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NEW BEDFORD, MASS. — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England Regional Administrator David Cash joined elected officials and school leaders in New Bedford to celebrate the award of 14 zero emission school buses to the City of New Bedford. The buses were part of nearly $30 million of rebates awarded to Massachusetts school districts last year under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provided 76 zero-emission school buses in five Massachusetts communities. Under this program, the City of New Bedford received a rebate of more than $5.5 million for the 14 buses and charging infrastructure Recently, EPA also announced $400 million in grants currently available for cleaner school buses, reducing harmful pollution and helping to protecting children's health, especially in communities already overburdened with air pollution. Under President Biden's Investing in America agenda, funding from EPA's Clean School Bus Program will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, save schools money, create good-paying clean energy jobs and reduce greenhouse gas pollution, protecting people and the planet. The grants are made possible by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion to transform the nation's fleet of school buses. This is the first round of funding available as grants and follows the nearly $1 billion the Biden-Harris Administration awarded through the rebate competition last year to fund electric and low-emission school buses across school districts. "President Biden's Investing in America agenda is delivering significant funding to Massachusetts school districts for clean electric school buses, with a particular focus on reducing air pollution in disadvantaged communities overburdened by dirty air," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "These zero-emission vehicles will help provide cleaner and healthier air for school children, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, and save money for our communities. Investing in America means investing in communities so that a parent waiting at the bus stop with their kid is not worried what their child is breathing." "New Bedford has been at the forefront of investments in renewable energy for more than a decade -- from our nation-leading municipal solar programs, to our status as the staging port for America's first industrial-scale offshore wind project, to the electric vehicles already in use by our municipal fleets. We are proud today to continue that record of early adoption of these important technologies with the planned acquisition of electric school buses and are grateful for the federal support from the EPA and our congressional delegation, that has made this possible," said City of New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. About the Clean School Bus Grant Competition The $400 million grant opportunity through EPA's Clean School Bus Program will fund electric, propane, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that will produce either zero or low tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors. These emission reductions will result in cleaner air for students riding the buses, bus drivers, school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities the buses drive through each day. Beyond the community, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacement projects will help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector on climate change. EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or those receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land, and rural areas. In addition, EPA is committed to ensuring the Clean School Bus Program delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative to ensure that at least 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty also will be prioritized if their proposal focuses on clean school buses serving those communities. Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are (1) state and local governmental entities that provide bus service; (2) public charter school districts, (3) Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Tribally-controlled Schools, (4) Nonprofit School Transportation Associations, and (5) Eligible Contractors (including OEMs, Dealers, School Bus Service Providers, and Private Bus Fleets). Applicants have two options to apply: Applicants seeking to serve a single school district can apply through the School District Sub-Program to request a minimum of 15 school buses and up to a maximum of 50 school buses. Applicants seeking to serve at least four school districts can apply through the Third-Party Sub-Program to request between 25 school buses and up to a maximum of 100 school buses. EPA will provide a combined funding amount to cover both bus and infrastructure costs for all awardees requesting electric school buses. Prioritized applicants may apply for up to $395,000 when applying for larger school buses and associated infrastructure, and other applicants may apply for up to $250,000 for larger school buses and associated infrastructure. To encourage federal funding to support the replacement of as many buses as possible, EPA will also offer points in the competition to those who can offer voluntary funding through public-private partnerships, grants from other entities, or school bonds. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing federal dollars in a responsible way that drives high-quality job creation and inclusive economic growth. EPA worked closely with the Department of Labor to ensure this program also supports the workforce needed to support a clean energy economy. Applicants will be asked to describe their plans to conduct workforce planning to ensure current drivers, mechanics, and other essential personnel receive training to safely operate and maintain the new buses, as well as clarify protections to ensure existing workers are not replaced or displaced. This 2023 Grant Program is separate from the earlier 2022 Rebate Program, and interested applicants must apply to the Grant Program if interested in this funding opportunity. Grant applicants may submit proposals through grants.gov after reading the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) which is publicly posted at EPA's Clean School Bus Program webpage. This is a competitive program where applicants will be scored based on how well their proposal meets the criteria set forth within the NOFO. The Clean School Bus Grant Program will be open for 120 days and close on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Questions about applying may be directed to [email protected]. President Biden's Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. To learn more about the grant program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates, visit EPA's Clean School Bus Program webpage. […]

WASHINGTON  — Today, before the Memorial Day long weekend, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, is recognizing the 15th “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage Americans to take a few simple steps to protect their skin and eye health while outdoors. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can increase the risk of developing skin cancer, so it is important to be aware of the strength of the sun’s UV rays when enjoying your time outside. “This long weekend, and all summer long, remember to take care of your skin and eyes when you are enjoying the outdoors,” said Joseph Goffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “Wear sunscreen, protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. Sun damage is builds up over your lifetime, so take care of your skin every day you’re outdoors.” Since most skin cancer cases and deaths are caused by exposure to UV radiation, many cases may be preventable. The American Skin Cancer Society estimates that in 2023 more than 97,600 new cases of invasive melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, will be diagnosed in the United States. This is roughly 1,400 fewer cases than were estimated in 2022. All people are equally at risk of eye damage and developing cataracts, but some people may be at greater risk of contracting skin cancer depending on the color of their skin, a history of blistering sunburns in early childhood, the presence of many moles, or a family history of skin cancer. Also, be aware that UV may be high even in winter depending on factors such as location, elevation, and reflective surfaces. Reduce your risk of skin cancer and eye damage by remembering to: SLIP! – Slip on a long-sleeved shirt or other clothing that covers your skin. SLOP! – Slop on a handful of sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and re-apply every two hours, or sooner if in the water. SLAP! – Slap on a broad-brimmed hat to cover the back of your neck and the tips of your ears. WRAP! – Wrap on a pair of sunglasses. Sunglasses that wrap around the sides of your face provide more sun protection. Avoid tanning beds and minimize sunbathing. Check the UV Index before spending time outdoors. EPA, the National Weather Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention work together to make the UV Index forecast available in the United States. EPA’s UV index app (search for EPA’s UV Index in the App Store and on Google Play) is a convenient tool to let you know the strength of the sun’s skin cancer-causing UV rays. The app gives daily and hourly UV intensity forecasts for your location, provides recommendations on sun safety, and is also available in Spanish. Download Don’t Fry Day and sun safety posters, sign up for a daily UV Index forecast via email, or check the UV Index online daily at EPA's Sun Safety webpage. […]

