[CPEO-BIF] EPA announces nearly $70 M in Brownfields grants

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

U.S. EPA
Press Release
May 12, 2006

$70 Million in Grants Brings Blighted Property Back to Life

(Washington, D.C. - May 12, 2006) Communities in 44 states and two 
territories, as well as three tribes will share $69.9 million in grants 
to help transform community eyesores into community gems. The grants, 
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, promote the redevelopment 
of abandoned and contaminated or potentially contaminated waste sites. 
In all, 209 applicants were selected to receive 292 grants for 
assessment or cleanup of properties.

"Building on decades of environmental growth and economic gains, 
President Bush and EPA continue to put both people and property back to 
work," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By turning problem 
properties back into community assets, EPA is handing down better health 
and a brighter future to the next generation of Americans."

The brownfields program encourages turning America's estimated 450,000 
problem properties to productive community use. Since the beginning of 
the brownfields program, EPA has awarded 883 assessment grants totaling 
$225.4 million, 202 revolving loan fund grants totaling $186.7 million, 
and 238 cleanup grants totaling $42.7 million.

In addition to industrial and commercial redevelopment, brownfields 
approaches have included the conversion of industrial waterfronts to 
river-front parks, landfills to golf courses, rail corridors to 
recreational trails, and gas stations to housing. EPA's brownfields 
assistance has leveraged more than $8.2 billion in private investment, 
helped create 37,525 jobs and resulted in the assessment of 8,374 
properties and the cleanup of 93 properties.

The $69.9 million in grants include:
*	184 grants totaling $36.6 million for conducting site assessment and 
planning for eventual cleanup at one or more brownfields sites or as 
part of a community-wide effort.	
*	96 grants totaling $18.3 million for cleanup activities at brownfields 
sites.

*	12 grants totaling $15 million to capitalize a revolving loan fund and 
provide subgrants for cleanup activities at brownfields sites. Revolving 
loan funds are generally used to provide low interest loans for 
brownfields cleanups.

Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be 
complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous 
substance, pollutant, or contaminant. In January 2002, President Bush 
signed the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields 
Revitalization Act, which authorizes up to $250 million in funds 
annually for brownfields grants. The 2002 law expanded the definition of 
what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on 
mine-scarred lands or sites contaminated by petroleum or the manufacture 
and distribution of illegal drugs.

Before/after photos of sample brownfields projects are available upon 
request.

Information on the grant recipients: 
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/archive/pilot_arch.htm

Information on the Brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields



For the original press release, go to
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a8f952395381d3968525701c005e65b5/708921c271c50e7d8525716c004e5530!OpenDocument

--


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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