Authorizing an Interlocal Agreement Between City of South Bend, City of Mishawaka & St Joseph County, regarding the USEPA Brownfields Assessment Grant Application

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EXHIBIT A ENGINEERS SGENNI 1 CONSTRt,CI ORS Mr. Christopher Dressel Planner City of South Bend 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, IN 46601 :"4g co l 81-10. 74&J423 6737 West VJashington Street Suite 3440 Mlwaulaec W( 53214 January 20, 2014 RE: Proposal to Provide Assistance for Preparation and Submittal of a Grant Application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for Brownfields Coalition Site Assessment Grant Funds Symbiont Proposal No. 33374 Dear Mr. Dressel Symbiont is pleased to submit this proposal to the City of South Bend to prepare an application for a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant. It is our understanding that the City of South Bend, St. Joseph's County, and the City of Mishawaka will represent the coalition members for the basis of this proposal. Assessment grants provide funding for developing inventories of brownfields, prioritizing sites, planning redevelopment, conducting community involvement activities, and performing site assessments and cleanup planning related to brownfields sites. The grant application would be submitted as part of the USEPA Brownfields Grant competition for Fiscal Year 2014. The 2014 grant application guidelines are available at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/pdfs/fyl4-epa-oswer-oblr-a.pdf. Grant applications are due on January 22, 2014. Given the increasingly challenging environment for developers, funding to perform environmental assessment activities and planning could be a significant tool in allowing the City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, and the City of Mishawaka to support high priority development projects over the next 3 years. By applying for a coalition assessment grant as part of this year's competition the coalition members could have a readily available source of funding for developing a comprehensive brownfield inventory, and for environmental assessment, investigations, area -wide planning and remedial O planning activities needed for redevelopment projects that occur during the anticipated cri 0 grant implementation period of October 2014 through September 2017, a% It is our understanding that the City of South Bend, as required by USEPA guidelines, has 0 been identified as the lead coalition member and; if funded, the City of South Bend will be 0 responsible for administration of the grant, be accountable to the EPA for proper expenditure of the funds, and will be the point of contact for the other coalition members. The goal will be to ultimately function as a Brownfields Team that represents all parties interested. MAL1-A1- 33374- 320.doc © 2013 Symbiont G a, w� 1—