DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Vincent R. Nathan, PhD, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City- Wide
SUBJECT:
This Ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to apply for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant for the ATSDR Community Health Projects (CHP) Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites. The purpose of this grant opportunity is to increase responsive public health actions by promoting healthy and safe environments and preventing harmful exposures related to contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites. Brownfields are defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant". This CDC grant related to Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites will be a 1 year grant term.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Metro Health to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents including a grant agreement to effectuate the application and acceptance of the referenced funds and to execute contract amendments pertaining to this contract, to include: a)carry-overfunds, when ascertained and approved by the funding agency through a revised notice of award; b)line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; c) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contracts as long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d)no cost extensions; e)amendments which will provide supplemental grant funds to the grant by the funding agency in an amount up to 20% of the total amount initially awarded; f) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; and g) changes in regulations mandated by the funding agency.
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to apply for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant for the ATSDR Community Health Projects (CHP) Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites. The purpose of this grant opportunity is to increase responsive public health actions by promoting healthy and safe environments and preventing harmful exposures related to contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites. Brownfields are defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant". This CDC grant related to Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites will be a 1 year grant term.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
With some exceptions, Brownfields are defined by U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as 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. EPA estimates that there are over 450,000 Brownfield sites in the United States. ATSDR has expanded the Brownfield definition with the term "land reuse" to include any property that is redeveloped from a former use which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Land reuse sites could include Brownfield, Superfund, vacant, industrial, commercial, or residential sites. Addressing community health concerns and issues associated with restoration of contaminated properties is essential.
To address potential contamination issues, public health impacts, and redevelopment concerns related to land reuse sites, a strategy to promote healthy, safe environments while preventing harmful exposures is needed. The ATSDR Brownfield/Land Reuse Health Initiative builds capacity among the development community (i.e., stakeholder, governing officials and agencies, community members, community-based organizations, non-profits, and private sector) to work together in a timely manner to ensure that community health is considered in the earliest phases of revitalization of Brownfield/Land Reuse properties, prevent exposures to contamination, improve the overall health of the community, and track the successes.
ATSDR is fully committed to implementing Executive Order 12898: "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations."
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization to apply for and accept funds, upon award, from a CDC grant on Community Health Projects (CHP) Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites.
ALTERNATIVES:
Without the proposed grant, Metro Health would not have the ability to implement public health approaches pertaining to Brownfield/land reuse sites.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The grant is a one year project period with an estimated annual amount of $150,000. There is no impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of an ordinance authorizing the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to apply for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant for the ATSDR Community Health Projects (CHP) Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites and the acceptance of funds upon award.