By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

PRIVATE landowners, investors and non-government organizations are encouraged to apply for a federal grant to clean up contaminated property eyed for redevelopment or reuse, a program which local agencies say will help attract investors to do business in the CNMI.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants provide funding to capitalize loans used to clean up “brownfields.”
A “brownfield” is “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.”
Greg Calvo, loan officer of the Commonwealth Development Authority, said local investors, government agencies and NGOs may apply for RLF assistance through CDA to clean up any brownfield property they may have for redevelopment.
“The RLF attracts investors and developers to do business in the CNMI, coupled with CDA’s Qualifying Certificate program incentive…It is a means to help revive the CNMI economy and has the potential to open doors for job opportunities,” said Calvo, one of the guest speakers at the Rotary Club of Saipan’s weekly meeting at the Hyatt Regency yesterday.
Calvo, along with Division of Environmental Quality’s Ray Masga and Jim Callier and Department of Public Lands representatives, briefed Rotary Club members and guests about the nature and benefits of the federal Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants.
In their presentation, DEQ and CDA representatives said non-profit organizations like the Rotary Club can only apply for the sub-grants.
“In order to qualify for RFL assistance, you must own the property and also must not be a responsible party to any of the contamination on the property. Also, the property owner must first complete an environmental site assessment,” said DEQ and CDA in a statement.
Under the Brownfields Program, CDA will form a review committee which will review potential applications for cleanup grants and loans.
The committee will consist of representatives from DPL, DEQ and CDA; the latter is the agency responsible for the administration of the RLF program.
In December 2006, CDA, with DEQ and DPL as coalition members, applied for the grant from the U.S. EPA.
As the applicant CDA can apply for $1 million, and the coalition members, another $1 million for a total of $2 million.
A 20 percent cost share was required for this program but the CNMI RLF Coalition team requested a “waiver” on the cost share given the hard economic times in the CNMI.
If awarded, the RLF will be made available for eligible brownfields cleanup projects. The RLF grant will be made available through CDA in the form of a sub-grant and loans.