Explanation
Background: The Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield clean up and redevelopment since 1998, where it has been instrumental in obtaining nearly $9 million in various federal and state clean up environmental grants to help incentivize many remediation and redevelopment projects in and around Columbus' core central city.
Another possible tool in the effort to clean and redevelop contaminated sites is a USEPA grant targeted to provide revolving loans for abandoned petroleum sites. The grant will be made available to successful applicant states in early 2006, and is specialized to address site clean up for petroleum-contaminated sites only.
The Ohio Department of Development intends to apply for a USEPA Petroleum Clean Up Revolving Loan Fund Grant in the amount of $3 million for sites in Ohio.
As Columbus has nearly 100 known abandoned sites, which are contaminated with petroleum, this resolution is offered as support for Ohio's application to the USEPA so that Columbus and its development partners may utilize the revolving loan fund grant at some future date.
This resolution is submitted as an emergency because the Ohio Department of Development intends to submit its application to the USEPA as soon as possible to secure the grant.
Fiscal Impact: There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with the USEPA grant application.
Title
To resolve to support the Ohio Department of Development in its application effort to obtain a USEPA Petroleum Clean Up Revolving Loan Fund Grant; and to declare an emergency.
Body
Whereas, the Columbus Department of Development has been engaged in Brownfield
remediation and redevelopment since 1998; and
Whereas, the USEPA is providing application opportunities to states for a Petroleum
Clean Up Revolving Loan Fund Grant to assist communities in remediating and
redeveloping contaminated sites, and
Whereas, the Ohio Department of Development wishes to apply for a USEPA Petroleum
Clean Up Revolving Loan Fund Grant in the amount of $3 million to assist communities
throughout Ohio and has requested the City of Columbus' support in this effort; and
Whereas, the Columbus Department of Development believes the USEPA grant will be
useful in addressing the remediation of abandoned sites with petroleum contamination in
Columbus and help to incentivize redevelopment of these sites; and
Whereas, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of City Council in that it is
immediately necessary to express its support for the application described herein for
the preservation of public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Columbus City Council hereby supports the Ohio Department of Development in its efforts to obtain a USEPA Petroleum Clean Up Revolving Loan Fund Grant.
Section 2. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this resolution is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption and approval by the Mayor or ten days after adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.