EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, Tribal Nations, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002, as amended by the Brownfields Utilization, Investment and Local Development Act of 2018, was passed to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfield sites. Under this law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through five competitive grant programs: Multipurpose Grants, Assessment Grants, Revolving Loan Fund Grants, Cleanup Grants, and Job Training Grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.
$1,996,900
EPA has selected the City of Keokuk for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Southern Parcel located at 365 Carbide Lane. The 16.37-acre cleanup site was developed in 1915 for smelting and refining zinc and lead. Other products produced at the site included electrode paste, tin cans, casting metals, bearings, and various carbide products. The site is contaminated with coal tar and zinc smelting by-products, coal and petroleum coke stockpiles containing high concentrations of PAHs, and heavy metals. The carbide plant ceased operations in the late 1980s. Grant funds also will be used to conduct two public meetings and support community engagement activities.