EPA Awards $16+ Million to Cleanup and Revitalize New England Communities -- Neighborhoods to gain health, environmental and economic benefits

(Boston, Mass. – April 29, 2010) – Approximately $16.1 million in EPA Brownfields grants will help New England communities to assess, cleanup and redevelop abandoned or contaminated properties. Each of the New England states has been awarded a portion of these latest EPA Brownfields funds.

The grant money will assist work to reclaim sites including old textile mills, sites containing hazardous substances and other abandoned industrial and commercial properties.  EPA’s Brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites.

As o f March 2010, EPA’s brownfields assistance has leveraged more than $14 billion in cleanup and redevelopment funding, and helped create more than 61,000 jobs in cleanup, construction and redevelopment. These investments and jobs target local, under-served and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods – places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.

“These grants will strengthen our communities while also building a stronger, green economy,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA New England’s office. “Cleaning and revitalizing contaminated sites provides a solid foundation for a community to create new businesses and neighborhood centers, while making our environment cleaner and the community healthier.”

In total, EPA New England received 58 out of the 304 grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants programs.

Since the beginning of the brownfields program in 1995, EPA has awarded 1,702 assessment grants totaling $401 million, 262 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $256.7 million, and 655 cleanup grants totaling $129.4 million. As part of Administrator Jackson’s commitment to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase to $215 million for brownfields with a focus on planning, cleanup, job training and redevelopment.

In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed. The brownfields law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum, or sites contaminated as a result of manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs (e.g. meth labs).

source: epa.gov