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San Miguel County:  Janet Kask, Parks & Open Space Director, 970-369-5469,  [email protected]     Telluride, Colo. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced San Miguel County, Colorado, will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct environmental site assessments, develop clean-up plans and inventory contaminated sites at locations throughout the county.  The target areas for this grant includes communities in San Miguel County that have been impacted by gold and silver mining operations. Priority sites include a former mill area, a former silver mine, mining camp, gas stations, a school and a power plant. The EPA grant is among six grants totaling nearly $4.78 million announced today for property cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado.  “San Miguel County’s leaders are taking a systematic approach to prioritizing sites for cleanup and revitalization,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “These EPA funds will address contamination at key properties in communities like Norwood, Ophir and Telluride, and will pave the way for their safe and productive reuse."   “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping clean up and revitalize communities across Colorado,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “With this funding, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Telluride, Silverton, San Luis and Trinidad can make sure these sites are safe for the families living near them and restore them in ways that meet the communities’ needs.”  These funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.      "I am proud for the county to be the recipient of the EPA's $500,000 Community-Wide Assessment Grant, which focuses on redevelopment planning, community engagement and returning historic sites to productive reuse, including potential affordable housing,” said Janet Kask, Director of the San Miguel County Parks & Open Space Department. “One site of utmost focus is the iconic Matterhorn Mill, one of the last historic mining structures still standing. Preservation and protection of the Mill continues to be a priority for San Miguel County and we are thankful to work with the U.S. Forest Service in pursuing conveyance of the structure and surrounding parcel to the county. We look forward to its acquisition.”       Matterhorn Mill site, San Miguel CountyThe county will use the EPA funds to target several sites, including the Matterhorn Mill located south of Ophir on Highway 145; smaller mining facilities near Ophir, Ames and Telluride, including the Liberty Bell and Silver Bell Mine; the Pandora Mill/Mining Camp; and the Norwood Gas Station and automotive sites.   Many of these former mining locations are scattered throughout the county and include mine tailings, buildings and equipment. These areas pose unsafe conditions for residents and tourists, including high levels of metals in tailings, soils and waters. Several potential sites, including the Matterhorn Mill and Silver Bell Mine near Ophir, are located near residential neighborhoods in rural communities where avalanche events and stormwater often transport old mine tailings into roads, drainage ditches and neighborhoods. Contaminants of concern include lead, chromium, asbestos, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, which affect soils and waters.    Pandora, an unincorporated community in San Miguel County, is another priority location. The site is contaminated with heavy metals and asbestos, and the nearby building site needs to be assessed so housing development can be completed safely. The county has also identified the Norwood Gas Station and nearby repair shops and automotive sites as targeted properties for addressing lingering petroleum and chlorinated solvent contamination concerns and plans for redevelopment.    Other grantees in Colorado include:    Watershed NP, Inc.: Buena Vista, $979,222  The Keating School, Pueblo: $1 million  The Town of San Luis: $500,000  The Town of Silverton: $800,000  Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, Trinidad: $998,700  Background   Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.   EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.  EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.  More on Brownfields Grants.    More on EPA’s Brownfields Program. &nbs […]

CHICAGO (May 25, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $7.3 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Illinois while advancing environmental justice. EPA selected nine communities in Illinois to receive nine grants totaling $7,307,771 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest-ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. These investments are  part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. “We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.” “Given the Midwest’s rich industrial history, it’s no surprise that Illinois has a significant portion of EPA’s funded brownfields sites,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the historic brownfields investment announced today, more communities will get the financial help they need to transform abandoned, blighted properties into assets that attract business and community development.” “Today’s announcement that Illinois will receive more than $6.3 million in Brownfields Cleanup Grant funding is certainly welcome news,” said Senator Dick Durbin.  “Cleaning up these industrial sites from hazardous chemicals and toxins will revitalize the land for ecological and economic benefit, ensuring that area residents are breathing clean air and drinking clean water while opening the door to future investment.  I’ll continue to work alongside these communities to secure necessary federal funding for these areas to rebuild sustainably in the wake of the environmental damage done by harmful toxins.” “This EPA-led initiative to help eliminate contaminated sites is crucial to protecting the health of children and families and achieving the environmental justice that we all deserve,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “Cleaning up brownfields is also a necessary step to help spur development, job creation and economic growth for affected communities, and as co-founder of the Senate’s Environmental Justice Caucus and author of many environmental justice provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I’m proud that these funds are going to Illinois communities that need it.  I’ll keep working to help ensure that families across our state and nation can live in a safe environment without fear of toxins and pollution.” “I’m thrilled that the EPA selected the Region 1 Planning Council to lead a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant for the greater Rockford area, including parts of Boone County,” said Representative Bill Foster. “This grant is integral in determining how we can remediate local brownfield sites to facilitate economic development and environmental revitalization. I’m proud to represent this area in Congress and I’m committed to working closely with my colleagues to promote the economic growth of this community.” “Too many communities in Central and Northwestern Illinois struggle with pollution and other environmental challenges from decades ago," said Representative Eric Sorensen. “I'm thrilled to join the Environmental Protection Agency to announce over $4 million to revitalize burdened areas and set them up for economic success. Efforts like these will result in a healthier, stronger region for generations to come.” “The work being done to redevelop the old Pillsbury Mills site will be transformative for our community -- particularly for families on the east side of Springfield,” said Representative Nikki Budzinski. “I’m thrilled to see more than $787,000 in federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency as we continue to address the economic and environmental challenges that remain at this site. I look forward to being a strong partner to the folks at Moving Pillsbury Forward, including pushing to secure federal community project funding as we work to revitalize this dangerous site into an economic engine for our community.” “Hand in hand with environmental justice comes economic opportunity and health equity—and that’s precisely what brownfield revitalization accomplishes,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to the Biden Administration’s funding for the MARC grant program alongside our landmark Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, we are transforming unusable and underserved land into safe, sustainable spaces for Illinoisans to gather in their communities—all while creating more good-paying jobs and advancing our clean energy goals.” Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment and lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places. Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities. EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40%of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding are for work in areas that include historically underserved communities. State Funding Breakdown: Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program Selection The following organizations in Illinois have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the MARC Grant Programs. The City of Danville has been selected for a $983,606 grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and used to clean up a 1.14-acre property that housed the former First Farmer’s Bank & Trust site, the former Fonner’s Dry Cleaners, as well as a former apartment building property, a filling station and residences at 815, 817, 821 North Vermilion Street and 816 North Hazel Street. The site is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene and petroleum. Grant funds will also support community meetings and public engagement activities. “The City of Danville intends to utilize this grant to make the Southeast corner at the intersection of Vermilion and Fairchild a prime candidate for redevelopment,” said Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. “With the cleanup of this site, we would have two acres of developable land in a high visibility area that nearly everyone who lives in or visits the City of Danville passes by. The improvement of this space will increase the morale of the whole City, especially considering its close proximity to Danville High School, where so many of our largest community events occur.” The City of Dixon has been selected for a $767,900 grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and used to clean up the former Dixon Iron & Metals Company site at 78 Monroe Avenue. The 3.13-acre site was first developed for industrial purposes in the late 1890s, with historical uses including carpentry, lumber, coal, gravel, warehousing and a junkyard. The site was operated as a junkyard/scrap metal recycling facility from 1910 to 2017. It is contaminated with PCBs, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, petroleum, free product light non-aqueous phase liquid, heavy metals and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds will also support community meetings and dissemination of public information. “These U.S. EPA Brownfields Grant funds will be instrumental to the ongoing remediation efforts at the former recycling facility,” said Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes. “This funding will allow Dixon to bring to life plans that have been 20 years in the making for recreation and business opportunities along its beautiful river front.” The City of Freeport has been selected for a $1,757,730 grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Former One-Hour Martinizing Cleaners & Aloha Tattoo Site at 17 and 19 West Main Street. Both buildings were constructed in 1897. Until 1961, 19 West Main Street operated as a furniture store and warehouse; from 1961 to 2005, it operated as a dry cleaner. The building at 17 West Main Street operated as a camera shop, drug store, boot and shoe shop, and tattoo parlor. Both buildings were condemned and have remained vacant since 2016. The site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, metals and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used for community engagement activities. “The City of Freeport is eager to have this site remediated,” said Freeport Mayor Jodi Miller. “This funding puts us on a cleaner, more sustainable path that will contribute to the economic vitality for our historic downtown.” Moving Pillsbury Forward has been selected for a $787,135 grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA’s grant will fund Moving Pillsbury Forward’s cleanup of the former Pillsbury Mills site at 1525 E. Phillips Ave. The 18-acre site housed numerous grain silos and structures used for grain milling, manufacturing, warehousing, and offices. The area surrounding the site consists of a large railyard to the north and east, and residential properties to the south and west. Since closing in 2001, the site fell into disrepair and remains contaminated with heavy metals and inorganic compounds. The grant will also support community involvement activities. “Moving Pillsbury Forward is deeply grateful for this significant award from the EPA,” said Moving Pillsbury Forward President Chris Richmond. “This grant of nearly $800,000 ensures that lead and asbestos will be removed from over 500,000 square feet of an abandoned flour mill whose cleanup has languished for over twenty years. Our community is now a huge step closer to resolving one of its biggest redevelopment challenges.” The Region 1 Planning Council in Rockford has been selected to administer a $1 million grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Funding will be used to conduct 40 Phase I and 16 Phase II environmental site assessments. It will also be used to develop eight cleanup plans and five reuse plans and support community involvement activities. Assessments will focus on the Auburn Street Corridor in West Rockford; an area known as N 2nd Target Area in the Loves Park and Rockford and unincorporated areas in Winnebago County, downtown Belvidere, and the Broadway Corridor in South Rockford. Priority sites include a 5-acre vacant site with a history of residential and filling station uses, a former apple orchard, and a vacant site with a history of manufacturing uses that is adjacent to rail lines. Coalition members include Boone County, Winnebago County, and Rockford Mass Transit District. “The announcement of U.S. EPA awarding Region 1 Planning Council one of the Brownfield Coalition Assessment Grant Awards is great news for Northern Illinois,” said Winnebago County Chairman Joe Chiarelli. “Winnebago County, along with Boone County and Rockford Mass Transit District as partners, welcome the funding to accommodate brownfield assessments of industrial corridors that are vital to the regional economy.  Our region will be better positioned for private investment and redevelopment along these corridors thanks to the U.S. EPA’s award.” “Region 1 Planning Council is excited to be awarded the U.S. EPA Brownfield Coalition Grant Award,” said Mayor Greg Jury, Chairman of Region 1 Planning Council. “This funding allows R1 and its partners - Boone County, Winnebago County and Rockford Mass Transit District – to assess the need for brownfield remediation along critical industrial corridors, ultimately positioning the two-county region for private investment and redevelopment.” EPA has selected the Village of Richton Park for a $400,000 community-wide grant to conduct 18 Phase I and ten Phase II environmental site assessments. The funding also will be used to prepare three cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including community meetings.  The target area will be Richton Park’s town center. Priority sites include former retail properties, a former gas station and a vacant lot near a former dry cleaner. “The Village of Richton Park is thankful to receive a brownfield assessment award from the U.S. EPA,” said Village President Rick Reinbold. “These funds will be used to advance our community’s vision of transit-oriented development along the Chicagoland Metra Electric Line.” EPA has selected the City of Rock Falls for a $800,000 Brownfields multipurpose grant to conduct five Phase I and two Phase II environmental site assessments, create a thorough site inventory, develop a community involvement plan and conduct other community outreach activities. Grant funds will also be used to clean up a priority site – the two-acre 700 West 2nd Street property – which is part of the larger Parrish Alford Fence & Machine Company site that has been vacant since 2002. The target area for this project is a low-income community comprising 1.1 square miles of the downtown and residential area along the Rock River. It was historically occupied by manufacturing industries, which provided tax revenue, employment, and other business opportunities. However, manufacturing facility closures including Northwestern Steel and Wire, Reliant Fastener, and Stanley Black and Decker—resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs and a population decline which caused a decreased tax base, more vacant properties, and lower property values. “We’re proud of our previous Brownfields successes and partnership with the EPA and this is another step in our commitment to the residents of Rock Falls to clean up our industrial past,” said Rock Falls Mayor Rodney Kleckler.   EPA has selected the City of South Beloit for a $311,400 grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up the CSB Shirland Avenue Property at 126 Shirland Avenue. The cleanup site has a long history of manufacturing and industrial uses, including refrigeration equipment assembly, steel fabrication, an automotive body shop, and a food distribution warehouse. Vacant since the facility was demolished in 2007, the site is contaminated with petroleum. Grant funds also will also support community outreach activities. “Our goal is to revitalize the present while reimagining the future,” said South Beloit Mayor Tom Fitzgerald. “This project could not have left planning phases without the EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant.”   EPA has selected the City of Sterling for a $500,000 grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up the 3.5-acre former Lawrence Brothers Hardware site located at 2 First Avenue. Vacant and unused since 2006, the site operated as a hardware manufacturer for nearly 100 years. It is contaminated with metals and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used for community engagement activities, including public meetings.  “The Brownfields Cleanup Grant is a critical element for our partnership with Gorman and Company to redevelop the former Lawrence Brothers and National Hardware facilities and bring the riverfront back to the community,” said Mayor Diana Merdian. “These prominent facilities were part of a proud past and the pieces are falling into place to again make them sources of pride and places for the community to gather and enjoy the riverfront opportunities.” You can read more about this year’s MARC Grant selectees, here. Additional Background: EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields […]

