Title
Grant Application for Environmental Assessment and Cleanup Assistance (B)
This item is a grant application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for SSA financial assistance to address a low-risk environmental impact on the Depot Park site.
Explanation
In May 2005, ECT Inc., the City's engineering consultant on the Depot Park project, completed an environmental assessment that discovered contamination on the site Rinker Materials leased from CSX Transportation. The City purchased the site in 2001. The contamination is degradation products from chlorinated solvents and arsenic and is located adjacent to the existing garage. The contamination is present in soil and groundwater over a limited area. The FDEP has requested further assessment and remedial action may be required at a later date.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Site Specific Activity (SSA) program to assist with environmental assessments, development of cleanup options, and limited clean up of low risk contamination. The EPA funds are passed through the FDEP to the grant recipients. The maximum funding amount for eligible sites is $200,000. It is estimated that the second assessment and cleanup, if required, may cost approximately $200,000. If the grant is awarded, the FDEP will use its designated contractor to complete the assessments and possibly cleanup, if deemed necessary. FDEP staff indicated that the work could start around March 2006 and conclude around June.
Staff has evaluated the project against the grant eligibility criteria and concluded that the project is eligible to compete for funding. An application and letters of support have been prepared for submittal.
Fiscal Note
No grant match is required. The maximum grant award is $200,000 per site.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) authorize the City Manager to submit the application to FDEP for the SSA grant assistance, and 2) authorize the C...
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