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US Virgin Islands Brownfields Initiative Redevelopment in the Territory will be greatly enhanced by a State Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). The VCP will be designed to bring Brownfield sites back to a useable condition. On June 15, 2004 EPA announced that communities in 42 states and Territories will share more than $75 million in EPA Brownfield grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. Nationally, the Agency has levered more than 5.8 billion in private investment, helped create more than 27,000 jobs and facilitated the assessment of more than 4,500 properties.
DPNR has been conducting activities in an effort to establish a Virgin Islands (VI) VCP that incorporates the four elements for funding eligibility as outlined in the Federal Registry Vol 67. No. 277 for a state VCP. The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources applied for and received a grant to assist the department with its efforts to establish a Brownfield program in the Territory. Previously a grant in the amount of $103,260.00 was awarded in October 2003 to DPNR. Specifically, this grant funded travel for key DPNR personnel to attend the National Brownfield Conference in Portland, Oregon and hire a contractor to assist DPNR with a technical guidance document. formulating a process to identify the universe of Brownfield sites in the Virgin Islands; drafted legislation which will increase its authority and capacity to enforce laws and regulations to protect human health and the environment; drafted a criteria for clean up standards applicable to the Virgin Islands; and created resources for public participation of the development of the program process. The DPNR-DEP Brownfields Technical Committee hosted an EPA sponsored Brownfield Workshop in St. Thomas Virgin Islands in February of 2004. At this workshop, EPA region II and its consultants provided insight for establishing a Brownfield Program and a Voluntary Cleanup Program in the Territory. This forum provided up-to-date information on the Brownfield initiative in the VI and also gave the opportunity for stakeholders to provide advice, suggest key concerns and make recommendations to DPNR regarding the strategic plan and the formation of a technical advisory board. In October 2003 representatives from VI DPNR attended the National Brownfield Conference in Portland Oregon. During the National Conference DPNR-DEP met with representatives from EPA Region II, consultants and representatives from other states with established VCPs. This meeting gave VIDPNR ideas and strategies to consider when implementing its program. DPNR personnel also had the opportunity to attend seminars, workshops and plenary sessions dealing with various aspects of a Brownfield program.
The DPNR-DEP Technical Committee has been meeting on a monthly basis and is in the process of making all final decisions about clean up standards and content of the technical guidance documents for participants of a VIDPNR Brownfield Program. The committee has also begun training in Arc View GIS. For additional information contact: Dr. Clanicia Pelle Division of Environmental Protection Department of Planning & Natural Resources 45 Mars Hills Frederiksted, VI 00841 Phone: (340) 773-1082 Fax: (340) 692-9794
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US EPA Regional Administrator Jane Kenny announced on
June 24, 2004, at a ceremony held in St. Croix, Virgin Islands that the
agency would be awarding federal grants in the amount of $417,119.00 to
DPNR. The grant awarded to DPNR will benefit the local community and
help revitalize Virgin Islands Brownfields. This grant will also foster
activities to protect human health and the environment; create jobs;
preserve open space and parks; represent a fair distribution between
urban and rural areas; and involve the local community. 