PHILADELPHA (May 25, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.9 million to the state of Virginia from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Virginia while advancing environmental justice. EPA made four selections in Virginia for grants totaling $1.9 million in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. These investments are  part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. “We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.” “This unprecedented Brownfields funding will help Virginia communities leverage much needed resources to revitalize their neighborhoods and become healthier and economically stronger,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz.  “Everyone deserves the right to live, play and work in places that support their needs and allow them to thrive.” “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for Virginians,” said Senator Tim Kaine (D – VA).  “I’m glad to see this federal funding is headed to Virginia to help clean up hazardous sites.” “Unfortunately, too many of our communities are still dealing with the consequences of the use of toxic and hazardous pollutants. I am pleased that this significant funding, courtesy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I was proud to negotiate, will support them as they work to clean up and rehabilitate these sites and ensure the safety of local residents,” said Senator Mark Warner (D – VA). Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places. Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities. EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. The following organizations in Virginia have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs. Alleghany Highlands Economic Development has been selected to receive $500,000. Grant funds will be used to develop a site inventory database and conduct 20 Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop preliminary cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on Alleghany County, the City of Covington, and the Towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate. Priority sites include a 109-acre former industrial manufacturing facility, a historic former high school site, a 24-acre former leather tannery, and a former iron manufacturing facility. The City of Roanoke has been selected to receive $400,000. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 14 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare two cleanup plans, develop and maintain a GIS-based brownfield site inventory, and support community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the city’s Belmont-Fallon neighborhood. Priority sites include a former carwash, a railcar manufacturer, and a former rayon textile mill. The City of Vinton has been selected to receive $500,000. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 13 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare two cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including eight community meetings. The target area for this grant is the Town of Vinton with a focus on its gateway and downtown areas. Priority sites include the Leslie Industrial Site, which consists of the Sav’ on Signs sign repair and manufacturing facility, a business that creates custom embroidered and screen-printed materials, and the McClung Industrial site adjacent to an active rail line. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has been selected to receive $500,000. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 12 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare two cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including 12 community meetings. The target areas for this grant are the Town of Buchanan and the City of Buena Vista. Priority sites include the 4.5-acre former Groendyk Button Factory that closed in the early 1990s and is vacant, a 20,000-square-foot building in disrepair that was once a furniture store, a 1.5-acre former rail siding property used as a junkyard, and the 8-acre former Bernson Silk Mill that closed in the 1990s. You can read more about this year’s MARC selectees. Brownfields Technical Assistance Providers and Research Grants EPA is also announcing funding selection for two Brownfields technical assistance opportunities. The Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) selectees provide specialized technical knowledge, research, and training to help stakeholders understand brownfields-related subject matter, and guide them through the brownfield assessment, clean-up, and revitalization process. This assistance is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance economic opportunities and address environmental justice issues in underserved communities. This technical assistance is available to all stakeholders and comes at no cost to communities. The two funding opportunities announced today include the following:    EPA selected West Virginia University Research Corporation to receive $5 million to provide training and                 technical assistance to communities across the state under the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB)                 Communities Program. This funding comes entirely from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President             Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.    EPA is also expanding the scope of its technical assistance offerings under the Brownfields and Land                         Revitalization Program to include three new subject-specific grants totaling $2 million in three areas, including         providing technical assistance to nonprofits seeking to reuse brownfields; provide research, outreach, and                   guidance on minimizing displacement resulting from brownfields redevelopment; and providing outreach and           guidance on land banking tactics for brownfields revitalization. For more information about Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research, please visit  https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-technical-assistance-and-research. Additional Background: EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields […]

