Portfields - Federal Commitments

Each federal partner participating in Portfields brings its own specialized expertise and strong commitment to the overall goal of revitalizing port communities. The Portfields federal agencies have made the following commitments.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1. NOAA will continue to lead the interagency Portfields effort, which includes hosting interagency meetings and coordinating the implementation of Portfields. 2. NOAA will sponsor and facilitate local kick-off meetings in Tampa, New Bedford, and Bellingham. The kick-off meetings will bring together the Portfields Federal agencies, the port, and other stakeholders to identify the ports goals and needs; match the Federal agencies’ capabilities and resources to the port’s needs; and develop an action plan. 3. NOAA will provide $90,000 to support the implementation of the Portfields pilots. 4. NOAA will provide technical expertise, tools and services to the pilot ports based on the pilot’s needs. This includes risk assessment, cost-effective cleanup strategies, habitat restoration, planning, and environmental permit review. 5. NOAA, in partnership with state coastal management programs, will identify opportunities to support Portfields pilots through implementation of the Coastal Zone Management Act. Eligible activities may include community and waterfront revitalization planning, coastal resource protection and enhancement of public access. [leaves OR&R site]

Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce 1. EDA will share research, analytical tools and methods to support cluster-based development and other competitiveness enhancing economic development approaches at the three designated Portfields Initiative pilot ports. 2. EDA’s Brownfields Coordinator, EDA Regional Office staff and others, will participate in interagency workgroups and local kick-off meetings (availability and resources permitting) as implementation of the Portfields Initiative begins over the next year. 3. EDA’s appropriate Regional Office will pro-actively seek investment proposals from the three newly designated port communities. Successful investments must be locally generated and consistent with EDA statutory eligibility criteria and investment policy guidelines. Such investments could include financial assistance for economic development planning, market feasibility analysis, and port and other marine transportation system related infrastructure improvements. 4. To every extent possible (availability and resources permitting), EDA staff will be accessible to consult on planning, economic redevelopment, and other financial aspects of Portfields redevelopment. [leaves OR&R site]

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1. EPA’s appropriate Regional Office will coordinate with the three newly designated port communities to determine assessment needs and will provide available targeted brownfields assessments at each of the designated Portfields Initiative pilot ports based on the specific needs of that Port. 2. To every extent possible, EPA will work with the three designated Portfields Initiative pilot ports to coordinate information concerning EPA funding opportunities. 3.EPA’s Brownfields Regional Coordinator, Regional Office staff and others, will participate in interagency workgroups and local kick-off meetings (availability and resources permitting) as implementation of the Portfields Initiative begins over the next year. 4. EPA will provide technical support to assist in assessment and cleanup of any Brownfields site at the three designated Portfields Initiative pilot ports. The Port Sector Liaison in the EPA Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation will provide or help find technical assistance within or outside EPA, including but not limited to assistance on the development of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) for new or existing port facilities. [leaves OR&R site]

U.S. Department of Labor 1. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the U.S. Department of Labor will notify State and Local Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stop Career Service Centers for each of the selected the potential for economic redevelopment available through partnerships with local, State, and Federal initiatives related to the Portfields initiative and particularly these three pilot ports. 2. ETA, through Federal, Regional, and/or local personnel, will participate in interagency workgroups and local kick-off events at these three pilot ports. 3. ETA will continue to be represented at the Federal Agency level and on the Steering Committee of NOAA's Portfields initiative. 4. ETA will continue to offer consultation for local groups (focusing initially on the three pilot ports) regarding potential partnerships with the Publicly Funded Workforce Investment System. [leaves OR&R site]

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1. Use its existing authorities to protect, restore and manage the nation's water resources and to provide engineering and technical services in ways that seek balance and synergy among human development activities and natural systems. 2. Foster productive partnerships and collaborative approaches for the purpose of sharing planning, scientific and other analytical tools, and consulting on engineering or project inquiries from the Portfields pilots. 3. USACE's Brownfields Coordinator and others, will participate in interagency workgroups and local kick-off meetings (availability and resources permitting) as implementation of the Portfields Initiative begins over the next year. [leaves OR&R site]

Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation 1. MARAD will assist other federal partners in the redevelopment of Brownfields through the Portfields project by working with various marine industry stakeholders in identifying transportation needs. 2. MARAD will provide technical expertise and support to the Portfields project. This technical expertise consists of: (1) Hosting interagency meetings with marine industry leaders; (2) Distributing information on Portfields showcase projects and best management practices to the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC); and, (3) Seeking to provide funding in support of future Portfield projects. 3. MARAD will work with AAPA and other trade groups to identify potential future Portfields projects. 4. MARAD will assist other federal partners in creating a federal agency brochure of “Showcase Portfield Projects” for the maritime community. [leaves OR&R site]

Department of the Interior 1. DOI will participate in the interagency Portfields effort, including attending interagency meetings and coordinating Portfields implementation. 2. DOI will assist in the identification of the ports goals and needs; matching capabilities, mission and resources to the ports needs; and assist in the development of an action plan for each pilot port. 3. DOI will provide technical expertise to the pilot ports based on the ports needs identified in the action plan and DOIs mission. [leaves OR&R site]