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 City of Alexandria for a 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 prepare an inventory of brownfield sites, develop up to seven cleanup and reuse plans, hold seven community meetings, update a Community Involvement Plan, and conduct other community outreach activities. The target area for this grant is the City of Alexandria with a focus on the BLA District, an area around Bolton Avenue, Lee Street, and Arial Drive. Priority sites include a former dry cleaner that has been vacant since 2001 and a vacant four-story former commercial building.