Salt Lake City Corporation: Cara Lindsley, Deputy Director, 801-718-5754, [email protected]   Salt Lake County: Kersten Swinyard, Sr. Economic Development Manager, 385-468-4869, [email protected]   SALT LAKE CITY (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding two Brownfields grants to Salt Lake City-area partners to assess, clean up and revitalize properties in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City Corporation will use $495,200 in Brownfields funding to clean up the former Schovaers Electronics site and Salt Lake County will use a $1 million grant for assessment and cleanup projects in Magna Township.   "Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County continue to deliver high-value property cleanup and redevelopment projects with EPA Brownfields grants,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to seeing these funds transform blighted sites into new community assets.”   These EPA funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.   The Salt Lake City Corporation will use its EPA grant to clean up the 0.34-acre former Schovaers Electronics site at 22 South Jeremy Street. The site was formerly used as an electrical supply company, electroplating facility and appliance repair shop and is contaminated with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. Specific contaminants of concern include trichloroethene and hexavalent chromium in soil and groundwater likely due to seepage from the facility and off-site sources. The cleanup will allow the site to complement the new Folsom Trail with trail-oriented commercial space. The trail is a paved multiuse path that will ultimately connect downtown Salt Lake City with the 45-mile Jordan River Parkway trail.   Former Schovaers site in Salt Lake City“This EPA grant signifies a major step in Salt Lake City’s efforts to revitalize this westside corridor,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “By tapping into the federal Brownfields program, the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City has greatly boosted its ability to activate the pedestrian-oriented Folsom Trail while addressing the community health and environmental impacts of this land’s long history of heavy industrial activity and proximity to major transportation corridors. The planned adaptive reuse of the Schovaers Electronics building is key to the RDA’s overarching revitalization work in the North Temple neighborhood to establish small-scale, trail-oriented and affordable commercial space for local, independent businesses and nonprofit organizations. Having a federal program like Brownfields available to provide crucial funding to help safely rebuild neighborhoods is an invaluable resource for municipalities big and small.”     EPA has also selected Salt Lake County to lead a $1 million Brownfields Assessment Coalition grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to develop environmental assessments and cleanup plans at more than 20 high-priority sites in Magna Township. The focus of these projects will be Main Street Corridor, the Guadalupe neighborhood and the Poplar Grove intersection, including former auto repair shops, a former dry cleaner, an abandoned commercial building and other vacant properties. Contaminants of concern include asbestos, lead, metals, petroleum hydrocarbons and drycleaning solvents. Potential reuse of these sites includes plans for affordable housing, retail and commercial spaces. The county’s partners include Magna Township and NeighborWorks Salt Lake.   “Salt Lake County is making good on its commitment to clean up our environment and we are grateful for the EPA’s support,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “These funds will allow us to assess contamination and clear the path for meaningful redevelopment – making the county safer and healthier for all residents.”   Background   Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.   EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.  EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.  More on Brownfields Grants.    More on EPA’s Brownfields Program. &nbs […]

FRANKFORT, KY (May 25, 2023) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $7,999,560 from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Kentucky while advancing environmental justice. EPA selected ten communities in Kentucky to receive grants totaling more than $7,999,560 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs. These investments are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. “We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.” "This historic investment of more than $35 million for communities across the Southeast will help address suspected contamination of urban and suburban properties that dates back to the Industrial Revolution," said EPA Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman. "Brownfields and other contaminated properties often are located in environmental justice communities where residents are disproportionately impacted, thus making these awards especially critical." Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places. Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities. EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. Funding Breakdown: The following organizations in Kentucky have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs: The City of Ashland has been selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 16 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare eight cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including developing a Community Involvement Plan. The target area for this grant is the Convention District in the City of Ashland. Priority sites include a former hardware store and warehouse, a former automotive repair shop, a former commercial storefront, a former office and warehouse used by a residential renovation contractor, a former radiator and auto body repair shop, a former motorcycle repair and paint shop, a former dry cleaner, and three former gas stations. The City of Beattyville has selected $499,939 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the WPA Building located at 337 Main Street. The site was used as the city jail and firehouse since 1939 and is now closed due to the presence of metals and inorganic contaminants. The site’s central location and community significance make it an ideal catalyst project to spark additional revitalization of Beattyville’s historic Main Street district. Grant funds also will be used to support community education and outreach activities. The Big Sandy Area Development District has been selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 12 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare eight cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including developing a Community Involvement Plan. The target area for this grant is the Five-County Big Sandy Area Development District with a focus on the City of Paintsville. Priority sites include a former office supply store, a former auto parts store, a former clothing store, a former bank, a former hospital, a former commercial printing business, two former gas stations, and a former dry cleaner. The Caldwell County Board of Education has been selected for a $499,900 Brownfields Cleanup Grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 16,500-square-foot Butler Campus Annex Building at 612 West Washington Street in the City of Princeton. The cleanup site historically was used as classrooms for middle school students and later for GED and community college students. Currently, the building is closed to public use. It is contaminated with heavy metals, PCBs, and inorganic contaminants. Carroll County has been selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 20 Phase I and ten Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to inventory sites, complete six cleanup plans, and support community outreach activities. The target area for this grant is the Carrollton Corridor in the City of Carrolton. Priority sites include a former furniture factory and a dump site. Frontier Housing, Inc., has been selected for a$1,999,900 Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Former Hayswood Hospital at 20 West Fourth Street in the City of Maysville. From 1886 to 1908, the 1.8-acre cleanup property was developed as a private seminary for female students. In 1923, a two-story hospital was constructed on the site with additional floors added in 1952 and again in 1960. The hospital closed in 1983 and has remained vacant since. It is contaminated with heavy metals and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community involvement and outreach activities. The Green River Area Development District has been selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct 15 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare eight cleanup plans and to conduct community engagement activities including developing a Community Involvement Plan. The target areas for this grant are the Cities of Providence and Sebree. Priority sites include former auto shops, two former coal mines, a former clothing factory, a former gas station, and several vacant commercial buildings in various states of deterioration. OakPointe Centre, Inc. has been selected for a $999,821 Brownfields Cleanup. Grant funds will be used to clean up the former Palm Beach factory at 419 Bourne Avenue in Somerset. The building was erected in 1946 by Somerset Industries, a corporation formed by local citizens interested in the development of their community. The site was formerly used for men’s clothing and cardboard manufacturing and is contaminated with heavy metals and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities and prepare a cleanup plan. You can read more about this year’s MARC selectees, here. Non-competitive Supplemental Funding Through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program The Agency is announcing $3,000,000 in non-competitive supplemental funding to one successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs that have already achieved success in their work to clean up and redevelop brownfield sites. RLF Grants provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. The funding announced today will help communities continue to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfield sites. The following South Carolina organizations have been selected to receive non-competitive Supplemental Funding Through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program. In addition to the $3,305,850 in EPA funds already awarded, the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has been selected to receive an additional $1,000,000 because it has a high-performing RLF program with significantly depleted funds. The RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to six cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects highlighted for use of the BIL funding include work on the Smoketown Community Care Project, which will support Mayor Craig Greenberg’s initiative for additional affordable housing. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in Jefferson County.  In addition to the $1,975,000 in EPA funds already awarded, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has been selected to receive an additional $1,000,000 because it has a high-performing RLF program with significantly depleted funds. The RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to eight cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects highlighted for use of the BIL funding include cleanup of Brownfields properties throughout the Commonwealth, including a focus on sites assessed through the EPA Community-Wide Assessment grant program and the numerous but smaller-scale projects of removing lead and asbestos from historical buildings. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  You can read more about this year’s RLF recipients, here. Additional Background: EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields ### […]

