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 Lackawanna County for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to update and expand the site inventory list, prioritize sites, and conduct up to 20 Phase I and nine Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop up to four cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will occur throughout the county with a focus on the Cities of Scranton and Carbondale, and the Borough of Dickson City. Priority sites include a former silk mill, a former lumber mill, a vacant cabinet manufacturing site, and two sites consisting of mine-scarred land.