup grants and 3) Revolving loan fund grants.
The County of KauaŹ»i's application outlined a program whereby the County could inventory potential Brownfields sites and conduct phase I and II environmental assessments on a small number of "priority" sites, so that they could be readied for cleanup and redevelopment.
In June 2004, OED learned that it was one of 219 successful applicants nationwide. This was a tremendous accomplishment for a first-time grant application, and credit is due to the OED’s Economic Development Specialist and grant writer, Glenn Sato. EPA officials commended the County on its clear and thorough presentation of the proposed project in the application.
The amount of the County’s grant award was $200,000. OED engaged the services of Environmental Resource Management (ERM), an environmental engineering firm, to assist in creating the inventory and conducting the assessments. ERM was selected via a competitive Professional Services solicitation.
Mayor Baptiste and others inspect a potential brownfield site in Anahola