BOSTON (May 25, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $13,790,000 from President Biden's Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfields sites in Massachusetts while advancing environmental justice. EPA selected 14 communities in Massachusetts to receive 14 grants totaling $8,740,000 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA's Brownfields MARC Grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $5,050,000 in non-competitive supplemental funding to two successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs to help expedite their continued work at sites in their area by extending the capacity of the program to provide more funding for additional cleanups. These investments are part of President Biden's Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. "We're working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden's historic investments in America, we're moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might." "Congratulations to the 16 Massachusetts organizations who will receive these new Brownfields this year," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, EPA will be making the single largest investment in Brownfields in history. This funding will revitalize communities across New England, and jump start economic redevelopment and job creation in many of New England's hardest hit and underserved communities." "I'm grateful to the EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration for their significant investment in Massachusetts' infrastructure. This unprecedented level of federal brownfields funding will help our Administration partner with local communities and regional planning agencies to clean up polluted and contaminated properties that are often in environmental justice communities. Together, we can transform these sites for beneficial uses like housing and renewable energy generation," said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. "For years, big corporations have polluted our water, our land, and our air – all to make a pretty penny," said U.S. Senator Ed Markey. "Thanks to the EPA, we are one step closer to protecting public health and cleaning up decades worth of pollution in Massachusetts. These major investments in our communities will not only spur economic growth but also create a brighter and more livable future for our Commonwealth." "I am thrilled that communities across Massachusetts are receiving nearly $9 million in federal funding to expedite the cleanup of Brownfield sites. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're making critical investments that will advance environmental justice and create new jobs for our local economy," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. "For too long, Massachusetts cities and towns were forced to spend years cobbling together local, state and federal funds to handle environmental remediation projects, causing delays that put people's lives at-risk," said U.S. Congressman James P. McGovern. "Now, thanks to President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, cities like Worcester will receive almost $5 million to address toxic industrial pollution and make way for new manufacturing facilities and significant economic expansion and job growth." "No community should have to be saddled with toxic pollutants that threaten public health. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA can finally dedicate resources to cleaning up the site of Whyte's Enterprise Laundry in Lynn. The facility's demolition decades ago left a 5-foot open pit where the building stood and left behind volatile compounds that threaten public health. I'm relieved the cleanup and decontamination process can finally begin," said U.S. Congressman Seth Moulton. "The EPA's successful Brownfields Program has helped thousands of communities safely and sustainably clean up and reuse contaminated properties. One of the many reasons I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was to expand this program with a $1.5 billion investment that would be felt here in Massachusetts," said U.S. Congresswoman Lori Trahan. "I'm glad to see that Methuen and Westford are the next communities to benefit firsthand from this terrific program. With this federal funding, families in these communities and across the Third District will be safer and healthier for generations to come!" Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfields cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfields sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization, and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places. Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA's Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities. EPA's Brownfields Program also advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. State Funding Breakdown: Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program Selection The following organizations in Massachusetts have been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs. The Town of Adams has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct up environmental site assessments, complete a brownfields site inventory, and conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the Route 8 Corridor. Priority sites include former industrial properties, a former cotton manufacturing company, and a former retail facility. The City of Chelsea has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, conduct community engagement activities, and prepare cleanup and reuse plans. The target area for this grant is the Chelsea Creek waterfront located along Marginal Street and Eastern Avenue from the Tobin Bridge at Route 1 to Crescent Street. Priority sites include the Former Forbes Lithograph, the New England Trawler, Amoco Petroleum, Boston Hides & Furs, Seagulls Auto Sales, and the Fitzgerald Shipyard. Franklin Regional Council of Governments, of Greenfield, Mass., has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Communitywide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. The target areas for this grant are the Towns of Monroe, Orange, Turners Falls, and Greenfield. Priority sites include a former mill complex, a vacant lot, a former paper and glassine factory, and an archeological Native American site with a history as a tribal gathering place, village, and burial ground. The Town of Franklin has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the NuStyle Jewelry Factory at 21 Grove Street, which is currently vacant and contaminated with metals and chlorinated solvents. Grant funds also will be used to develop a Community Involvement Plan, coordinate quarterly community meetings, and conduct other community outreach activities. The City of Lynn has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up Whyte's Enterprise Laundry at 83 Willow Street in the Buffum South area, which is contaminated with chlorinated volatile organic compounds and other volatile organic compounds. The City of Methuen has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, develop cleanup plans, and support community outreach activities. The target areas for this grant are Downtown Methuen and the Eastern Industrial Area. Priority sites include a former metal plating facility and a former construction and trucking company site that has a long history of illegal construction debris dumping. Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, of Leominster, Mass., has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Communitywide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, inventory sites, develop cleanup plans, and support community outreach activities. The target area for this grant is the Route 2 Corridor in the Towns of Athol, Lancaster, and Templeton. Priority sites include an 18-acre former rod and gun club, an 80-acre former correctional institution, and a 20-acre vacant manufacturing site. New Garden Park, Inc., of Worcester, Mass., has been selected to receive $2,000,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 400 Block Property located at 1 New Bond Street in the City of Worcester, currently contaminated with metals, inorganic materials, PCBs, and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach and engagement activities. Old Colony Planning Council, of Brockton, Mass., has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the Commuter Rail Corridor in Easton, Hanson, East Bridgewater, and Whitman. Priority sites include two former manufacturing facilities, a 1.2-mile-long stretch along the commuter rail line with a commuter rail station, a former cranberry processing facility, and a former shoe factory. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, of Springfield, Mass., has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the Town of Ware, the Downtown Historic District, and the Town of South Hadley. Priority sites include former mills and manufacturing facilities. The City of Springfield has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the City of Springfield with a focus on the Metro Center, Indian Orchard, and Six Corners neighborhoods. Priority sites include former industrial properties, a former laundromat, and vacant properties. The Town of Ware has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the former Ware Manufactured Gas Plant located on Monroe Street, which is contaminated with cyanide, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum, and heavy metals. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach and engagement activities. The Town of Westford has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Westford Anodizing Facility located at 12 North Main Street, currently contaminated with metals and dioxins. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities. Westmass Area Development Corporation, of Springfield, Mass., has been selected to receive $740,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 300 Series Warehouse Buildings and Mill Buildings 46 and 58, which are part of the 52-acre Ludlow Mills Complex at 100 State Street in the Town of Ludlow. The buildings are currently contaminated with PCBs, heavy metals, and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach and engagement activities. You can read more about this year's MARC selectees. Non-competitive Supplemental Funding Through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program The Agency is also announcing $5,050,000 in non-competitive supplemental funding to two successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs that have already achieved success in their work to clean up and redevelop brownfields sites. RLF Grants provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfields sites. The funding announced today will help communities continue to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields sites. The following Massachusetts organizations have been selected to receive non-competitive supplemental funding for their existing RLF programs. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, of Pittsfield, Mass., has been selected to receive $2,350,000 in RLF supplemental funding. The commission has received a total of $5,250,000 from EPA in prior years for this program, and they have successfully made loans or subgrants leading to 12 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects highlighted for use of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding include Greylock Mill in North Adams and Curtis Fine Paper in Adams. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in Berkshire County. The City of Worcester has been selected to receive $2,700,000 in RLF supplemental funding. The city has received a total of $5,149,273 from EPA in prior years for this program and has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to 13 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects highlighted for use of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding include New Garden Park's Greendale Revitalization and Denholm Building on Main Street. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in the City of Worcester. Read more about this year's RLF recipients. Brownfields Technical Assistance Provider for New England EPA is also announcing funding selection for two Brownfields technical assistance opportunities. The Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) selectees provide specialized technical knowledge, research, and training to help stakeholders understand brownfields-related subject matter, and guide them through the brownfields assessment, clean-up, and revitalization process. This assistance is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to advance economic opportunities and address environmental justice issues in underserved communities. This technical assistance is available to all stakeholders and comes at no cost to communities. The two funding opportunities announced today include the following: EPA selected the University of Connecticut (UConn) to receive $5,000,000 to provide training and technical assistance to communities across the state under the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Communities Program. This funding comes entirely from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Read more about this year's TAB selectees. EPA is also expanding the scope of its technical assistance offerings under the Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program to include three new subject-specific grants totaling $2 million in three areas, including providing technical assistance to nonprofits seeking to reuse brownfields; provide research, outreach, and guidance on minimizing displacement resulting from brownfields redevelopment; and providing outreach and guidance on land banking tactics for brownfields revitalization. Read more on the Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research cooperative agreement recipients.   More information about Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research. Additional Background: EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfields sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA's investments in addressing brownfields sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfields Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). More on Brownfields Grants. More EPA's Brownfields Program. […]

