EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, 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.
$500,000
EPA has selected the Big Sandy Area Development District for a 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.