EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. 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 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.
$500,000
EPA has selected Calhoun County for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant. Grant funds will be used to clean up The Mound site located at 161 East Michigan Avenue in the City of Battle Creek. The cleanup site has historically been used for rail lines, residences, and as a depository for excavated soils and fill materials from a nearby construction project. It has been vacant and unused since the early 1990s. It is contaminated with heavy metals, naphthalene, and TCE. Grant funds also will be used to support community outreach activities.