BOSTON (May 25, 2023) – Today , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $16,222,850 from President Biden's Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfields sites in Maine while advancing environmental justice. EPA selected 14 communities in Maine to receive 14 grants totaling $10,222,850in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is the largest ever funding awarded in the history of the EPA's Brownfields MARC Grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $6,000,000 in non-competitive supplemental funding to two successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs to help expedite their continued work at sites in their area by extending the capacity of the programs to provide more funding for additional cleanups. These investments are part of President Biden's Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. "We're working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden's historic investments in America, we're moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might." "Congratulations to the 16 Maine organizations who will receive these new Brownfields grants this year,"said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash."Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, EPA will be making the single largest investment in Brownfields in history. This funding will revitalize communities across New England, and jump start economic redevelopment and job creation in many of New England's hardest hit and underserved communities." "This historic investment by the Biden-Harris Administration will benefit Maine's environment and our economy," said Maine Governor Janet Mills. "These resources will allow communities across the state to properly assess and clean up contaminated sites, paving the way for redevelopment that can create jobs and enhance our communities. I thank the Biden Administration for this investment, and the Maine Delegation for supporting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that made additional funding possible." "The EPA's Brownfields Program has been an important resource for the health and success of Maine people," said U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden. "This significant investment will provide over a dozen communities the support they need to identify hazardous substances, clean up dangerous sites, and improve our environment. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this funding and how it will help Maine towns create new opportunities that can attract businesses and create good jobs." Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfields cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfields sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization, and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places. Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA's Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities. EPA's Brownfields Program also advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Approximately 84 percent of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities. State Funding Breakdown: Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Program Selection The following organizations in Mainehave been selected to receive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Programs. Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments , of Auburn, ME, has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Communitywide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments and develop cleanup and revitalization plans, and support community outreach activities. The target areas for this grant are the cities of Lewiston and Auburn. Priority sites include vacant and underutilized lots in Lewistown's downtown core and a former automobile repair shop in downtown Auburn. The City of Augusta has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments and community outreach activities as well as prepare cleanup and revitalization plans. Priority sites include the 57,330-square-foot APGAR Building, which is a former cotton and textile manufacturing facility, and the former Carey's Body Shop. The City of Bangor has been selected to receive $897,850 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up Building #610 located on the Bangor International Airport (BIA) property at 287 Godfrey Boulevard. The site is currently contaminated with inorganic contaminants, heavy metals, mold, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, PCBs, and per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities. The City of Caribou has been selected to receive $900,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 3.2-acre Caribou Diesel Electric Power Plant and Outbuildings at 142 Lower Lyndon Street. The site is currently contaminated with waste oil and hazardous substances, including stored diesel, lube oil, waste oil, waste oil-contaminated water, sludge, antifreeze, degreaser/solvent, and water treatment chemicals. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities. The Town of East Millinocket has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and to conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is downtown East Millinocket. Priority sites include a former paper mill and a former auto repair station. Friends of The Boat School Marine Trades Development Corporation, of Eastport ME, has been selected to receive $675,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 8.4-acre Maine Marine Technology Center property at 16 Deep Cove Road in the City of Eastport. Groundwater at the property is currently contaminated with 1,2-Dichloroethane. PCBs, mercury, solvents, petroleum products, and inorganic materials have been found within buildings on the property. Grant funds also will be used to perform community outreach and engagement activities including public meetings and social media postings. The Town of Lincoln has been selected to receive $750,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 58-acre Parcel 2–Lincoln Pulp & Tissue site at 50 Katahdin Avenue, which sits adjacent to the Penobscot River. The site is currently contaminated with heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), inorganic contaminants, and volatile organic hydrocarbons. Grant funds also will be used to oversee cleanup activities and conduct public meetings. The Town of Millinocket has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, develop cleanup plans, and support community outreach activities. The target area for this grant is Millinocket's Downtown and Central Street Corridor. Priority sites include a vacant dry cleaner facility, a former high school, and a former auto repair facility. Our Katahdin, of Millinocket ME, has been selected to receive $1,500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 15-acre Tank Farm/Railroad Corridor at 1 Katahdin Avenue, which is currently contaminated with inorganic contaminants, petroleum, and metals. Grant funds also will be used for community involvement and outreach materials. The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, of Perry, ME, has been selected to receive $1,300,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, update a site inventory conduct public meetings, and prepare reuse and cleanup plans. The target area for this grant is approximately 128,411 acres of tribal lands throughout the State of Maine including both Trust land, Fee land, and the Pleasant Point and Indian Township Reservations, as well as non-Indian lands in the adjacent Washington County communities of Calais and Meddybemps. Priority sites include the Charlotte Smith Property, a vacant warehouse, gas service station and garage known as the Calais Site, the 555-acre Backscatter Radar Site, and the former Beatrice Rafferty School. The City of Portland has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used for environmental site assessments, cleanup plans, and community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the City of Portland, focusing on the Bayside/East Bayside Neighborhood. Priority sites include a two-block industrial tract that is currently being used as an unpaved trailer lot and a scrapyard, and a 7-acre commercial center. The City of Saco has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, prepare cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is Downtown Saco, Saco's Market, and the Lincoln Street Area. Priority sites include former automotive repair facilities and former gas stations. Sunrise County Economic Council, of Machias, ME, has been selected to receive$500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments, develop cleanup plans and support community outreach activities. The target areas for this grant are the coastal communities of Machias, Eastport, and Lubec. Priority sites include the old Machias town dump, a local airport, a vacant and abandoned pet food plant, an abandoned solvents manufacturing facility, and a waterfront railroad site. The Town of Wiscasset has been selected to receive a $700,000 Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up the 4.5-acre North Point Fill Area located at the northern tip of the Birch Point Peninsula, which is currently contaminated with inorganic contaminants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Grant funds also will be used to develop outreach materials and public involvement activities. You can read more about this year's MARC selectees. Non-competitive Supplemental Funding Through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program The Agency is announcing $6,000,000 in non-competitive supplemental funding to two successful existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant programs that have already achieved success in their work to clean up and redevelop brownfields sites. RLF Grants provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfields sites. The funding announced today will help communities continue to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields sites. The following Maineorganizations have been selected to receive non-competitive supplemental funding for their existing RLF programs. Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, of Augusta, ME, has been selected to receive $3,000,000 for RLF supplemental funding. The department has received a total of $8,524,983 from EPA in prior years for this program and has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to 29 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects for this new funding include the Baked Bean Factory in Portland and Caribou Power Plant in Caribou. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in the State of Maine. Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, of Saco, ME,has been selected to receive $3,000,000 for RLF supplemental funding. The commission has received a total of $12,805,692 from EPA in prior years for this program and has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to 21 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects highlighted for use of this new funding include Prime Tanning in Berwick and International Woolen Mill in Sanford. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in 39 towns within York County, southern Oxford County, and Cumberland County. Read more about this year's RLF recipients. Brownfields Technical Assistance Provider for New England EPA is also announcing funding selection for two Brownfields technical assistance opportunities. The Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) selectees provide specialized technical knowledge, research, and training to help stakeholders understand brownfields-related subject matter, and guide them through the brownfields assessment, clean-up, and revitalization process. This assistance is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to advance economic opportunities and address environmental justice issues in underserved communities. This technical assistance is available to all stakeholders and comes at no cost to communities. The two funding opportunities announced today include the following: EPA selected the University of Connecticut (UConn) to receive $5,000,000 to provide training and technical assistance to communities across the state under the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Communities Program. This funding comes entirely from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Read more about this year's TAB selectees. EPA is also expanding the scope of its technical assistance offerings under the Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program to include three new subject-specific grants totaling $2 million in three areas, including providing technical assistance to nonprofits seeking to reuse brownfields; provide research, outreach, and guidance on minimizing displacement resulting from brownfields redevelopment; and providing outreach and guidance on land banking tactics for brownfields revitalization. Read more on the Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research cooperative agreement recipients. More information about Brownfields Technical Assistance and Research. Additional Background: EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfields sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA's investments in addressing brownfields sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfields Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). More on Brownfields Grants. More on EPA's Brownfields Program. […]

