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Committee hears funding update, train-station grant in place and warns of federal shutdown delays
Summary
Staff reported about $30,000 remaining in state assessment funds and roughly $669 remaining in an EPA assessment grant; a grant agreement for the Bellis Falls train station is in place, but members warned that a federal shutdown could delay drawdowns and contractor payments.
Staff reported a tight funding picture but several active commitments: approximately $30,000 remains in state assessment funds and about $669 remains in an EPA assessment grant, and the committee has a grant agreement in place for a train station project in Bellis Falls.
"A lot of funding and programming is on hold because of the shutdown," Sue, a staff member, told the committee, saying she had not heard from an EPA project officer that week. She explained that the program draws down on EPA grants to pay contractors and staff and that a shutdown can halt payments mid-contract.
Sue said she is working with Stone Environmental to reallocate funds between projects and that, if reallocations proceed, the EPA assessment balance could drop to zero. Revolved loan funds were discussed (referred to in the meeting as approximately $459,000 coming back through loan repayments), and the committee noted a supplemental loan pool of about $1,250,000 available for loans.
Members asked whether cleanup money could cover asbestos abatements at local sites; staff said the funds can be used for hazardous-materials cleanup and will check EPA eligibility for specific properties. Sue also said the train station agreement in Bellis Falls is in place and that Groundworks and the committee are developing a cooperative agreement to fund cleanup at an old shelter site.
The committee did not take formal action on these operational updates; staff will continue to manage reallocations and to pursue new EPA assessment applications in the fall when federal processes resume.
