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 Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. Community-wide grant funds will be used to update and maintain site inventory, prioritize sites, and conduct 10 Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop two reuse plans and three cleanup plans, and support community engagement activities. The target area for this grant is the City of New Castle. Priority sites include a 7-acre vacant hospital, a former drug store, a 45-acre former rare earth metals processing plant, three former manufacturing facilities, and three former disposal or landfill sites ranging from 8 to 18 acres.