Town of San Luis:  Susan Sanderford, 719-672-3321; [email protected]    San Luis, Colo. (May 25, 2023) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Town of San Luis will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct environmental site assessments, develop cleanup plans and support community outreach activities at more than a dozen properties. EPA’s award to the Town of San Luis is among six Brownfields grants totaling nearly $4.78 million announced today for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado.   The target area for this grant includes priority sites along San Luis’ Main Street corridor, including a vacant former hardware company, two former gas stations, a former bank building and a vacant auto service garage. Cleanup and reuse of these properties will address pollution and provide new opportunities for job creation.    “The Town of San Luis is taking a strategic approach to cleaning up and revitalizing properties along its Main Street corridor,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “EPA is proud to be supporting projects that will protect the health of residents, improve local waters and bring opportunities for new community gardens, trails and businesses."   “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping clean up and revitalize communities across Colorado,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “With this funding, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Telluride, Silverton, San Luis and Trinidad can make sure these sites are safe for the families living near them and restore them in ways that meet the communities’ needs.”  These funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.     “The EPA Brownfields grant award is important for San Luis—Colorado's oldest town, established in 1851,” said San Luis Mayor Tiffany Gallegos. “This opportunity will help us preserve our historic waterways, land and adobe buildings, supporting our unique culture for generations to come.”   San Luis's Brownfields projects focus on cleanup and redevelopment that will protect the local aquifer and acequias, enable creation of community gardens and trails and renovate buildings for new businesses. One of the primary goals is to identify and prevent any surface or subsurface contaminants from entering the community’s irrigation ditch to protect residents and livestock that depend upon the quality of the water supply.   Priority sites include the San Luis Hardware Company (205 Main Street); San Luis Custom Cycles (217 Main Street); the Main Street Garage; the Lobatos Block on Main Street; Speedway Service and Garage (203 Main Street); and GT Trash Services (368 Main Street). These and other target sites include buildings that have fallen into disrepair, with many locations adjacent to the People’s Ditch, currently littered with abandoned vehicles and junk. Contaminants of concern include mold, asbestos, lead, historic fire extinguisher "bombs" containing carbon tetrachloride, oil and petroleum compounds and pollutants in debris piles.   Other Brownfields grants announced in Colorado today include:   Watershed NP, Inc., Buena Vista: $979,222  The Keating School, Pueblo: $1 million  San Miguel County: $500,000  The Town of Silverton: $800,000  Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, Trinidad: $998,700   Background   Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.   EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.  EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.  More on Brownfields Grants.    More on EPA’s Brownfields Program. &nbs […]

Keating School Cleanup Project:  llan Salzberg, 720-935-9500, [email protected]  Pueblo, Colo. (May 25, 2023) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Keating School in Pueblo, Colorado, will receive a $1 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.   The EPA funds will be used to clean up the former Keating Junior High School at 215 Orman Avenue, which operated as a public school and education center from the late 1920s to 2009 and is contaminated with asbestos, mercury and other hazardous materials. EPA’s award to the Keating School is among six Brownfields grants totaling nearly $4.78 million announced today for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado.   “The Keating School has put together an inspiring vision for cleaning up and reviving a vacant historic building in the heart of the Bessemer neighborhood,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “EPA is proud to support the property’s redevelopment as a theatre and new housing to complement growing investments in the community.”  “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping clean up and revitalize communities across Colorado,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “With this funding, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Telluride, Silverton, San Luis and Trinidad can make sure these sites are safe for the families living near them and restore them in ways that meet the communities’ needs.”  The EPA Brownfields funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded in the history of the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.  “Receiving this million-dollar grant from the EPA is a major step in the reuse of the beautiful and historic Keating School that has been sitting empty for over a decade,” said Corinne Koehler. “The school was built in 1927 and it still has of the original features that will be saved and restored in the renovation. This building holds many wonderful memories for the thousands of Puebloans who attended school there over the many decades. Thank you to the EPA for seeing the need to save this historic building in the heart of Pueblo.”  The Keating School will use the EPA funds to complete a full cleanup of the building and prepare it for safe reuse. A recent environmental assessment of the property identified significant volumes of asbestos-containing material, much in poor condition, various building materials in need of disposal and polyurethane flooring containing hazardous levels of mercury.  The heart of the school building features a well-preserved, vaulted theater space that once seated hundreds from the local community. The restoration of this space will enable its reuse as a theater with additional space offering an opportunity for new and much-needed apartments and townhomes.  Other Brownfields grants in Colorado include:  Watershed NP, Inc.: Buena Vista, $979,222  The Town of San Luis: $500,000  The Town of Silverton: $800,000  Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, Trinidad: $998,700   San Miguel County: $500,000  Background  Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.   EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.  EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.  More on Brownfields Grants.   More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.&nbs […]

City of Rawlins: Pam Thayer, 307-328-6001, [email protected]    Rawlins, Wyo. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the City of Rawlins will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment grant to conduct environmental assessments and develop cleanup plans at more than 20 high-priority properties. The target area for the grant is the Interstate 80 Corridor, including abandoned motel properties, a former gas station, a five-structure vacant apartment complex and a former bar.   “The City of Rawlins has put together a strategic vision for assessing, cleaning up and revitalizing blighted properties along the I-80 corridor,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to seeing these projects bring new assets and business opportunities to the Rawlins community.”   The EPA funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever awarded by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant program.   "The City of Rawlins is very excited and honored to be selected for a Brownfield Assessment Grant which will provide our community technical assistance to develop a plan with vacant or underutilized properties that may be environmentally contaminated and has redevelopment potential, thus transforming them into viable businesses," said Mayor Terry Weickum.   Many of the priority sites identified by the city are boarded up and vacant due to contamination concerns related to asbestos, lead, mold, metals, petroleum compounds, and other hazardous materials posing human health concerns and preventing redevelopment.    Targeted sites include the former Express Inn, Sunset Motel, the Wyoming Bar and  abandoned gas station and auto service properties on East Cedar and 6th Streets.   Reuse plans for these properties include new assisted living centers, affordable homes and apartments and viable, tax-generating businesses serving residents and tourists.   Background   Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.   EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.  EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.  More on Brownfields Grants.    More on EPA’s Brownfields Program. &nbs […]

