Schuyler, Nebraska
EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant Program
Schuyler Community Development Brownfields Program aims to remove blight, increase vibrancy, and encourage positive redevelopment through the assessment, cleanup and planning of former industrial and commercial sites.
Program Overview
(SCD) has embarked upon an ambitious Brownfields
program to assess, cleanup and redevelop
properties that are underutilized and may
present environmental, health and safety
risks to Schuyler residents, businesses, and
visitors. With an initial focus on priority sites
within Schuyler’s Downtown Historic District and
adjacent areas, SCD is partnering with city,
county, regional, and state leaders, to enhance
Schuyler and Colfax County’s appeal to both
businesses and residents. A comprehensive
approach ensures support across multiple areas
of growth, making the community stronger,
more resilient, and better positioned for the
future.
City of Schuyler Map & Target Study Area
Whats a Brownfield?
A brownfield is land that is vacant or underutilized because it may be contaminated—or is already known to be—due to past industrial or commercial activity. It could be as small as a former gas station or dry cleaner, or as large as an old factory. Because environmental regulations weren’t always as strict as they are today, these sites may have polluted soil or water from their past uses. Brownfields are typically identified because they’re unused or underused, but environmental testing is needed to find out if the land is actually contaminated. An Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) determines if a property poses a risk to human health or the environment. If contamination is found, a cleanup—or remediation—process is usually required to make the
site safe for its planned reuse. Remediation can involve removing, treating, or capping contaminated materials so the land can be used safely.
Project Timeline
The City of Schuyler’s EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant project will run through 2027. During this period, the project will identify, assess, and plan for the remediation and redevelopment of various sites throughout the city, while keeping the community informed and engaged and fulfilling the grant’s administrative requirements. City staff, along with project consultant, Stantec, are currently working to engage property owners in the assessment and redevelopment planning of potentially contaminated sites.
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Community Engagement
Your input is essential to the success of this program
and we are eager to have you involved in the process!
As events are planned, notices will be placed here and
sent to local media outlets! The below linked documents
outline the strategy for a meaningful public engagement
process for Schuyler’s Environmental Protection Agency
Brownfield Grant program related activities.
• Community Engagement Plan
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• Schuyler Brownfield Program Brochure
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• Engagement Opportunity
Brownfield Resources
There are many resources available to learn about the EPA Brownfields Program and how
to navigate the process. Below are some links that may be helpful:
Property Owners Assistance
The City of Schuyler Community Development Grant
funds are available to assist property owners in the
revitalization of their properties, which the expansion,
redevelopment, or reuse of may be complicated by the
presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance
(such as asbestos, chlorinated solvents, or lead-based
paint), pollutant, or petroleum contaminant (such as oil,
grease, diesel, or gasoline) in soils, groundwater, build-
ing materials, or air. To learn more about the process for
property owners, see the below linked flyer:
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Click the link below to learn more!
Site Inventory
The City has identified several sites that could potentially benefit from the environmental assessment and redevelopment planning that the grant provides. Some candidate sites are listed below:
Administrative Record
The following repository was developed to provide open and free access to project deliverables. The files are in PDF format, which can be read by most web browsers:
In addition to records available online through the Nebraska Voluntary Cleanup Program
https://dee.nebraska.gov/forms/publications-grants-forms/vcppr, environmental site assessment and cleanup reports generated during the grant target properties can be accessed below:
Administrative Record
The following repository was developed to provide open and free access to project deliverables. The files are in PDF format, which can be read by most web browsers:
In addition to records available online through the Nebraska Voluntary Cleanup Program
https://dee.nebraska.gov/forms/publications-grants-forms/vcppr, environmental site assessment and cleanup reports generated during the grant target properties can be accessed below:
Quarterly Reports
The following quarterly reports provided to USEPA to document the City’s implantation of the
brownfields grant:
Annual Financial Reports
The following annual financial reports provided to USEPA each year to document the City’s
implantation of the brownfield grant.