Environmental Remediation Grant

Purpose

To promote the remediation of environmental contamination on eligible properties.  The program is designed for costs of site remediation, one of the key stumbling blocks in the redevelopment of contaminated sites in Norfolk County. 

Grant Amount Available

The maximum Environmental Remediation Grant amount is ten thousand ($10,000) per property (excluding HST) for study costs (see Eligible Costs “A”) or twenty thousand ($20,000) per property (excluding HST) for remediation work (see Eligible Costs “B”). Grants are based on a fifty/fifty (50/50) matching cash contribution of the Applicant.  The grant amount will be calculated based on fifty percent (50%) of the actual cost of study or remedial work.

Eligible Costs

Eligible costs for Environmental Remediation include costs towards reducing the concentration of contaminants on, in or under the property. This includes either:

1. the cost of study or preparation for remediation:
   1. Phase II and III Environmental Site Assessments (ESA);
   2. Preparing a Record of Site Condition (RSC); and,

• Preparing Remedial Work Plans; or,

1. the costs of remediation work:
   1. Environmental remediation;
   2. Removal of contaminants; and,

• Placing clean fill and grading.

Phase I ESAs are not eligible for funding under this program. In-kind contributions are not eligible contributions.

Eligible Area

The program is available in any of the CIP areas, subject to all other policies of this CIP.

Other Eligibility Requirements 

1. Tenure Type: The Applicant must either be the registered owner of the property or a tenant with the written permission of the registered owner of the property. The grant is only available to property owners or an assignee with written permission from the property owner.
2. Choice of Study or Remediation Costs: Within a single application, applicants may apply for the Environmental Remediation Grant to either cover the costs of remediation studies or remediation works. Applicants are not eligible to apply for both study and remediation costs for a single property within a single CIP calendar year. Applicants who apply for the study costs are welcome to apply for a second grant for the same property in a following CIP year to support remediation works.
3. Required Documentation for study costs: Phase I ESA indicating the potential presence of contaminants on site must be provided to Norfolk County with the Application.
4. Required Documentation for remediation costs: Where remediation work is proposed, Phase II and III ESAs (Remedial Work Plans) must be provided with the Application. A Remediation Report from a Qualified Person that demonstrates that the subject property meets the applicable regulation standards for soil and ground water must be presented prior to fulfillment of the CIP agreement and payment of the grant.
5. Evidence of Completed Work: For the grant to be paid, evidence of the paid invoices for study and remediation work shall be presented.
6. Project Completion: Projects must be completed by a Qualified Person, as defined by the Environmental Protection Act, O. Reg. 153/04.
7. Other Grants: The total value of any grant provided under this incentive will be deducted from the eligible program costs for the Brownfield Tax Increment Grant incentive.
8. General Program Terms also apply.

Grant Payment

The grant will be advanced upon approval of all submitted documentation. This includes receipt of one (1) electronic copy of the final Remediation Report with the original invoice indicating that the study consultants have been paid in full. Staff of the Norfolk County Community Development Division will review the report for conformity with the submitted work plan and eligibility criteria.  If the submitted report does not conform to the submitted work plan or is not to the satisfaction of Norfolk County, payment may be declined.