Mt. Carmel Wellness & Community Center: Tim Lamb, 719-575‐7107, [email protected]  Trinidad, Colo. (May 25, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center will receive a $998,770 Brownfields Cleanup Grant, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to clean up and restore the former Holy Trinity Convent and School at 237 Church Street in Trinidad, Colorado. The property is contaminated with asbestos, lead paint, inorganic contaminants and heavy metals.   EPA’s award to Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center is among six Brownfields grants totaling nearly $4.78 million announced today for cleanup and revitalization projects in communities across Colorado.    “This Brownfields cleanup project will remove harmful contaminants and restore a vital property in historic downtown Trinidad,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “We look forward to the redevelopment of the site as new housing, hotel and restaurant space, contributing to the vitality of the community.”  “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping clean up and revitalize communities across Colorado,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. “With this funding, Buena Vista, Pueblo, Telluride, Silverton, San Luis and Trinidad can make sure these sites are safe for the families living near them and restore them in ways that meet the communities’ needs.”  The EPA funds are part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in while advancing environmental justice through the Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant programs. Thanks to the historic boost from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this funding is the largest ever by the EPA’s Brownfields MARC Grant programs.  “Our mission at Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center is to provide integrated healthcare, wellness and community spirit and to promote and create social and cultural opportunities in Las Animas County and the City of Trinidad through partners,” said Gerald D. Cimino, Founder and Chairman of the Board Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center. “The EPA is one such partner. We are so thankful and excited to receive this grant. Workforce housing is a necessary component to building a stronger community and in promoting growth in southeastern Colorado. Thank you again from all of us at Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, the City of Trinidad, Las Animas County and southeastern Colorado.”  Former Holy Trinity Convent and School in Trinidad, Colo.Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center will use the EPA grant to clean up the 53,477‐square‐foot vacant building, which operated as a school starting in 1873 and later as both a school and convent until it closed in 2004. Once cleanup is completed the building will be restored as apartments and a hostel and bar/restaurant, including more than 30 new guest rooms. The plan will create a vibrant, mixed‐use building on a currently abandoned site.  Image file: TrinidadImage_6055  Other Brownfields grants announced in Colorado today include:  Watershed NP, Inc.: Buena Vista, $979,222  The Keating School: Pueblo, $1 million  The Town of San Luis: $500,000  San Miguel County: $500,000  The Town of Silverton: $500,000  San Miguel County, $500,000  The Town of Silverton, $800,000  Background  Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.   EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 84% of the MARC program applications selected to receive funding proposed to work in areas that include historically underserved communities.  EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.  More on Brownfields Grants.   More on EPA’s Brownfields Program.&nbs […]

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a total of $4 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Minnesota while advancing environmental justice.   Hennepin County will receive $3 million, and the Saint Paul Port Authority will receive $1 million in non-competitive supplemental funding to continue their successful Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) programs and provide more loans and subgrants to help finance more cleanups.    These investments are  part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.  “We’re working across the country to revitalize what were once dangerous and polluted sites in overburdened communities into more sustainable and environmentally just places that serve as community assets. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, we’re moving further and faster than ever before to clean up contaminated sites, spur economic redevelopment, and deliver relief that so many communities have been waiting for,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This critical wave of investments is the largest in Brownfields history and will accelerate our work to protect the people and the planet by transforming what was once blight into might.”  “Given the Midwest’s rich industrial history, it’s no surprise that the Minnesota has a significant portion of EPA’s funded brownfields sites,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the historic brownfields investment announced today, more communities will get the financial help they need to transform abandoned, blighted properties into assets that attract business and community development.”  “This federal funding will help provide Hennepin County and the St. Paul Port Authority with the resources they need to continue to clean up polluted properties and project sites,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “By restoring these areas, we can create critical new development opportunities for businesses, enhance safety and quality of life for families who live around these sites, and protect our environment.”       Many communities that are under economic stress, particularly those located in areas that have experienced long periods of disinvestment, lack the resources needed to initiate brownfield cleanup and redevelopment projects. As brownfield sites are transformed into community assets, they attract jobs, promote economic revitalization, and transform communities into sustainable and environmentally just places.   Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social and environmental challenges caused by brownfield and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.   EPA’s Brownfields Program also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments to disadvantaged communities. The Brownfields program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations into all aspects of its work. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding will extend Hennepin County’s and the Saint Louis Port Authority’s capacity to help finance more cleanups in the most underserved areas.    In addition to the $7,283,713 in EPA funds already awarded, the Hennepin County Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has been selected to receive an additional $3,000,000 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because it has a high-performing RLF program with significantly depleted funds. The RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to 10 cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects highlighted for use of the BIL funding include the Universal Plating Site and Upper Harbor Terminal projects in Minneapolis. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in Hennepin County.  “Thanks to this grant from the EPA, Hennepin County will be able to expand our work to clean up contamination to promote reinvestment and environmental justice in our communities,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando. “The grant will replenish our Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund, which for 23 years has been used to clean up brownfields, create jobs and housing, and improve access to green spaces. These investments directly assist disadvantaged communities, including those identified by the federal Justice40 Initiative, while keeping the community in place to benefit from the improvements.”  In addition to the $8,550,000 in EPA funds already awarded, the Saint Paul Port Authority Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) has been selected to receive an additional $1,000,000 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because it has a high-performing RLF program with significantly depleted funds. The RLF program has successfully made loans or subgrants leading to five cleanup projects that are either completed or in progress. Potential projects highlighted for use of the BIL funding include two auto salvage yards in Saint Paul. The BIL funding will extend the capacity of the program to provide funding for more cleanups in the most underserved areas in the City of St. Paul. “We are amazingly grateful for supplemental RLF dollars and our partnership with the EPA Region 5,” said Kathryn Sarnecki, Chief Development Officer for the Saint Paul Port Authority. “These funds will be instrumental in allowing the Saint Paul Port Authority to remediate a significant brownfield on the Eastside of Saint Paul. With funds in place, we are able to take a vacant, polluted golf course and transform it into a bustling hub in an underserved neighborhood with 1,000 jobs and nearly as many affordable housing units.”  You can read more about this year’s RLF Grant recipients, here.   Additional Background:   EPA has selected these organizations to receive funding to address and support the reuse of brownfield sites. EPA anticipates making all the awards announced today once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.  EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.  The next National Brownfields Training Conference will be held on August 8-11, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Offered every two years, this conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing former commercial and industrial properties. EPA co-sponsors this event with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).   For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields&nbs […]

PHILADELPHIA (May 25, 2023) – Eastman Chemical Resins Inc. will pay a $2.4 million penalty for environmental violations at the sprawling 56-acre manufacturing facility in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, that is now owned and operated by Synthomer Jefferson Hills, LLC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. “Compliance with our nation’s laws that protect the environment and the health of our communities is an obligation companies can’t take lightly,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The actions required by this settlement will help ensure that the facility operates in a manner that is protective of environmental resources and the health of nearby communities.” “Pennsylvanians have a right enshrined in the state constitution to clean air and pure water, and we will always pursue operators that violate that right and hold polluters accountable,” said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Rich Negrin. “We were pleased to work with our federal partners to hold this polluter accountable.” Along with the financial penalty being paid by Eastman, Synthomer has agreed to take actions to eliminate ongoing violations and prevent future violations. This includes conducting a comprehensive review of stormwater discharges and groundwater contamination and implementing initiatives to ensure compliance with environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and parallel Pennsylvania laws. Violations include: Chronic Clean Water Act violations including exceeding allowable limits for zinc, xylene and other pollutants that are discharged to the Monongahela River. Unpermitted discharges of oil and other pollutants. Failure to comply with operation and maintenance obligations of its Clean Water Act permit. Violations of the facility’s Clean Air Act risk management program. Numerous hazardous waste management violations. The penalty will be divided equally between the United States and Pennsylvania, who are co-plaintiffs in this consent decree. Pennsylvania DEP assisted EPA in the investigation and litigation. The settlement addresses alleged federal and state environmental law violations that have occurred since 2017, which threaten to degrade receiving streams and impact public health and harm aquatic life and the environment.   The chemical producing facility is bordered on the southeast by the Monongahela River and bisected by an unnamed tributary to that river.  The proposed consent decree, filed in the federal district court in Pittsburgh, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. A copy of the consent decree with more specifics about the violations is available online at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. &nbs […]

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