Document ZBrroZB0E100kmZw72K2o90VY

To: Dravis, Samantha[dravis.samantha@epa.gov] From: Don Benton Sent: Sun 5/28/2017 3:20:05 AM Subject: FW: EPA Grant Reform Recommendations EPA Brownfield Grant Reform Letter 03302017.pdf Hi Samantha, I hope you are holding up well. Attached are some suggestions I asked a WA port executive director to prepare when she told me they do not even bother to apply for EPA grants. I asked why and she indicated there was too much red tape and it cost more to use our grants than it did to just pay for the project themselves. So, attached are some good suggestions from the end user I thought might be helpful when revamping the grant program. Could you pass them along to whoever will be responsible for the program? Thanks for taking a look, Don From: Hogan, Mike [mailto:mikeh@portofbellingharn.com] Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2017 8:00 PM To: Benton, Donald <benton.donaM@ep3.gov> Cc: 'Lisam@portofeverett.com' <Lis3m@portofevefett.com>: Doug Ericksen [erick.sendi@aol.com) <ericksen.dj@aol.cora>: Senator Doug Ericksen <doug@senatorericksen.com> Subject: EPA Grant Reform Recommendations Senator, It was great to meet you in Washington, D.C. on March 14th to discuss EPA's Final Affirmative Determination on pumpout capacity for the establishment of the Washington State Department of Ecology's No Discharge Zone. Following the meeting, we discussed some of the challenges the Port of Bellingham has experienced with EPAs Brownfields grant program. As promised, I have attached a letter highlighting several of the key constraints of this program which undermined its value and effectiveness for our community. The Port has had a much more positive experience utilizing Washington State cleanup grants as we continue to make progress on a $150+ million cleanup project on Bellingham's central waterfront. Over the past year, we have seen commitments for over $35 million in public and private investment on formerly contaminated 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA - 6/22 Production ED 001523 00008394-00001 property which is bringing hundreds of new jobs to our downtown waterfront. Please let me know if there is anything more I can do to help as you work to make the EPA more efficient and effective, Mike Michael Hogan Public Affairs Administrator Port of Bellingham 1801 Roeder Avenue Bellingham, WA 98227 360.676.2500 www.portofbellingham .com 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA - 6/22 Production ED 001523 00008394-00002