There's Still Time to Apply for EPA Brownfields Grants
Oct. 12 is the deadline for anyone interested in applying for EPA brownfields grants -- funds that can be used for contaminated sites, including those contaminated by hazardous substances, petroleum or both.
According to an Aug. 23 statement by the agency, available funding includes:
- Assessment grants -- Up to $200,000 each over three years.
- Cleanup grants -- Up to $200,000 each over three years.
- Revolving loan fund -- Up to $1 million each over five years.
Those who are eligible for the grants include local, state and tribal governments; nonprofits; coalitions; land clearance authorities; and quasi-governmental entities interested in a brownfields assessment, cleanup or a revolving loan fund grant. For more information on the EPA brownfields grant application guidelines, go to http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm#fy08.
The agency's brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America's estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites. EPA has awarded 1,067 assessment grants totaling more than $262 million, 217 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $201.7 million, and 336 cleanup grants totaling $61.3 million since the beginning of the program. In addition to industrial and commercial redevelopment, brownfields redevelopments have included the conversion of industrial waterfronts to riverfront parks, landfills to golf courses, rail corridors to recreational trails, and gas stations to housing.
EPA's brownfields assistance has leveraged more than $9.6 billion in cleanup and redevelopment, helped create more than 43,029 jobs, and resulted in the assessment of more than 10,504 properties and the cleanup of 180 properties.
Check out the archives of Environmental Protection for additional articles related to brownfields, including:
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.